Saturday, September 13, 2008

How to build a good Vocabulary ?

Be sure you have the communication
skills needed for a successful MBA

The Ten Best Vocabulary Learning Tips

  • Step 1. Read, Read, Read! Most vocabulary words are learned from context. The more words you're exposed to, the better vocabulary you will have. While you read, pay close attention to words you don't know. First, try to figure out their meanings from context. Then look the words up. Read and listen to challenging material so that you'll be exposed to many new words.

  • Step 2. Improve your context skills. Research shows that the vast majority of words are learned from context. To improve your context skills pay close attention to how words are used. Doing a search on a word using dejanews.com (for searching newsgroups) will give you many examples of how that word is used in context. Play our Daily Context Vocabulary Quiz.

  • Step 3. Practice, practice, practice. Learning a word won't help very much if you promptly forget it. Research shows that it takes from 10 to 20 repetitions to really make a word part of your vocabulary. It helps to write the word - both the definition and a sentence you make up using the word - perhaps on an index card that can later be reviewed. As soon as you learn a new word, start using it. Review your index cards periodically to see if you have forgotten any of your new words. Also, do a search on a word using dejanews.com (for searching newsgroups) to get many examples of how the word is actually used.

  • Step 4. Make up as many associations and connections as possible. Say the word aloud to activate your auditory memory. Relate the word to words you already know. For example, the word GARGANTUAN (very large) has a similar meaning to the words gigantic, huge, large, etc. You could make a sequence: small, medium, large, very large, GARGANTUAN. List as many things as you can that could be considered GARGANTUAN: Godzilla, the circus fat lady, the zit on your nose, etc. Create pictures of the word's meaning that involve strong emotions. Think "the GARGANTUAN creature was going to rip me apart and then eat me!"

  • Step 5. Use mnemonics (memory tricks). For example, consider the word EGREGIOUS (extremely bad). Think EGG REACH US - imagine we've made a mistake so bad that they are throwing eggs at us and a rotten EGG REACHes US. Such funny little word pictures will help you remember what words mean, AND they are fun to make up. Also, find out which learning style suits you best. Everyone learns differently!

  • Step 6. Get in the habit of looking up words you don't know. If you have a dictionary program on your computer, keep it open and handy. America Online and other internet services have dictionaries and thesauruses on their tool bars. Find them and look up any word you are not absolutely sure of. Use a thesaurus when you write to find the word that fits best.

  • Step 7. Play with words. Play Scrabble, Boggle, and do crossword puzzles. These and other word games are available for the computer, so you are not dependent on a partner to play. Also, try out the Franklin Electronic Dictionary that features built-in word games.

  • Step 8. Use vocabulary lists. For the serious vocabulary student, there are many books that focus on the words most commonly found in standardized tests, such as the SAT and GRE. There are also many interesting word sites on the Internet, many of which will send you a word a day by email.

  • Step 9. Take vocabulary tests. Playing games, such as the ones on this site, that test your knowledge will help you learn new words and also let you know how much progress you're making. Offline sources for vocabulary tests include SAT prep books (we recommend "10 Real SATs" by ETS), and the Reader's Digest Wordpower section. For more, check out Amazon.com or your local bookseller.

  • Step 10.Get excited about words! Come to appreciate the sometimes- subtle differences between them. Do you know the difference between something that denotes something else and something that connotes something else? If not, go look it up. Learn to say what you really mean and discover the joys of being able to express yourself in writing. Your future can depend on how rich your vocabulary is. A good vocabulary will make a difference on the standardized tests, like the SAT and GRE, that could determine whether or where you go to college. It will also determine the quality of your communication. So be in it for the long pull. Let building your vocabulary be a lifelong proposition. Remember: "In the beginning was the word." Until you have a word for something, it does not exist for you. Name it, and you have made your reality richer.

Friday, September 12, 2008

from pagal guy

Re: CAT preparation strategy advice - 28-04-2008, 09:31 PM

Hi,

IDIOTS Guide to Proverbian Approach to CAT08

Well its been close to 6 months since i took CAT 07. Almost 6 months remain for CAT 08. SO i believe its the right time to share my thoughts about CAT.

ps: I am noting down whatever that comes to my mind .Whatever i have typed below are personal opinions and should be taken in the right spirt

1.The longest journey starts with a single step
As rightly said by MAO, Please dont get intimidated by the sheer volume of CAT syllabus. Beleive me no one has actuallty completed all the materails at his disposal. Just think that this is the right time to start ur preperation. Start with small doses before getting into high profile stuffs.

2. Stitch in time saves Nine

The basic motto is to be REGULAR.So you should be spending the MAX(time at ur disposal) for ur CAT preperations every day.It may be 2 or 3 or even 5 hours everyday.For people who are working, its quite difficult but nobody other than urselves can help you out . Even if you are not in a mood to learn, do develop a habit of spending 2-3 hours daily on CAT related tasks. It can either be reading Newspapes etc or doing simple Arithmetics or going through Grammar. It is humanly impossible to go through all the sections(Quant/DI/Verbal/Reasoning) and its subsections(Number theory, Time speed, Probability, RC, Grammar etc) in a single day. SO u can schedule urselves in such a way that you brush up all the sections within every 3 days and all subsections in say every 10 days


3.A friend in need is a friend indeed

Try Forming a study group. Pagalguy is having vibrant communities @ most of the metros.Make use of it. Get new friends.if u r staying with ur frineds who arent preparing for CAT I strongly suggest u to rent out a new home with fellow aspirants for say 6-7 months and then move back.

4.A problem shared is a problem halved

Be active @ pagalguy.com . Try contacting seniors/ fellow aspirants and try talking out ur issues. Post devotedly.One important thing to be noted is not to get intimidated by the scores other pagals are posting. Just think that pagalguy is a den where all these 99.99%tilers participate. But there are also other cool percentiles to grab during the actual CAT. believe me 98.91% tile is also cool...So be confident and work towards ur goal


5.Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely

The basic idea is not to be over confident.I personally know at least 7-8 heavy weights who have faltered at the final step. They were getting mesmerising scores at mocks(99+ %tiles) but couldnt perform well during the D day. So if u r having good mock cat scores, then its well and good.BUt dont be over confident and treat the lesser mortals in a derogatory way. You never know whats going to happen on November 19th. So be cool and work towards ur goal


6.Make hay while the sun shines

The basic idea is to be flexible.Be flexible in ur strategy.But not on the Dday. You will get ample mocks to finalise ur strategy. BUt dont have a rigid time frame like (50-50-50) for the sections. Do learn thru the mocks on which section to start with and apply ur self developed strategies accordingly

7.It's not worth crying over spilt milk/Let bygones be bygones

This should be the golden rule. You might be getting close to 98 % tile overall and clearing all sectionals mock after mock but one fine day ur mock score became 68%tile.Learn ur mistake and get out of it. MOck CAT will give u an approximate picture on where u will be standing .. not the absolute picture.. Have faith in thyself and continue working towards ur goal.


8.Don't put all your eggs in one basket

You may be a heavy weight. You may be getting KILLER PERCENTILES @ mocks. Everyone knows that u r destined to be @ IIM-A. BUt u never know what future has in store for you. SO do write other exams like XAT/SNAP/FMS/NMAT/JMET etc. Write these exams get a good score, get a call , convert that call and then decide whether to join or not to join. Because Our thought process changes a lot once we get a REJECTION. So always have a backup plan

9.Don't try to walk before you can crawl

Preparing for CAT should be a step by step approach.Dont start with Full length tests if u r not comfortable about the basics. Its not the number of
Mocks/FLTs that matter but what u deduce from them matters the most


10.Oil and water don't mix
"Either u r with us or You are against us"-George Bush proclaimed after 9/11. Similarly words like laziness,boredom,Apni yeh Paatshala Masti ki patshaala dont go hand in hand with ur CAT preperation. I am not asing you to be a book worm. You have to be active but ur activities shouldnt hamper ur CAT preperation tempo. So a strict NO to gossips, masti, booze, pubs, girlfriends/ boyfriends etc when its ur study time.


11.Put your best foot forward

You have prepared diligently and its ur final day. Be cool. If u have prepared well Just think that You havent done that much crimes in life so that GOD is
gonna harm you at this juncture.Its ur day and perform well.

12.All's fair in love and war

This is a very very very tricky one. Viewer discretion advised. You may have to face situations @ actual CAT where you may get undue advantages.Instances like copying, not giving back the OMR etc are a strict NO NO. What i meant is say for eg: the instructor @ ur class room may give 5 minutes extra due to his stupidity. So make use of the time.Just go with the tide. I personally know people who have sat idle thinking about morality at that point.Please remember that Alexander Ruled the world not Harischandra...

13.Learn to keep ur Mouth shut and Ears Opened
When it comes to CAT , 100 people will be having 101 opinions. Do listen to it thru one ear, and if its crap let it pass out through the other ear.Believe me there might be situations when some wise people advice u to change ur startegy a day prior to D DAY. Approach only those people whom u genuinely think will help u ( @ pagalguy u will find hoards of them). Also dont go around proclaiming that you are preapring for CAT and u r expecting IIM calls. Its indeed a soothing experience to tell others if u have 98% tile but quite heart breaking when every tom **** and harry asks u about IIM calls when u r actually having 80%tile.


Thats it from my side.WIll kep this post updated..

CIAO,

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