CBSE International (CBSE I) is set to take off from April 1

The Central Board of Secondary Education International (CBSE I) is set to take off from April 1 with 25 schools from the Middle East region getting affiliated to the international version of the school board. The principals of the 25 schools were in New Delhi on Monday to undergo an orientation programme before the beginning of the academic session. Resource persons from CBSE will also be sent to these schools to help them train teachers for the new curriculum of the international board.

As reported by this newspaper earlier, the 25 schools - short- listed from 45 that had evinced a keen interest in affiliating to CBSE I - are located in Oman, UAE, Qatar and Singapore among others. The move is being made to expand the CBSE's fold, create a brand for India and also as a measure of soft diplomacy to reach out to regions across the world.

CBSE chairperson Vineet Joshi said the CBSE I would offer competition to international boards like the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) affiliated to University of Cambridge or the Geneva-based International Baccalaureate and would come backed with an

• Andhra Pradesh

• Haryana

• Pondicherry

• Arunachal Pradesh

• Himachal Pradesh

• Punjab

• Assam

• Jammu Kashmir

• Rajasthan

• Bihar

• Karnataka

• Sikkim

• Chandigarh

• Kerala

• Tamil Nadu

• Delhi

• Madhya Pradesh

• Tripura

• Goa

• Maharashtra

• Uttar Pradesh

• Gujarat

• Orissa

• West Bengal

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh State Level Engineering, Agricultural & Medical Common Entrance Test (EAMCET) is conducted by one of the state University for admission to BE/ BArch/ BTech (Agri/ Engg/Dairy Tech) courses in all engineering and medical colleges (including private as well as minority institutions) in Andhra Pradesh affiliated to the Universities namely Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural, Andhra Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Kakatiya, Nagarjuna, Osmania, Sri Krishnadevaraya, Sri Venkateswara; and Regional Engineering Colleges.

Eligibility : Candidates should have passed or appeared for the final year of Intermediate examination (10+2) with Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry as optionals or Vocational courses in the fields of Engineering and Technology held by the Board of Intermediate Education, Andhra Pradesh or Diploma examination in Engineering/Architecture conducted by the State Board of Technical Education & Training or equivalent. Candidates must be of Indian Nationality and admission is open to residents of the State of Andhra Pradesh. They should complete 16 years of age by the date of commencement of admissions.

Admission Procedure : Application form and prospectus can be obtained from the Principal of the College or convenor, EAMCET or from the Head Post Offices of Andhra Pradesh. Completed applications should reach the Convener, EAMCET, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Mahaveer Marg, Masab Tank, Hyderabad 500028 or as notified by the prescribed date.

Selection : Selected is on the basis of merit in EAMCET. The test centers are at Anantapur, Guntur, Hyderabad, Kakinada, Kurnool, Nellore, Tirupati, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam and Warangal or as notified from time to time. Candidates who seek admission to 5-year BArch course are required to appear for an Aptitude test separately, after qualifying the E A M C ET. The aptitude test is conducted at JNTU, School of planning & Architecture, Hyderabad.

Pattern & Medium of Examination: The test comprises of 200 questions of 3 hour duration. Questions are of multiple choice object type in Physics (50 marks), Chemistry (50 marks) and Mathematics (100 marks). Standard of the test is that of the intermediate exam. The medium of the test will be in English and Telugu. Candidates who have studied the qualifying examination in Urdu medium are allotted a Centre at Hyderabad.

Reservation of seats: 85% of the seats are reserved in favour of the local candidates. Reservation category include SC/ST/BC, children of defence personnel, sports, NCC, GOI nominees.

Domicile Restrictions: state residents (except GOI nominees). Following categories of candidates are considered eligible.

1. Study in state educational institutions for 4/7 consecutive academic years

2. Resident in local area for 4/7 years immediately preceding the date of commencement of qualifying exam or candidates who have resided in the state for 10 years or candidates whose parents have resided in the state for 10 years or candidates whose parents/who are spouses of those in the employment of the state/central govt./public sector corporations/local bodies/universities within the state.

Haryana

A Common Engineering Entrance Test (CEET) for admission to 4 year B.E/B.Tech. course and 5 Year B.Arch courses at the Government and Private Engineering Colleges in Haryana is conducted by National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra. passed the 10+2 examination of Senior Secondary Certificate from Haryana Board/CBSE or its equivalent with 50% marks Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics and a pass in English. Candidates who have appeared in the qualifying exam are also eligible for CEET. 3 year Diploma holders from Haryana Board of Technical Education are eligible for admission to the second year of Technical Education are eligible for admission to the second year of BE/B Teach course under ‘Lateral Entry Scheme’.

Admission Procedure : CEET Brochure containing syllabi for the test and other details together with the application form can be obtained from the National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra-136119. Completed application should reach the institute by the notified date usually on March/ April.

Selection : Selection is on the basis of merit in CEET exam. Test Centres are Ambala, Bhiwani, Chandigarh, Delhi, Faridabad, Grunion, Hisar, Kurukshetra and Sonepat. CEET result is communicated individually to all the candidates.

Medium & Pattern of Examination: Test comprises of a composite question paper of 3 hours duration and will consist of objective type multiple choice questions in maths, physics and chemistry of 60 marks each. The medium of the exam is in English.

Reservation of Seats : Some seats are reserved for SC/ST, BC, Armed Forces personnel, Children of Freedom Fighters, Physically handicapped sports persons.

Domicile Restrictions: For payment seats candidates outside the state are also considered. However, first preference is given to candidates who have passed their qualifying exams from schools in Haryana or have a Haryana domicile

Pondicherry

Joint Entrance Test (JET) is conducted for admission to BTech course in Pondicherry Engineering College and Bharathiyar College of Engineering and Technology, Karaikal

Eligibility : HSC exam (10+2) or its equivalent with 50% marks in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.

Admission Procedure : Application form and prospectus can be obtained from the notified branches of Canara Bank in Pondicherry on payment of requisite amount. It is also available by post by crossed demand draft in favour of the Convener, CENTAC payable at Pondicherry. Complete application should reach the Convener, CENTAC, Pondicherry Engineering College, Pondicherry -605014 by the notified date usually on April/May.

Selection : Selection is based on the marks obtained in the qualifying exam and in the JET. Usually the test will be conducted in June. Both the test are given equal weightage.

Medium of examination: English

Reservation of Seats: 75%/85% of seats are reserved for Pondicherry residents and remaining from other parts of India.

Domicile Restrictions: Candidates should satisfy one of the following conditions: (a) candidates whose parents are residing continuously in Pondicherry for 5 years preceding the date of application, (b) passed qualifying exam from Pondicherry, (c) children of Pondicherry government employees, (d) children of central government servants/defence personnel/employees of Public sector undertakings working in Pondicherry.

Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh Entrance Examination is conducted by the North-East Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST). The academic programmes offered in the institute are in the Engineering / Technology and Applied Science streams. The Engineering and Technology stream at NERIST consist of three modules (Certificate, Diploma and Degree) each of two years duration. In Applied science stream offers a two-year base module and four-year degree module. Each module has an entry point through an entrance examination conducted by NERIST. Each module also provides terminality corresponding to an occupational level, and at the same time allows entry to the next higher module, finally leading to a degree in engineering/technology. The system also allows lateral entry from outside with necessary pre-requisites, at the Diploma and Degree levels.

Eligibility : Certificate (Engg/Tech and Applied Sciences) (NEE-I) - 10th
Diploma (Engineering/Technology) (NEE-II)- NERIST certificate holder or 10+2 exam (Phy, Chem, Maths or vocational subjects)

Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE)

Organizing Institute - IIT Bombay

The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is an All-India Examination conducted by the seven Indian Institutes of Technology and the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, on behalf of the National Coordinating Board - GATE, Department of Education, Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD), Government of India.

Admission to postgraduate programmes, with MHRD and other government scholarship/assistantship, in Engineering/Technology/Architecture/Pharmacy/Science at engineering colleges/institutes in the country will be open only to those who qualify through GATE.

Some engineering colleges/institutes specify GATE as mandatory qualification even for admission of self-financing students to postgraduate programmes. However, GATE qualification in itself does not guarantee either admission or scholarship/assistantship. GATE qualified candidates in Engineering disciplines are also eligible for the award of the Junior Research Fellowship in CSIR Laboratories. Some Government Organizations prescribe GATE qualification as a requirement for applying to the post of a Scientist.

Eligibility

The following categories of candidates are eligible to appear for GATE 2005.

1. Bachelor's degree holders in Engineering/ Technology/ Architecture/ Pharmacy and those who are in the final or pre- final year of such programmes
2. Master's degree holders in any branch of Science/ Mathematics/ Statistics/ Computer Applications or equivalent and those who are in the final or pre- final year of such programmes
3. Candidates in the second or higher year of the Post B.Sc. Four- year Integrated Master's degree programme in Engineering/ Technology or in the third or higher year of the Five- Year integrated Master's degree/ Dual degree programme in Engineering/ Technology
4. Candidates with qualifications obtained through examination conducted by professional societies recognized by UPSC/ AICTE as equivalent to B.E / B. Tech. Those who have completed Section A or equivalent of such professional courses are also eligible.

Application Procedure

There are two different processes by which a candidate can apply/ register for GATE 2005, namely, "online" and "offline".

The registration-cum-application fee for offline applications is Rs.1000/- for General candidates and Rs.500/- for SC/ST candidates. The fee for online application is Rs. 850/- for General candidates and Rs. 350/- for SC/ST candidates. The registration fee is not refundable and the application form is not transferable.

The online process requires the candidate to fill a Web based application on the Internet. Online submission of application and online fee payment can be made by accessing the GATE 2005 website http://www.gate.iitb.ac.in

The Offline Application Form along with the Information Brochure can be obtained in three ways:

1. Forms are sold by designated bank branches in each zone on payment of the appropriate Registration Fee in cash. Designated bank branches are listed below.
2. Information Brochure and Application Form are also available by Post from the GATE Offices at all IITs and IISc on payment of appropriate Registration Fee by Demand Draft only, drawn in favour of the IIT/IISc to which the request is being made (eg. IIT Bombay in case of Bombay zone). Two self-addressed slips are to be enclosed along with the written request to the Chairman GATE of the concerned Institute.
3. Information Brochure and Application Form can also be obtained in person at the counter of GATE offices on payment of the appropriate Registration Fee by Demand Draft as above. GATE offices do not accept cash.

Joint Entrance Examination (JEE)

JEE (Joint Entrance Examination) is the admission test conducted by IITs (Indian Institutes of Technology), are the most prestigious Engineering institutions in India. They were established with the sole purpose of providing international standards of excellence in Engineering education. Apart from IIT, Institute of Technology- Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi also consider JEE for their admission process. The admissions to the Undergraduate Programmes for all Indian and Foreign nationals at these institutions are made through the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE). M.Sc Integrated courses in pure and applied sciences and M.Tech Integrated courses in a few disciplines are also offered by some of the IIT Institutes. In addition, some IITs offer Dual Degree M.Tech. programmes wherein both B.Tech. and M.Tech. degrees are awarded at the end of the programme. For admission to 5 1/2 years integrated M.Tech. course in Biotechnology, candidate must have had biology/life science in addition to Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.

The JEE consists of (a) preliminary examination (screening test) and (b) main examination. Preliminary examination consist of an objective type paper of 3 hours duration in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Only those candidates, who qualify the screening test are eligible to appear in the main examination. The main examination has papers in physics, chemistry and mathematics of 2 hours duration each. These institutions offer courses leading to Bachelor's degree in a number of engineering, technological and scientific disciplines.

The Indian Institute Of Technologies are:

• Indian Institute of Technology,
  Powai, Mumbai -400076
  Website: http://www.iitb.ernet.in
  Phone-(022) 25767062
   

• Indian Institute of Technology,
  Hauzkhas, New Delhi - 110016
  Website: http://www.iitd.ernet.in
  Phone-(011) 26582002
   

• Indian Institute of Technology,
  Guwahati, Assam
  Website: http://www.iitg.ernet.in
  Phone-(0361) 2690788, 2582180
   

• Indian Institute of Technology,
  P.O.Kanpur - 208016
  Website: http://www.iitk.ac.in
  Phone-(0512) 2597236
   

• Indian Institute of Technology,
  Distt. Midnapur, Kharagpur - 721302
  Website: http://www.iitkgp.ernet.in
  Phone-(03222) 281881,278241
   

• Indian Institute of Technology,
  P.O.Chennai - 600036
  Website: http://www.iitm.ac.in
  Phone- (044) 22578098
   

• Indian Institute of Technology,
  Roorkee- 247667
  Website: http://www.rurkiu.ernet.in
  Phone-(01332) 279805, 279806

Eligibility

The minimum academic qualification for admission through JEE is a pass grade in the final examination of 10+2 system or its equivalent, referred to as the Qualifying Examination such as :

• The final examination of the 10+2 system, conducted by any recognized Central/State Board, such as Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi; Council for Indian School Certificate Examination, New Delhi; etc.
• Intermediate or two-year Pre-University Examination conducted by a recognized Board/ University.
• Final Examination of the two-year course of the Joint Services Wing of the National Defence Academy.
• General Certificate Education (GCE) Examination (London/Cambridge/Sri Lanka) at the Advanced (A) level.
• High School Certificate Examination of the Cambridge University.
• Any Public School/Board/University Examination in India or in foreign countries recognized by the Association of Indian Universities as equivalent to 10+2 system.
• H.S.C. Vocational Examination.
• Senior Secondary School Examination conducted by the National Open School with a minimum of five subjects.
• 3 or 4-year Diploma recognized by AICTE or a State Board of Technical Education.

Between 16-21 years of age on the first day of the October of the year of examination can attempt JEE. Those appearing in 10+2 final or equivalent examination in 2005 may also appear in JEE-2005 for consideration of provisional admission. Candidates can opt for Question Papers either in English or in Hindi But for the Main Examination, candidate can choose any of these languages Assamese, Bengali, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. Calculators and log table is not permitted during JEE examination.

Application

Prior to declaration of results of Senior School Certificate (Class XII) and Secondary School (Class X) the Board adopts the Moderation Policy in the following manner:

Bifurcated syllabi in main subjects at Secondary level for Term I (1st April 2010- 30th September 2010) and Term II (1st October 2010-31st March 2011)

In continuation with the Board's office Circular No. 42/09 dated 12/10/2009 on CCE in Class IX for Second Term (October 2009 - March 2010, the syllabi in the main subjects at Secondary school level ( Classes 9 and 10) bifurcated for Term I and Term II have been given as Annexure 1 to 5. The detailed guidelines for Formative Assessment in these subjects will be sent to you shortly along with the question paper designs and sample question papers for Summative Assessment 1 ( October 2010) and Summative assessment II ( March 2011).

These documents will be helpful to your teachers in designing creative activities and lesson plans for transacting syllabus and assessing students effectively during the Academic session effective from 1st April 2010.

Enclosed:

• Annexure 1 : Hindi A , Hindi B
• Annexure 2 : English- Communicative, English- Language and Literature
• Annexure 3 : Mathematics
• Annexure 4 : Science
• Annexure 5 : Social Science

CBSE gets it wrong again in Physics paper 2010

Barely three days after a mistake in the mathematics paper, the Central Board of Secondary Examination (CBSE) erred again on Friday.

This time it was the Class X science paper.

Though the paper distributed in Delhi had no problem, the ones outside the capital had an incomplete physics question.

Question number 16 in set one and three and question number 15 in set two based on Ohm’s law did not have the value of voltage given. The question carried three marks.

CCE Class 10th Syllabus for Term 1 and Term 2 Examination 2010

As per CCE guidelines the syllabus of Science for classes IX & X has been divided term wise. The units specified for each term shall be assessed through both Formative and Summative assessments. In each term, there will be two formative assessments each carrying 10% weightage. The summative assessment in the first term will carry 20% weightage and the summative assessment in the second term will carry 40% weightage. Hands on practical examination will be conducted through formative assessment once in every term with 20% weightage of total term marks. Assessment of Practical skills through MCQ will carry 20% weightage in every term end summative assessment.

First Term (April 2010 to September 2010)

There will be TWO FORMATIVE and ONE SUMMATIVE test in first term. Formative assessments (F1 and F2) will carry total 20 marks (10 marks each) and Summative assessment (S1) will carry 20 Marks.

While all the buzz is usually around board examinations of students in classes X and XII, class IX students going to CBSE schools are taking an annual examination of a different nature this year.

For the first time, they did not get examination question papers set by their subject teachers. The CBSE, emphasising the need for uniformity in summative assessment across schools as part of its Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE), prepared question papers for various subjects and mailed the CDs to schools. The schools also received the answer scheme and marking scheme from the Board.

Schools, which are warming up to the new system, not only have to conduct the examination in a manner specified, but also have to ensure students feel at ease.

According to Seethalakshmi Viswanath, Principal, Amrita Vidyalayam School in Nesapakkam, the question papers have been set rationally, and seek to test students' Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS).

“While attempting question papers set by our school teachers, often, only those who work really hard do well. But in these papers, any student who knows the concepts well can do reasonably well irrespective of the effort put in just before the examinations,” she says.

Ms. Viswanath also says that schools would be able to build a good question bank that would help test students' conceptual understanding. “Also, besides relieving teachers of the task of setting question papers, it gives them

The candidate seeking admission to the AIEEE is required :-
i) to go through the Information Bulletin carefully and acquaint with all the requirements;
ii) to satisfy eligibility to appear in the examination;
iii) to send the application on the prescribed Application Form complete in all respect or submit it online;
iv) to write complete mailing address with Postal Pin Code in the Application Form in the capital letters only;

v) to fill in the Application Form in own handwriting in BLOCK LETTERS in English only, using blue/black ball point pen, within the prescribed boxes. Use blue/black ball point for darkening the appropriate circle(s) also.

vi) to write amount of additional fee,Bank Draft/Demand draft No.,date and Bank code properly if applying for BE/B.Tech and B.Arch/B. Planning together,or opted centre at foreign country.

vii) OVERWRITING, CUTTINGS, ERASING IN THE APPLICATION FORM AND INCOMPLETE FORM MAY LEAD TO REJECTION OF FORM AND SHOULD BE AVOIDED. ANY ERROR ARISING ON THIS ACCOUNT SHALL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CANDIDATE.

viii) The Application Form duly filled in should be sent to THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY (AIEEE), CENTRAL BOARD OF SECONDARY EDUCATION, PS 1-2,INSTITUTIONAL AREA, IP EXTENSION, PATPARGANJ NEW DELHI – 110092 in the printed envelop supplied by the Board so as to reach positively by 5.01.2010. The Application Form will not be received personally in any case. The candidate must retain photocopy of his/her filled in Application Form for future correspondence, if required.

ix) The last date for receipt of Application Form by Registered/Speed Post (NOT BY COURIER) is 5.01.2010. Thereafter 15 days grace time for receipt of Application Form up to 20.01.2010 will be allowed to the candidates belonging to remote areas viz. Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, Lahaul and Spiti District and Pangi sub division of Chamba District of Himachal Pradesh, Andaman & Nicobar Island and Lakshadweep

x) If a candidate submits more than one Application Form, his/her candidature shall be liable to be cancelled and debarred for future examination(s). No communication will be sent in this regards.

xi) (a) For S. Nos. 1, 2 & 3 of the Application Form :- Candidate should write his/her name, mother’s name, father’s name in capital letters as given in Class X Certificate of Board/University.

Each letter should be filled in one box as shown below. One box should be left blank between each part of the name. Before filling in the Application Form, write on a plain paper and verify the correctness of spellings.

Candidate’s Name : Raj Bala

Mother’s Name: Rama Devi

Father’s Name: Niranjan Kumar

(b)Please note : For S. Nos. 4 to 10,12,13 & 17 of the Application Form : In case of discrepancy in written code and darkened circle, code written in the box(es) shall be taken as final without any correspondence.

For S.Nos. 4 to 7,9 &12 of the Application Form :- Write appropriate Code and darken the appropriate circle as applicable for the following:-

(c) For S. No. 8 of the Application Form : In case of girl candidate if you are only child of your parents i.e. no brother or sister write 1 in box and darken circle Yes. Otherwise write 2 in the box darken circle No.

(d) For S. No. 10 of the Application Form i.e Date of Birth : Write and darken the appropriate circle for the date, month and year of birth as per English calendar and as recorded in the Secondary Education Board/ University Certificate.

All India Engineering/Architecture Entrance Examination 2010

Download FREE Tests Series For CBSE Class X (Science)

Dyslexic child can't use calculator in CBSE exam

About Dyslexia: Dyslexia is a learning disorder that manifests itself as a difficulty with reading, spelling and in some cases mathematics. It is separate and distinct from reading difficulties resulting from other causes, such as a non-neurological deficiency with vision or hearing, or from poor or inadequate reading instruction. Know more..

The Supreme Court on Friday declined to entertain a dyslexic's plea for permission to use a calculator in his Class XII public examination in mathematics conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education.

(Dyslexia is a disorder involving difficulty in learning to read or interpret words.)

A Bench of Chief Justice K. G. Balakrishnan, Justice Deepak Verma and Justice C. K. Prasad dismissed a special leave petition filed by Pranay Jain through his father against a judgment of the Punjab & Haryana High Court.

Class 12 students taking the mathematics paper of the Central Board for Secondary Education in every place except Delhi were in for a jolt on Monday. Of the three sets of papers, sets 1 and 3 had an incomplete question, carrying 6 marks. This means that they could at best score 94 marks out of 100. Students in Delhi, however, had no such problem as the CBSE distributes a completely different set of papers for students in the national capital.

Download CLAT 2010 Sample Papers

Common Law Admission Test, CLAT- 2010

The concept of a National Law School to act as a pace-setter and a testing ground for bold experiments in legal education came up before the Bar Council of India in the context of the Council’s statutory responsibility for maintaining standards in professional legal education under the Advocates Act, 1961. The Bar Council of India, representing the organized legal profession at all India level, took initiative in establishing the first National Law School in Bangalore. The success of National Law School of India University, Bangalore, has inspired many States to set up similar institutions in their respective territories and at present, there are twelve National Law Schools in different parts of the country. These institutions are national in the sense that substantial number of seats in all these institutions are filled up by students from all over India and the academic staff are also recruited on all India basis. Till 2007 each National Law School conducted admission test in different Centres spread all over the country and thousands of students after their ten plus two examinations took these multiple admission tests at considerable expense and inconvenience.

In order to avoid the hardship faced by the students in taking number of tests for admission to individual Universities and in view of the direction of the Supreme Court in the case of Varun Bharat v. Union of India, initiative was taken jointly by the University Grants Commission, Ministry of HRD and the National Law Universities for conducting a Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) for admission to different National Law Universities in the country.  A Memorandum of Understanding was signed by seven National Law Universities. The experience in CLAT-2008 has been that a larger the catchment area, provides better quality of students. Therefore, in addition to the CLAT founder seven National Law Universities, the four other National Law Universities have joined CLAT- 2009. It was agreed by the Committee consisting of all the Vice-Chancellors that the test would be conducted by the National Law Universities by rotation on the basis of seniority of the Member University. Accordingly, (CLAT)-2008 and CLAT- 2009 were conducted by National Law School of India University, (NLSIU), Bangalore and NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad respectively. At present following 11 National Law Universities are member of CLAT-2010.

Help your friends ace the 2010 CLAT and join you in law school

With the most important exam in the lives of young lawyers-to-be around the corner, Legally India have compiled advice from those who know how to get you there. Please send this to your younger friends and relatives and add your advice and thoughts to help them on their way to Common Law Admissions Test (CLAT) success.

"It's not a matter of life and death," says Law School Tutorials (LST) 2008 academic head Kunal Mehra. "Stay calm and believe in yourself; breathe."

That is probably far easier said than done when your adrenaline is on overdrive on your way to the CLAT exam room. So, heed the advice from those who know to help you get there.

"Before you even plan to take CLAT you must be fully and correctly informed or else you will end up being a sailor without a navigator," says the product manager of the IMS Learning Resources Law program Rajneesh Singh.

A good place to start is to look at previous years' entrance papers of different law schools as sometimes questions get repeated from old papers, advises Paradygm Law Tutors course director Anita T.

And ultimately make sure you keep the finish line in sight and tell yourself constantly that each and every hour of effort is going to be worth it, says current LST national anchor Karn Jani.

Read on and learn how to tackle each of the 2010 CLAT's sections, which is being conducted by NLIU Bhopal this year.

Legal Aptitude/ Legal Awareness (LA) - 45 marks
Since times immemorial LA has been every law aspirant's Achilles Heel. And that hasn't been helped by CLAT authorities dilly-dallying on whether to include legal reasoning questions or not.

The faculty members at Paradygm believe that legal reasoning will be a part of the LA section this time around.

LST programme director and LA faculty Saurav Datta is also "pretty sure" that CLAT 2010 will have a legal reasoning component. "CLAT authorities came in for a lot of flak for their excluding legal reasoning last year."

"Legal reasoning is about logic with law thrown in. You have a principle which is a premise and which you apply to a legal problem" he explains. "I see students form ideas about ethics and law when doing legal reasoning problems… It is a must have section." Datta also believes that introducing legal reasoning will bring down the cut off of grades.

He also supports the recent decision taken by CLAT authorities to consider marks obtained in LA as a tie-breaker. "We all know how various Indian boards differ in doling percentages," he says.

Singh of IMS has a caveat: "Now many students will give undue importance to legal reasoning questions - it is better to maximise the total score than trying to increase your LA scores."

The lengthy nature of the legal reasoning questions also lends weight to Singh's other argument: "Attempt easier questions which will fetch you marks quicker."

Prof. A Raman of the Sriram Law Academy believes that having the Indian Constitution at one's finger tips and thorough knowledge of general legal terms, maxims and theories will hold the candidate in good stead. "Basic legal components such as the law of torts and law of contracts should also be studied," he says.

Ramanuj Mukherjee who teaches LA at IMS and has founded an online forum called CLATHacker says: "The CLAT 2009 paper is publicly available. It is for anyone to see that the standard of the questions in LA is steadily rising."

"The popular books available in the market are now proving inadequate. Students must supplement this by reading basics on subjects like Jurisprudence, family law and CPC from the internet," he adds.

With around four weeks to go for CLAT he advises solving the past year papers to see what areas need special consideration.