Hola! So, first off, we'll be discussing the English section of the paper. Woah.. don't run away. There are a few tips here that you actually might find useful.*
The English section is the most predictable one if approached in a correct and systematic method. It's also a deadly one if you haven't had enough practice. The passage alone could eat a huge chunk of your time if you are one of those people who go scampering back to it every now and then. (yes, ma'am. I was one too.)
For starters, the section has Reading Comprehensions, Grammar and Vocabulary. Now, how many questions from each of these will be there is totally up to the person who sets the paper (might be SP this time, wait till you meet him. xD). However trends from past question papers show that you can expect up to 2 comprehension passages.
Comprehension Passage
For the passage, try not to spend too much time. Now this comes with a lot of practise. And that, once again means, Mocks! Do mocks, and figure out a strategy that works for you. The most common problem is that, while reading it, you might loose the thread of it and you'll go back and start over, maybe from a couple of sentences back, or even the whole damn thing. It's stupid. Or you might keep going back to it after reading each question. And that, needless to say, kills even more time.
Now, first thing you need to remember is that this is an MCQ based comprehension. You DO NOT have to mug the whole passage up, to start answering, an idea of what lies where, would do. However, if you are Dr. Strange, go on, mug. In short, don't take too much pain in reading it. Now this is what I used to do, try and see if it works for you. Read through the passage really fast, while trying hard to not loose the thread of what you are reading. Fast reading will give you more attention and you'll retain a lot of what you read for some time. (tip : Practise this with a particularly scary editorial article on Hindu, you'll see what I mean). Now do the questions. You may not know the passage in its entirety, but when you see the options, you'll be able to click away.
Another approach a friend suggested is to read the questions first and then hit the passage and then come back to the question. That helps too. Might take a little more time though. Try and see what works for ya!
Vocabulary
With the exams round the corner, we would suggest that you go and check previous years' question papers and note the difficult words as it is highly probable that it would repeat again. Also, once again, mocks help. Make it a point to never forget a word you screwed up during your mock. As for books, Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis, obviously, is the suitable one because of a hell lot of reasons.Firstly, almost every word has its genesis from a root word and from it many related words emerged, so learning root words would give you a total upper hand. Plus it increases your guess-ability. Trust me.Secondly, the words you learn in chapter one would again be repeated in successive chapters thereby sinking it right in.
And if the book is too big for you and you are more phone-y (lawl. bad pun) Use the Merriam Webster's dictionary app. IT has these vocab games that have a lot of these words that usually end up coming for HSEE, GRE and all. Also, you can use it on the go.
Grammar
Grammar, trust me, is a pie. You'll be fine. If you really think you need help, hook up with good old Wren and Martin. That book is gold. I'd however suggest a constant dose of mocks and a cocktail of good reading should do you good.
Happy Preppin!
*and that my friends, is called a bait.
The English section is the most predictable one if approached in a correct and systematic method. It's also a deadly one if you haven't had enough practice. The passage alone could eat a huge chunk of your time if you are one of those people who go scampering back to it every now and then. (yes, ma'am. I was one too.)
For starters, the section has Reading Comprehensions, Grammar and Vocabulary. Now, how many questions from each of these will be there is totally up to the person who sets the paper (might be SP this time, wait till you meet him. xD). However trends from past question papers show that you can expect up to 2 comprehension passages.Comprehension Passage
For the passage, try not to spend too much time. Now this comes with a lot of practise. And that, once again means, Mocks! Do mocks, and figure out a strategy that works for you. The most common problem is that, while reading it, you might loose the thread of it and you'll go back and start over, maybe from a couple of sentences back, or even the whole damn thing. It's stupid. Or you might keep going back to it after reading each question. And that, needless to say, kills even more time.
Now, first thing you need to remember is that this is an MCQ based comprehension. You DO NOT have to mug the whole passage up, to start answering, an idea of what lies where, would do. However, if you are Dr. Strange, go on, mug. In short, don't take too much pain in reading it. Now this is what I used to do, try and see if it works for you. Read through the passage really fast, while trying hard to not loose the thread of what you are reading. Fast reading will give you more attention and you'll retain a lot of what you read for some time. (tip : Practise this with a particularly scary editorial article on Hindu, you'll see what I mean). Now do the questions. You may not know the passage in its entirety, but when you see the options, you'll be able to click away.
Another approach a friend suggested is to read the questions first and then hit the passage and then come back to the question. That helps too. Might take a little more time though. Try and see what works for ya!
Vocabulary
With the exams round the corner, we would suggest that you go and check previous years' question papers and note the difficult words as it is highly probable that it would repeat again. Also, once again, mocks help. Make it a point to never forget a word you screwed up during your mock. As for books, Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis, obviously, is the suitable one because of a hell lot of reasons.Firstly, almost every word has its genesis from a root word and from it many related words emerged, so learning root words would give you a total upper hand. Plus it increases your guess-ability. Trust me.Secondly, the words you learn in chapter one would again be repeated in successive chapters thereby sinking it right in.
And if the book is too big for you and you are more phone-y (lawl. bad pun) Use the Merriam Webster's dictionary app. IT has these vocab games that have a lot of these words that usually end up coming for HSEE, GRE and all. Also, you can use it on the go.
Grammar
Grammar, trust me, is a pie. You'll be fine. If you really think you need help, hook up with good old Wren and Martin. That book is gold. I'd however suggest a constant dose of mocks and a cocktail of good reading should do you good.
Happy Preppin!
Gokul & Ganesh
*and that my friends, is called a bait.
That was a great one..I am preparing for HSEE 2020 and I find it really useful
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