Terence Ireland Principal, St James School for Boys’ Calcutta

Q:Will it be possible for me to sit for competitive examinations after completing my higher secondary exam if I take up economics, statistics and mathematics in Class XI-XII? Please advise.

Suman

A: You will be eligible for the Joint Entrance Examination and also for the Indian civil services examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) as long as you have graduated with any basic degree.

With the combination of subjects you have mentioned you could also pursue BStat, MStat at the Indian Statistical Institute after which you will have good prospects in the United States and the United Kingdom and work as an operations researcher and financial analyst.

Other career options after graduation include cost accountancy, chartered accountancy, Indian Audits and Accounts Services and the Indian Revenue Service.

You can also look at prospects in the insurance sector and merchant banking sector. These days there are so many opportunities to choose from that there are times when you might get confused and find it hard to select the right field.

My advice to you is that you set your sights on one which you have an aptitude for and then work all out to achieve it.

Q: I have passed my Class XI with just 50 per cent marks. It is not that I do not study or do not like to study, but my problem is that I am unable to concentrate and start feeling sleepy after one-and-a-half hours of studies. Please give me some suggestions that will help me to improve. I wish to score 80 per cent in my coming board exams.

Name Withheld

A: Your marks indicate that you are an average student but the good thing is that you wish to improve. If your aim is to score higher marks and move into the above average bracket then there are a few things you must look into.

First and foremost, you must understand that it is not unusual for students to lose concentration while studying. The best way to overcome this is to set time limits on each lesson you begin and you must be aware of it till the lesson is over.

You can also try meditation which is supposed to help overcome loss of concentration.

Try to study those lessons where you have to memorise when your mind and body are fresh. Whenever you are tired and start feeling sleepy do as much written work as you can. Solve test papers, do plenty of written exercises. Follow these tips carefully and you will find that your grades are moving up. Wish you all the best.

Amitava Raychaudhuri Sir Tarak Nath Palit Professor of Physics, Calcutta University

Q: I appeared for my Class XII (science) board exam this year. I want to do further studies in the field of astrophysics and want to do research in the same subject. I have heard that for this stream they are not keen on taking those who have BSc maths honours. Is this true? Please advise.

Abhinay Shaw

A: A physics training is the standard route to a career in astrophysics. A good background in mathematics, in addition, certainly helps.

Physics honours with mathematics as a subsidiary fits this bill quite nicely. But, do take heed that the physics (general) course for mathematics honours students is hopelessly inadequate for later success in astrophysics.

Q: My son is getting admission through AIEEE at NIT Patna and through the state SMIT at Gangtok. Where should I admit him? I am really confused and cannot come to any decision on my own. Kindly advise.

P. Bhutia

A: Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology, popularly known as SMIT, Gangtok, will possibly be a better choice. Do bear in mind though that every institute has its strengths and weaknesses. So while ?A? may be preferred over ?B? for one subject, it may be quite the reverse for another.