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How to prepare for PhD entrance examinations?

Clearing the entrance exam is an entry to PhD programme. Besides holding Bachelor’s and Master’s degree, you must clear the entrance exam. Because then only you can pursue the PhD programme. Our tips on how to prepare for the PhD entrance exam will help you.

Eligibility to enter in PhD programme

You must hold Master’s degree and in some cases MPhil degree in your specific field.

PhD entrance test (PET)

There was no entrance test for PhD few years back. But UGC has made entrance exams compulsory for the people who want to pursue PhD. After clearing the entrance exam, the shortlisted candidates are required to give an interview. In the interview the candidate has to discuss about the research area in which he/she will write thesis. The candidate can chose his/her topic and in some cases the panel who takes the interview can also give the topic of the research area to the candidate.

Format of PET exam

Preparing for PhD entrance test (PET) in advance is very important. The pattern of entrance exam of different subjects is different in colleges and universities. But the entire entrance exam in most of the subjects is maximum 100 marks and the duration of the test is two hours or in some cases it could be three hours. The question paper of PhD entrance test is divided into two parts out of which: one part contains objective type (Multiple choice questions) and another part contains subjective type questions related to the concerned subject.

Attempt previous year papers

You must follow the previous year’s PhD entrance test question papers and see the pattern of the papers. It is good to attempt as a practice these question papers because after attempting these papers you will feel more confident as well as you will get to know about your strong and weak points. You must consult the students who are pursuing the PhD in the concerned subject. They can give a lot of help and guidance. Clarifying the queries related to the entrance exam with the seniors who are pursuing PhD will give a clear picture of the test.

Get yourself updated about current affairs

You should thoroughly prepare about the subject you have chosen. You can also take guidance from the teachers of the concerned subject. If the subject has something related to the current affairs, it is best that you must go through the newspapers and remain updated about the selected issues. If your subject is science again you must get yourself aware of any new developments made in that area. It is very important to be aware about the current affairs related to the subject. A question can come in an entrance exam about the recent developments which are related to the subject.