I am in II B.E. (CS branch) and I want to pursue MBA from IIM. I am aware that I have to pass the Common Admission Test (CAT) to clear the IIM. Please tell me how to prepare and when is the right time to start studying.

Vivek P.

Students prepare for the CAT for at least a year or two. You have started at the right time. Once you are in the final year of the B.E. programme you should take a shot at the CAT. Preparing for the examination for at least one year helps you to plan and strategise. There is no short cut to success. Consistency in preparation and repetitive taking of mock tests will help in having a proper mind-set which will enable you to qualify and gain admission in one of the IIMs.

I have completed second Pre-University with a score of 60 per cent. I am interested in Biology and I wish to pursue B.Sc. Which subject should I choose to pursue my interests?

Mahesh Negalur

Biology is taught as an integrated subject till the +2 level (Intermediate level) in India, after which a student will have to focus on subjects such as Botany, Zoology and Environmental Science. After a B.Sc in Botany, Zoology and Environmental Science, you can pursue a Master's programme in the subjects mentioned. If you have research interests, go for a Ph.D. Botany and Zoology are common subjects in various Pure Science courses. Environmental Science is available as a choice of study in a few institutions. A combination of the three will help you to achieve your dream.

I have completed 12th in the CBSE stream and I want to pursue Audio Engineering. I am planning to pursue the same after B.Tech (EC). What are the job opportunities after pursuing Audio Engineering?

Shruthi Sundar K.

Audio Engineering deals with the recording and reproduction of sound through electronic and mechanical means. The area of study focuses on the facets of electrical engineering, acoustics, and music. An Audio Engineer should have knowledge of the different types of recording media, viz., digital multi-track recorders, work stations, analog tape, to mention a few. They also need to have an understanding of the software and hardware and the integration of the two.

There are four distinct steps to commercial production of a recording: recording, editing, mixing, and mastering. Typically, each is performed by a sound engineer who specialises only in that part of production.

A Studio Engineer could be either a Sound Engineer or one who is a Producer of the Sound Engineering division. You can also focus on the aspect of Recording and become a Recording Engineer. Another aspect worth considering is Mastering Engineering, mixing the final stereo tracks. In fact, the final quality of music or sound is decided by the Mastering Engineer.

The Mixing Engineer is a professional who mixes multi-track recordings.

I have completed Plus Two. I want to improve my English writing skills. How can this be done? I make a lot of grammatical mistakes while speaking.

Sadashiv

Practice is the key to understanding a language. Practice would be in the form of reading, writing and making efforts to speak with your peers, which will provide confidence. Watching English television programmes will also help.

Peer support is crucial in language understanding and learning. You should insist on speaking in English so that you can focus on the mistakes and learn from them.

Reading aloud in English will help in confidence generation. The initial days will be tough but with grit you can overcome the difficulty and communicate well.