Thursday, October 29, 2009

brace up the CAT , Specific tips on how to realign your preparations to suit the online format


If you are planning to bell the online CAT this year on November 18, here are some tips that could help you max the test.
The common admission test or CAT as it is popularly called, is finally giving in to the cyber revolution and taking its format online. This has only led to heightened anticipation about the most coveted entrance exams. What needs to be kept in mind really is that, only the format of the exam is changing. There are no shortcuts to preparing for the same. You need to be focussed, time yourself for every mock exam you take and ensure you are fast and accurate.
To begin with, book your exams slots early to get your preferred time and be prepared for long sittings before the computer.
Here are a few more specific tips on how to realign your preparations to suit the online format.
-If you are not used working on computers, get used to it, big time!
-Practise more online tests and puzzles
-Focus on the basics and avoid the lengthy data interpretation
-Know your strengths and weaknesses
-Read more online stuff-ebooks, e-paper etc. Do not waste time on lengthy reading material
-Practise shorter tests first, then move on to lengthier ones
-Take more of Reading comprehension and Data Interpretation tests
-Set time limits for every section and create your own benchmarks
-Indulge more in mental calculations
-Beware! You might not have the option to choose or leave as questions appear one by one
-Take tests in proctored environment outside home
-The tests throw up random questions, so the more you practice, the more used to
-Take as many tests as you can, as the formats will keep changing.
In fact, Arindam Lahiri, the director and co-founder of Career Launcher, one of the leading CAT-prep institutes in the country, has a few pointers for the aspirants. He says: "The ability to read off the paper and read off the computer monitor is usually different. Hence, building a habit of reading off the computer screen is important. In fact, we are advising students to read the e-paper daily rather than the paper version."
The other challenge, says Arindam, is retaining concentration while sitting in front of the computer for more than two hours. Again it needs practice. The third issue is primarily with a few question types - Reading Comprehension and Data Interpretation questions are especially difficult to solve from the computer screen. This needs a whole lot of practice and adopting a few techniques to tackle this.
Apart from the general tips that have been provided above, Arindam would like students to keep a few critical things in mind while preparing fro the online format.
Here's what the expert has to say:
a) Practice taking tests on the same day at the same time slot which the student has booked for his actual CAT.
b) Get into the habit of practicing the online test with the help of only a white paper and pencil to support (just like the original paper)
c) Break the entire test into manageable chunks - if the paper contains 60 questions , for example, to be done in 75 minutes, one needs to check if s/he has done at least 6 to 7 questions every 5 minutes. Do not fall in love with a question.
d) One needs to get used to staring at the computer screen for al least 3 hours at a stretch while practising.
It is advisable for the aspirants to increase the number of tests they take, as the date draws closer. Career Launcher claims to have conducted seven different proctored mock tests so far across 110 cities in the country which have been taken by about 60,000 candidates.
The only minor glitch in the online CAT format is that it has scared away semi-urban students who are not very computer-savvy, says Arindam. He says there's been in a shift in the profile of test takers as more people with work experience are registering for the CAT this year.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

World's Most Expensive Cruise Ship

World's Most Expensive Cruise Ship




After five years of planning and construction, Royal Caribbean is unveiling the Oasis of the Seas, a $1.4 billion ship that will be the largest and tallest cruise liner in the world when it takes its maiden voyage this December.
At 1,184 feet from stem to stern, it's nearly as long as the Empire State building is tall--while rivaling the amenities of any world-class Las Vegas resort. A crew of roughly 2,160 will man 18 decks and tend to 5,400 passengers (assuming two per room).
Video: $1.4 Billion Cruise Ship
"It's in the DNA of our company, about every 10 years, to take more or less a fresh sheet of paper and create the greatest cruise ship in the world," says Adam Goldstein, CEO of Royal Caribbean International.
The laundry list of amenities is daunting: a central park the length of a football field with 12,000 plants and trees; a boardwalk with two rock-climbing walls; an aqua theater with dive performances; two FlowRiders for surfing; a full-service spa and a main theater where the Broadway musical Hairspray will be shown four times a week. As an avid runner and sports enthusiast, Goldstein's favorites include the 600-plus meter jogging track on deck 3 and the zipline across the boardwalk.
The average Oasis ticket is $1,000 per person for seven nights, making it significantly more expensive than Royal Caribbean's typical seven-night packages, many of which start at roughly $490. This could be a tough sell: Worldwide, tourism is expected to contract by 3.5% this year, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council. In the U.S., 2009 travel spending is forecast to fall 9% to $705 billion, according to the U.S. Travel Association.
Meet Royal Caribbean's Oasis, a retreat for executives and their families.
Still, Goldstein remains optimistic.
"Our customers want more choice, more options, more variety, they want to be in control of their vacation decision making," he says. It's a major gamble for the cruise operator, which has been discounting tickets during the recession to combat the pullback in consumer spending and H1N1 travel fatigue. In the second quarter, the company swung to a loss of 16 cents a share, with revenues down $1.3 billion. According to Goldstein, while occupancy rates are expected to be stable on a year-over-year basis (2009 vs. 2008) revenue yields will be down 13%--indicative of the steep discounting environment.
For now, the Oasis will feature two main routes. From December 2009 to April 2010, the ship will sail seven nights from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., to St. Thomas, St. Maarten and the Bahamas. Then, beginning May 2010, it will sail from Ft. Lauderdale to Haiti, Jamaica and Mexico. Prices start at $729 for interior rooms, per person, based on double occupancy. For a steeper price, there are multi-level loft suites available with floor-to-ceiling windows.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Important Website For Kongu Vellalar Community Peoples.

Hi Friends,
   There are some important Historical information is available in the following Blog.
http://www.kongukulagurus.blogspot.com/

If any one see this blog means Let them inform to other people also.