26 ‘Stepsians’ clear NTSE first phase

March 1, 2008 at 12:34 pm · Filed under NTSE, Edu-schools, STEPS
Maintaining its rich tradition of excellence in school supplemental education in northern India, twenty-six ‘Stepsians’ of tcyonline.com have cleared the first phase of the National Talent Search Examination (NTSE), conducted in November last year.
The NTSE, one of the prestigious competitive examinations held in the country, is conducted by the National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT) for the students of class VIII and X. The test is divided into two parts: Mental Ability (MAT) and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT).
The students were trained for the examination by ‘STEPS’, a division of Top Careers & You (TCY), the leaders in test preparation in northern India. Tcyonline.com, the online initiative of the company is the largest teacher-student platform in India.It may be noted that scores of tests for the NTSE exam are available free on the website, www.tcyonline.com. These tests in Math and English are downloadable and help in giving the student a fair idea as to where he stands before the actual exam. They also help him in benchmarking himself with other students anywhere in the country.
Thirteen students from the Ludhiana region, seven from the Chandigarh region and five from the Jammu region have cleared the test in ‘flying colours’.The students were in all appreciation of the efforts being made by the teachers of ‘STEPS’ who, they feel, have played an ‘excellent’ role in bringing out the best in them.
“STEPS proved a total hit for me and it gave me an edge over many other students. The teachers revived my interests in apparently boring subjects like chemistry, physics and advanced math. This created an inexplicable yearning to know more which ultimately helped me clear the first level of NTSE,” said Kanika of class X.
For Tushar Chhabra, also of class X, clearing the first phase of NTSE has given him a lot of confidence which, he thinks, would ultimately take him to the interview stage. He said the teachers at STEPS have helped him realize his full potential.
The list of successful students:
From Chandigarh: Naina Khanna and Paramdeep Singh (both Bhavan Vidalaya); Annahat Gill (Carmel Convent school); Sahil Bansal, Bijoy Singh, Aditya Bansal and Varun Syal (all St. John’s High school).
From Ludhiana: Ankush Aggarwal, Divjot Singh,Harleen Kaur, Kanav, Kanavpreet Singh, Kanika, Pranav, Rajat, Shlok, Sukaran Singh, Tegbir Singh, Tushar and Uparika.
From Jammu: Nalin Jain, Sahil Chatta, Shravan Tickoo, Mubashir and Gurleen Kaur. It may be noted that ‘STEPS’, has been imparting training to NTSE aspirants since 2003. The purpose of the NTSE is to identify brilliant students at the end of Classes VIII and X and give them financial assistance to attain good education. NCERT gives the successful candidates a study scholarship until Ph D level.
Benefits to the students in taking tcyonline.com practice tests for NTSE:
Round the clock availability, seven days a week
15 hours of NTSE testing
FREE usage
Saves travel time and money
Free online help for support
Upto 1000 NTSE level questions available
Answer keys and automatic scoring provided
STEPS prepares students for tenth standard board exams and other talent hunt competitions like Olympiad. It has been into NTSE training for over six years now. Students are being trained through physical classrooms postal, and online mode with tcyonline.com. So far, scores of students have passed out with flying colours.
STEPS has been striving for excellence bringing out the best results year after year by designing, maintaining and constantly updating “quality systems” backed by emerging technologies.
Tcyonline.com provides a common platform for students and teachers to facilitate better interaction among them. It is also building a team of quality people in creating a learning environment for continuous individual and organizational growth.
About tcyonline.comTcyonline.com is an online initiative of Top Careers & You (TCY). Founded in 1998, TCY provides college level test preparation and school level supplemental education services. The company serves almost all the sections of student community, through classroom teaching, and online mode; from K-12 to students preparing for competitive exams. TCY is present at 32 locations, and is tying up with more like-minded individuals and businesses, to further extend its footprint across the country.

4-Day study plan for Science

March 15, 2008 at 4:01 am · Filed under Edu-schools
NOW, TIME FOR CLINICAL PRECISION
By: Viji Raj_____________________________________
CBSE Class X Science exam is on March 25. For most of the class X students, this would be their last exam. After Mathematics, Science is considered as the second toughest. However, you can score very well in this exam, if you are well prepared. TCYonline experts have selected some important topics for the readers of Rediff.com to be revised from the chapters given in the NCERT textbook, for preparation.
DAY 1
Acids Bases and Salts
Reasoning questions based from every day experienceSome typical questions may include• Why acids are not stored in metallic containers• Qns on digestive system / tooth decay• Qns related to neutralization in milk• Baking soda in food and fire extinguisher• Reaction with indicatorsUses and properties of plaster of Paris and gypsumBleaching powder working and chemical natureWhat happens when type of questions.Strong acids and weak acids and their pH value.
Effects of Current
• Definitions of potential and potential difference• Ohm’s law – its statements and graph.• Comparing resistances using V – I graphs.• Current and voltage in circuits.• Numerical problems.-Related to bending of wire of resistance of wire-Series and parallel circuits-Power dissipation in series and parallel combination of devices.-Problems related to choice of fuse.-Problem related to choice of fuse.-Problem related to consumption of electrical power.
Magnetic effect
• Magnetic field lines due to various configurations of wires and coils.• Strength of magnetic field and factors affecting it.• Solenoid as a permanent and temporary magnet.• Force on current carrying conductor activity.• Fleming’s left hand rule – problems.• Definition, nature and applications of emi
• Induction of potential difference, how is it produced.• Difference between direct current and alternating current• Advantages of AC current over DC.• Overloading, shortcircuit, earthwire etc.• Domestic circuit diagram.
• Some important chemical compounds
• Soaps – nature, synthesis and working• Micelle formation.• How are they different from detergents?• What are the chemicals that are added to soaps to obtain desire charterstics.
DAY 2Carbon and its compounds• Types of bonding in carbon• Saturated and Unsaturated Hydrocarbons• Properties of Alcohols• Properties of carboxylic Acids• Questions based on identifying compounds based on given properties
Metals and Non–Metals• Differentiating metals and non–metals• Basic Metallurgic Processes• Metals showing anomalous behavior (e.g. the metal which is a liquid at roomtemperature)• Properties and Uses of metals along with reactions• Bonding in metals and non–metals
Light–1• Images and their nature• Image formation in concave mirror• Understanding of focus, focal length, aperture etc.• Laws of refraction• Refractive index comparisons between media• Image formation in convex lensPeriodic classification of elements• Predicting position in periodic table based on properties.• Predicting properties based on position in periodic table.• Limitations of Mendeleev’s table• How modern periodic table is improved upon Mendeleev’s periodic table?• Breakthroughs achieved by Mendeleev’s table.
DAY – 3
Light–2 • Accommodation in eye with the help of eye lens• Problems in visionMyopia• Causes with ray diagram• Correction with ray diagramHypermetropia• Causes with ray diagram.• Correction with ray diagram.Prestyopia• Cause and correction• Applications of-Concave mirror-Convex mirror-Convex lens-Concave lensCauses of refraction and related effectsNumerical problems related to velocity of light and relative and absolute indicesWhy do stars twinkle and why do they appear risen up?What is the cause of dispersion and related atmospheric phenomenon?What is scattering and related atmospheric phenomenon?
Our environment Major environment problems along with their solutions.Ozone depletion.Bio–degradability of wastes and other pollutants.
Life Processes – 1Basic concepts related toNutrition in plants and animals.Respiration in plants and animals.Transportation in plants and animals.Excretion in plants and animals.
Control and Coordination•Tropic movements related questions.•Major plant hormones and their actions (voluntary, involuntary and reflex actions).•Animal hormones•Description of the nervous system with function of each part.
DAY – 4
Conservation and management of natural resourcesCoal and petroleumChipko AndolanForest and wild lifeLegal perspectives
Life Processes – 2Reproduction in plants and animals.Methods of family planning.HIV / AIDSWomen and child health.Heredity and EvolutionMeaning of heredityBasic concepts of evolution.Natural ResourcesAdvantages and limitations of big damsAlternatives to big dams.Water harvesting.
Sources of EnergyFossil fuelsSolar energy –– Advantages and disadvantages.Bio gas Energy –– Advantages and disadvantages.Wind Energy –– Advantages and disadvantages.Tidal Energy –– Advantages and disadvantages.Nuclear Energy –– Advantages and disadvantages.Renewable and non–renewable energy.
So, boys and girls, it’s the time to fire your all cylinders and show the examiner what you have learnt the whole year.
Good luck!

TCY launches ‘blended learning’ in North India

April 21, 2008 at 3:52 am · Filed under TCYonline, Virtual Classroom, TCY Franchises
In a bid to give the best of both worlds to its students – classroom teaching and online education – India’s premier education services organization, Top Careers & You (TCY) has launched ‘blended learning’ at its all 34 centres in Northern India.
“The idea is to standardize our delivery process through ‘virtual classrooms’ at our centres so that the students can get better education. Now any student can take admission anywhere and would get the best lectures on any subject,” said Mr. Kamal Wadhera, the CEO of TCY.
This unique education concept would help the students, teachers and franchisees at one go. Under this a student sitting anywhere in the country, in classroom or at home, can avail the facility of best lectures delivered by subject-experts.
Elaborating on the concept, Mr. Wadhera said, “This blended education is an extension of our distance language program for our students. Now, thanks to modern technology, we can make use of the services of our best subject-experts at any of our centres. With this new facility a lecture would be flashed live at all the centres.”
According to academic experts, the explosion of knowledge today has changed the very texture of what is learnt and how it is learnt. So, the concept of virtual classrooms is a manifestation of this knowledge revolution.
But what exactly is the ‘virtual classroom’ concept?
India is quite new to this concept created in the virtual space. Its goals are to improve an access to advanced educational experiences by allowing students and teachers participate in remote learning communities using personal computers. On top of that, the objective is to improve the quality and effectiveness of education by using computer to support a collaborative learning process. It is a platform which provides complete freedom of learning.
Some salient features:
Works in Flash format; no downloads
Two-way live audio/video delivery
Whiteboard with Math tools
Synchronous content-sharing
Excel files and videos
Records all sessions to be played back
As the web has added a new facet to knowledge and connectivity, the ‘virtual classroom’ uses the same phase to add a new dimension to knowledge and its acquisition.
It is worth noting that since its modest beginning in the year 1998, TCY has been providing college level test preparation and school level supplemental education services. The company serves almost all the sections of student community, through classroom teaching, and online mode; from K-12 to students preparing for competitive exams like MBA, MCA, GMAT, GRE, etc.
The modern buzzword:Today, the modern student prefers to supplement his classroom education with online learning, be it his regular exam preparation for school or college, or any competitive exam.The broadband internet has made e-learning the modern buzzword and the students are taking full advantage of free downloadable tests made available by http://www.mail2web.com/cgi-bin/redir.asp?lid=0&newsite=http://www.tcyonline.com, the largest student-teacher platform in the country.The website is fast moving towards its target of 100,000 enrolments. On an average over 5000 students visit the site daily and are being benefited in their exam preparations, be it for IELTS, Medical or MBA.Scores of free tests are available on the website for school and college examinations apart from some competitive tests being held in the country from time to time. These practice tests help the student not only assess his or her level before the actual exam, but are a wonderful way to benchmark himself or herself with anybody and anywhere in country.TCYonline is also making long strides through its twin programs, ‘BetterThink’ and ‘STEPS, in imparting quality education to the students. Its subject-experts and technical experts are also trouble-shooting students’ problems at live support.
About tcyonline.com:Tcyonline.com is an online initiative of Top Careers & You (TCY). Founded in 1998, TCY provides college level test preparation and school level supplemental education services. The company serves almost all the sections of student community, through classroom teaching, and online mode; from K-12 to students preparing for competitive exams. TCY is present at 34 locations, and is tying up with more like-minded individuals and businesses, to further extend its footprint across the country.

Taking the cyber route to tests

The Tribune
May 6, 2008
By Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Teachers are uploading tests online for students who are preparing for various entrance examinations, and even some regular courses, and in the process, some of them have found a lucrative outlet for their energies.
Our website has evoked ‘overwhelming’ response from the teaching community nationwide, and hundreds of satisfied teachers are uploading their tests on this unique website and are being financially benefited, said Kamal Wadhera, the CEO of tcyonline.com. “This, very large, teacher-student platform in the country is a real boon for teachers because now they can earn a life-long income through our website,” he added.
Students can prepare for BEd, bank POs, BBA, BCA, GRE, GMAT, LAW, MBA, MCA, GATE and more than a dozen more tests. The company has devised a special formula for payment to teachers based on downloading of their tests and attempts made by students. Surpassing our all expectations, more and more teachers are flocking to this democratic platform every day and earning a handsome income,” the CEO said.
This education company, engaged in school supplementary education and college test preparation for about a decade now, launched this unique platform mainly for teachers to enable them earn a steady monthly income by uploading their content on the website. Since the launch of this platform about couple of months back, nearly 2,500 teachers have registered themselves on the site and many of them have started earning from this platform.
Javed Ahmed, an IT professional-turned-online teacher, who started uploading his MBA tests about two months back, is a happy man today, thanks to the initiative by this website. “I couldn’t imagine teachers can make such easy money until I came across this website while surfing the Net.Basically, I am an IT professional but the money through uploading tests has really supplemented my income,” he said.
For a blogger-turned-online teacher, Rajiv Vashisht, this website has come as a ‘good lucrative business’. He has uploaded quite a good number of MBA and English tests since the last one month. Vashisht is of the view the tests should be ‘better categorised’ for the convenience of the students and the payment system for the teachers should be further streamlined.
Manoj Dogra, an online teacher from Himachal Pradesh, is all praise for this ‘totally unique’ website. “While other websites charge money, to my knowledge tcyonline.com is the only website which is totally free for teachers and students,” he said. Dogra is also running his own coaching institute for competitive exams.
The portal already has more than 80,000 enrollments. The company is fast moving to achieve its 100,000-enrollment target soon. On an average, over 5,000 students visit the site daily.
The tcyonline.com is currently paying a good amount to the teachers as per each test uploaded. On top of that, they are also making money since the students have started attempting these tests. So, in a way they can turn their one-time effort into a life-long earning.
Thousands of free downloadable tests are available on the website for school and college examinations apart from some competitive tests being held in the country from time to time. These practice tests help the student in not only assessing his or her level before the actual exam, but are a wonderful way to benchmark himself or herself with anybody and anywhere in country.

New Zealand Study Visa

May 8, 2008 at 11:29 am · Filed under TCYonline, Study Abroad, New Zealand Study
“Merit is only consideration”
Recently, Ms. Kerry Greig, First Secretary Immigration, New Zealand High Commission, New Delhi, gave an exclusive phone-interview to TCYonline.com She emphasized that New Zealand offers great opportunities for permanent settlement and bright future for oversees students, especially from India. We hereby present some excerpts from the interview for our students desiring to pursue their studies in the Kiwiland.
Q. What type of courses is in demand for overseas students, especially Indian students?
Ans: Business and Management studies, IT and Pilot training. Post Graduate qualifications
Q. How important is the knowledge of English language for the students?
Ans: They should have a good level of English for the appropriate courses they are enrolling in. Students do not normally travel to New Zealand to study English.
Q. How easy or difficult is for an Indian student to get a residency status in New Zealand?
Ans: If the students have a qualification that attracts points under our Skilled Migration Policy and if they subsequently have an offer of skilled employment, and some work experience they should have enough points to apply for residence. Once they finish a NZ qualification that would qualify for points under the Skilled Migrant Category, they get a twelve months open work permit. During that period they are eligible to accept any employment in line with their qualification to make themselves eligible for residence. They should have enough points to apply for residence with the NZ qualification, the work experience and the skilled job offer in line with their qualification.
Q. How safe is New Zealand and does it encourage permanent settlement?
Ans: We have quite strict laws in place to protect students. In New Zealand a foreign student can only be granted student visas to study courses approved by the government at educational institutions that have been approved by the Government. The institutions have to abide by a code of practice in relation to student pastoral care and the quality of instruction provided etc. In India there is a general understanding that the majority of students are seeking to study in New Zealand with the goal of obtaining permanent residence in New Zealand. We are very happy for students from this market to study in NZ for qualifications that will assist them obtain residence in New Zealand.
Q. What are qualification points?
Ans: It is quite a complicated system with a lot of different variables but in short, applicants for residence need to get a certain number of points in order to be approved. Students who obtain a good qualification in New Zealand can eventually apply for residence claiming points for age, a New Zealand qualification a job offer and work experience etc. They can claim additional points if the New Zealand qualification relates to a skill on the long-term shortage list.
Q. What is the level of English language required to study in NZ?
Ans: The level of English, normally demonstrated by an IELTS certificate, depends on the course they are taking. Generally, the minimum is an average of 5.5 across all bands, universities require between 6-6.5 depending on the course and nursing courses require an average of band 6.5.
Q. How would you compare NZ with Australia from the students’ preference point of view?
Ans: We are a small country with four million people; we are very different to Australia. New Zealand is cheaper to live in as compared to Australia and you only have to consider the exchange rate to understand this, there are 31 Rupees to the NZ$ and 37 Rupees to the Australian Dollar. Like Australia our qualifications are internationally recognised.
Q. How is the job situation in New Zealand? Do the students get part-time and full-time jobs easily?
Ans: We have extremely low unemployment rate in New Zealand at present. The feedback from students indicates that they are getting part-time jobs while they are studying and are generally getting full time jobs when they graduate. There are also some educational institutes that assist students finding appropriate employment when they graduate. Students are generally responsible for finding their own part time work while they study.
Q. If a student visa is rejected by one country, say Australia, how difficult is to get a NZ visa?
Ans: NZ is not guided by rejection from another country. If they (students) are rejected by one country that does not mean they are automatically rejected by NZ. What we look at is why they were rejected. For example, they may not have been able to get the right information to the visa officer in time. Depending on the information submitted with the application they could be found eligible to study in NZ like anyone else. All applications we receive are considered on merit. We often seek additional information to that provided with the application and may interview the applicant. Before we issue the visa we must be satisfied that they genuinely intend to study and will abide by the terms and conditions of any visa issued. If we identify any false or misleading information in the processing of an application that application is likely to be declined. If the applicant fails to declare that they have been denied a visa by another country that would be considered reason enough to decline the application then the applicant has attempted to mislead us and that in itself could be a reason to decline the application.
Q. What if a student has a gap in his studies due to some reason?
Ans: If some students have a gap in their studies we would ask what they had been doing. If they advised us that they had been working somewhere that is fine or if they advise that they had a gap year that is fine as well and would not in itself be a reason to decline the application.
Q. Any message for the Indian students desiring to pursue their studies in New Zealand?
Ans: New Zealand offers good quality internationally recognized qualifications in a safe environment. There are also opportunities for students to seek employment and Permanent Residence in New Zealand after completing their qualification.
About tcyonline.com:Tcyonline.com is an online initiative of Top Careers & You (TCY). Founded in 1998, TCY provides college level test preparation and school level supplemental education services. The company serves almost all the sections of student community, through classroom teaching, and online mode; from K-12 to students preparing for competitive exams. TCY is present at 34 locations, and is tying up with more like-minded individuals and businesses, to further extend its footprint across the country.