The St Xavier?s College, founded in 1860, is one of the oldest and most prestigious educational institutes in Calcutta. In recent years the thrust at Xavier?s has been on upgrading courses and introducing new ones. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has introduced a number of vocational subjects in the undergraduate curriculum including mass communication and videography. St Xavier?s College, is affiliated to the University of Calcutta, and has been offering the course since 1996. The Department of mass communication and videography has a very well-equipped television studio.

The three-year vocational mass communication and videography course gives the students sufficient knowledge and experience in television production along with important inputs in mass communication theory and media appreciation. The college does not ensure placement of its students, but through projects and co-curricular activities it gives opportunities to the students to interact with media professionals and thus gain entry into the television industry.

The notification for the course is advertised in the Calcutta newspapers generally in July. You can also download the application form from the institute?s website.

Eligibility: To be eligible for the course it is essential to pass the West Bengal Board of Higher Secondary Examination or any other exam recognised as equivalent by Calcutta University. National Open School (NOS) students need 60 per cent aggregate in five subjects to qualify. They should pass the examination with at least five subjects having secured pass marks in each of these, with not more than two vernacular subjects. One of the subjects studied must be English.

Entrance exam

The entrance exam is held in August followed by an interview. The merit list is prepared on the basis of the marks of the qualifying examination as well as the entrance test. You need to have 55 per cent aggregate in the qualifying exam plus 65 per cent aggregate in the admission test.

Pattern of exam

The entrance exam is of one hour and 30 minutes and consists of questions on:

1. English comprehension: 20 marks

2. Basic math skills (Class X level): 20 marks

3. Test of imagination: 20 marks 4. Test of reasoning: 20 marks 5. General awareness and media awareness tests: 20 marks

Total marks : 100

How to prepare

They look for talent and aptitude in communication, whether it be written, oral or audio visual, performing or graphic arts. Therefore you should have a high degree of visual creativity and expression.

To develop your English writing skills, you must read newspapers, magazines and books on literature, philosophy, fiction etc. Regular reading will definitely help you in tackling the reading comprehension section in the exam. You can practise comprehension from Barron?s GMAT or Princeton?s guide and develop techniques of speed-reading. To enhance your logical ability, you could practise from Test of Reasoning by R.S. Agarwal, and General Ability and Quantitative Aptitude by Edgar Thorpe. By working through exercises and practice tests you will learn to manage time effectively. This will improve your thinking power, and sharpen your analytical skills.

To develop in-depth knowledge of media, watch programmes on TV as well as films which have a social theme or a message for society. You must have a thorough understanding of current affairs. Reading newspapers and magazines regularly will keep you updated on latest events Watch BBC, CNN, Aaj Tak and other news channels. For current affairs, you can prepare from the Manorama Year Book and CSR Year Book. The Spectrum guide on Culture is also useful.

SAMPLE TEST PAPER

English

Read the passage given below and answer the following questions:

There is no general agreement about how the planets were formed. The most widely accepted theory is that about 5000 million years ago... (We cannot take the whole passage for lack of space, but the following are the kind of questions you?ll be asked.)

1. According to the passage, the planets are: (a) nothing but condensed clouds (b) a collection of gaseous material (c) a collection of condensed swirling material (d) a collection of centrifugal forces

Math

1. Six friends are sitting in a circle facing the centre o the circle. Deepa is between Pankaj and Prakash. Preeti is between Mukesh and Lalit. Mukesh is on the immediate left of Prakash. 1. Who is on the immediate right of Pankaj? 2. Who is sitting opposite Preeti ?

Test of imagination

Write on ONE of the following.

1. A cricket match in the streets of your colony.

2. A trekking expedition

Media awareness

2. Who is the director of the film Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose ? the forgotten hero?

a) Mrinal Sen b) Govind Nihalani c) Jabber Patel d) Shyam Benegal