The TVB School of Habitat Studies in Delhi was established by the Tulsi Vidhya Bharatiya Educational Society in 1990. In 2001, the TVB School of Habitat Studies was affiliated to the Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi. The institute encourages students to develop skills related to the language of architecture, starting with basic communication skills, leading to the development of creativity, imagination and innovation. This is supplemented by the exploration and development of the craft of building through workshops as well as on-the-site interaction with the building industry. The four-acre campus has lecture halls, studios, exhibition spaces, a computer lab, a library, workshops and faculty rooms as well as recreation grounds.

The bachelor of architecture (BArch) undergraduate course serves a dual purpose. It involves the integration of architectural education with related fields such as construction, engineering, town planning, product designing etc.

Application forms can be obtained from the university at Sector D, Pocket 11, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi-110 070, in April, on payment of Rs 500, drawn in favour of the Registrar, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, payable at Delhi. The last date for submission of application forms is in the first week of May. You can also log on to http://www.tvbshs.org if you require further information on the matter.

Eligibility

You should have passed the 10+2 exam with a minimum aggregate of 50 per cent marks with English and mathematics as compulsory subjects, and passed the secondary exam with science subjects (physics and chemistry)

Entrance exam

Entry into the BArch programme is through the common entrance test which is conducted by the Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi. The test is usually conducted in the month of May. The allotment of seats ? both free and paid ? is based on marks obtained in the common entrance test as well as the preference indicated by the candidates at the time of counselling.

Pattern of exam

The subjects for the common entrance test are English and mathematics, the syllabus being similar to the CBSE syllabus for Class XI. In addition, there are objective-type questions on general awareness, logical and analytical ability and aptitude for architecture. This has questions on drawing, sketching, perspective drawings, 2-D and 3-D drawings, compositions, etc.

How to prepare

For mathematics you can prepare from books by Abhijit Guha and M.C. Khanna. For English, the best books are those by Wren and Martin and Norman Lewis. For analytical ability, go through books by Edgar Thorpe and R.S. Agarwal and practise exercises given in Competition Master and Competition Success Review.

Your creativity in coming up with designs, using various materials and appreciating colour, forms and lines, reproducing figures symmetrically in drawing, along with your inclination to work as an architect, will be ascertained through the aptitude test. So, try and be innovative with your ideas and designs. You need to sharpen your power of observation. Practise sketching and shading, especially two and three dimensional figures.

sample test paper

Mathematics

1. The probability that in the toss of two dice we obtain the sum 7 or 11 is :
a) 1/6 b) 1/18 c) 2/9 d) 23/108

2. The value of m, for which the sum of squares of the roots of the equation (x+1) ( x+3) + m (x-1) = 0 is minimum, is equal to :
a) – 5 b) –3 c) 0 d) 2

Analytical Ability

1. Below are given six three-digit numbers. The digits comprise numerics and letters. The letter indicates its serial order in the English alphabet. What will be the middle digit of the 4th number when the numbers are arranged in the descending order after interchanging the numerics in each number without altering the place of the letter in the number?
19F, 2H9, 98B, D76, 7A6, 61E
(a) 8 (b) 9 (c) 6 (d) 7

Architecture Aptitude

1. Create a basic 3-D object like a sphere and then move it away from you and redraw it.

2. Draw with correct proportions a car, a human being, and a streetlight pole.