The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) was established in 1985 with the aim of providing cost-effective quality education to large sections of our population including those living in remote and far-flung areas. IGNOU is a pioneer in distance education. It has received the Centre of Excellence Award conferred by the Commonwealth of Learning.

The university offers programmes in more than 35 countries, including China. It has state-of-the-art facilities for the production of audio/video programmes and their dissemination through radio and television. The university also uses interactive radio counselling as well as tele-conferencing to provide interactivity in the teaching-learning process. IGNOU has been identified as the nodal agency for running a 24-hour educational TV channel ? Gyan Darshan ? in collaboration with other institutes of higher learning. Gyan Vani is emerging as a massive radio co-operative network of several FM radio stations exclusively devoted to education with IGNOU as the nodal agency.

The School of Management Studies started in 1987 and offers a wide range of courses. Successful completion of the various management courses leads to an MBA, DIM, PGDIM, PGDHRM, PGDFM, PGDOM, or PGDMM degree.

Advertisements inviting applications for the management programmes are released in leading national and local dailies in April and October. The Student Handbook & Prospectus are available from the Registrar (SR&E), IGNOU, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi 110 068, and at all regional centres and study centres recognised by IGNOU and also on the university?s website, www.ignou.ac.in. The candidates downloading the form from the website are required to send a demand draft for Rs 550 drawn in favour of IGNOU payable at New Delhi. The last dates for receipt of applications are in May and November.

The university at present offers 125 programmes of study to a student strength of over 14 lakh, making it the largest single university in the world. These programmes are offered in widely diverse areas and at different levels ? doctorate, masters and bachelors degrees, diplomas and certificates. The university has established a network of 64 regional centres and sub-regional centres and more than 1,400 study centres all over the country to provide easy access and effective support services to the learners.

Eligibility

You should have a bachelors degree with three years of supervisory, managerial or professional experience, or a professional degree in engineering, technology, medicine, architecture, law or pharmacy, or professional qualifications in accountancy, cost and works accountancy, company secretaryship, etc, or a masters degree in any subject.

Entrance Test

For admission to the MBA programme, you must take the OPENMAT test conducted by the university in February and August.

Pattern of exam

OPENMAT is of three hours? duration and has objective-type questions on quantitative ability, reasoning, English and general awareness.

How to Prepare

Some books you may refer to for the English verbal ability section are grammar books by Wren and Martin, English Grammar by Mason and Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis.

sample test paper

English

The following sentence has an underlined word. Choose the best word or phrase from the options that can replace it.
1. She saw through the conman’s wiles.
a) timing b) casualness
c) sudden fancy d) trickery

Quantitative Ability

A bag contains 20 balls, 8 balls are green, 7 are white and 5 are red. What is the minimum number of balls that must be picked up from the bag blind-folded to be assured of picking at least one ball of each colour?
a) 4 b) 7
c) 11 d) 16

Reasoning

Today is April 1. The day of the week is Wednesday. This is a leap year. The day of the week on this day after 3 years will be:
(a) Saturday (b) Sunday (c) Friday (d) Tuesday

General Awareness

Which of the following prizes is given by UNESCO to popularise science?
a) Barlouge Prize b)Visvesvarayya Prize
c) Shanti Swaroop
Bhatnagar Prize
d) Kalinga Prize