Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) is devoted to the research, teaching and applications of statistics, natural sciences and social sciences. Founded by Professor P.C. Mahalanobis in Calcutta in 1931, it has two major centres in Delhi and Bangalore and a branch at Giridih. In addition, it has units of Statistical Quality Control and Operations Research in Baroda, Chennai, Coimbatore, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Pune.

Application forms are available February onwards and can be obtained by sending a demand draft of Rs 450 in favour of the Indian Statistical Institute, payable at Calcutta, to the ISI, 203 Barrackpore Trunk Road, Calcutta-700108. Applications can also be downloaded from their website (www. isical.ac.in). For further details, call (033-25752500) or e-mail (postmaster@isical.ac.in) ISI.

Eligibility

You should have successfully completed your 10+2 or equivalent with mathematics and English.

Entrance exam

The entrance test is held in May at a number of centres in India and abroad. Selection of candidates is based on academic record, written tests and interviews conducted by the institute.

Pattern of exam

There is a two-hour objective-type test followed by a subjective-type test, which needs answering in a few sentences. The questions are based on Plus Two level maths. You should try and clearly show the steps leading to the answer.

How to prepare

Prepare from Mathematical Statistics by Sancheti and Kapoor, Algebra and Calculus by D.F. Saxena, Trigonometry and Coordinate Geometry by Verma as well as books by Dasgupta, published by Bhartiya Bhawan. Practise as many different problems and equations as possible.