Why New Zealand is preferred study abroad destination post COVID-19

Success stories are many, you can read any from news and grin or smile, but there is a reason for big grin.
The outbreak of COVID-19 put world under tremendous pressure. Many of us started best hygiene practices as soon as we got to know there is something, and that something termed as coronavirus by health experts. Not of a medical background kid I simply followed WHO guidelines.
Coronavirus touched many nationalities which is unfortunate and heartbreaking. In those moments I recall the words from Sir APJ Abdul Kalam, who said, 'rebuilding is beautiful....'
The big question, coronavirus left on day one is who will rebuild, who will be architect, and a named poped up "Jacina Ardern-The Prime Minister of New Zealand". I am surprised to learn that during Corona outbreak in NZ she treated all people staying in New Zealand as Citizen, no one was treated as migrant, outsider or something like that.
In the very begining I realized Jacina Ardern will be the winner, and today New Zealand is declared Coronavirus free country. It's big, and Prime Minister deserves full respect.
She has shown us that man can do it. Once world has seen the victory of man when man landed on moon (Neil Armstrong), about which 'we' read and today we can see it, UNBELIEVABLE, and true.
Today if you ask me which country should I apply for study abroad, certainly I will say, NZ is one and then would follow more.
Study Abroad decision need many questions to be asked. But if you ask which country would be safe travel for study abroad post Covid-19, certainly my first answer would be New Zealand.

General Knowlege for Competitive Examinations

Indian students write many competitive examinations to get admission into next level of school, colleges and university programmes. Also examinations are held for recruitment to various posts and service. Some of the popular examinations in India UPSC Examinations, SSC Examinations, Banking Services Examinations, Railways Examinations, Admission Tests for College Admission Undergraduate, Post Graduate etc and Entrance Examinations to enter into professional programmes. 

In all such examinations Questions of General Knowledge are asked. In some exams there might be a separate question paper, in some it may be a part of question paper with other subjects, in some may be not. But General Knowledge is one of the compulsory part in a student life.

This is why to help out Indian students I have gathered chapters of general knowledge in varied subjects areas. These are true to my knowledge and written after study of various books, news sources, periodicals etc. 

General Knowledge (GK) means popular knowledge that comes from listening day to day stories.  These stories may from any area of life. The knowledge in all such general talks makes part of General Knowledge. Our common know how about things, people, places, science, technology etc is a measure of our awareness. In the competitive examination for admission, jobs and scholarships etc Questions in General Knowledge are asked. So you can prepare better for your upcoming examination I have gathered data around different walks of life and put in Organized Format. Here are lessons for you

• Indian Polity: General Knowledge for Competitive Examinations
• General Knowlegde: PHYSICS
• General Knowledge: CHEMISTRY
• General Knowledge - BOTANY
• General Knowledge: Zoology
• An Overview of Historical Facts and Figures: World History
• Noted Indian Historians
• List of Historian from countries other than India
• Countries and Languages
• List Of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites In India
• General Knowledge: First in India
• GK: First Heads of States (World)
• GK: First Visitors, Invaders
• GK: First in World
• GK: Nationals Animals and Countries
• Countries and National Flowers
• List of National Fruits
• Important Rivers of the World
• List of National Birds of Some Prime Countries
• National Emblems of Different Countries
• International Boundaries
• News Agencies of Some Countries
• Some Important Political Parties of Different Countries
• Intelligence Agencies of the world
• Signs and Symbols and Their Significance
• Indian National Symbols
• Official Books and Papers
• Nick Names of Important Indian Places
• Most Popular Newspaper
• Interesting Facts about India

Revised JEE Main, JEE Advanced and NEET UG Entrance Exam Dates 2020

Many Many many entrance examinations are in limbo due to COVID-19 Pandemic and lockdown as a measure to physical distancing. Today MHRD India has announced revised dates for JEE and NEET. Both examinations are administered by National Testing Agency. The new and revised dates are given below.

• JEE Main 2020: July 18 to July 23
• NEET UG 2020: July 26
• JEE Advanced 2020: August

Due to COVID 19 crisis dates are not certain I feel so. For latest updates please keep looking official website.

Stay prepared

Stay Safe

Information source: https://www.ndtv.com/education/jee-main-date-neet-date-cbse-exam-date-live-updates-2223642

7 Tips to stay prepared for entrance examinations during COVID-19 lockdown

Without revisions you will forget almost 18% of lessons. Keeping things in memory is pretty tough task if you not revise. But hold a minute, there are activities you can do to remember better and keep lessons near 100% in mind. How? By doing activities. Your question might be then how to do that benzene ring activity or Bernoulli's Theorem or may be photosynthesis. To help you here are some suggestions.

1. Pick your Pencil and Paper or slate and chalk: Write your lessons, whatever you have learnt towards entrance exam preparation, write down. Much stuff will go in permanent memory.

2. Record audio-Listen your voice: Kill two birds shooting one arrow. You will learn public speaking and most importantly, when you say it loud, it goes better in permanent memory.

3. Record video lessons: Out there you may have access to many video platforms. Open your phone or computer and record it. Now it’s time to say 2H2+O2 ------> 2H2O

4. Teach your friends online: Make your group, go live, Teach. Test. Award marks for right answers and penalize for wrong answers.

(I used to test my students weekly, one mark for each right answer and may be -2/-5 marks for wrong answer and report shown to parents, better a student much harsh I was in awarding marks. And many to whom I taught secured top 10 position in class).

5. Get tired: I don't know if this thing will work for me, but for me it works often. When I feel like out of ideas I go for long long walk till my mind say, no I can't take more, I catch better sleep and next I get better ideas. You can't go out in COVID-19 lockdown, why not some rope jumping or sit-ups.

6. Design your question paper: Books, online material and many things you already have. Design your question paper and practice. You can ask to a friend too.

7. Eat right: What cookies do to our computer same happen to our brain when we eat mindlessly. Eat in limits and leave space for water in your tummy. Because you are indoors not mean to eat in plenty not good for health not for exams.

If I was in your place waiting for next exam dates I may have done all those things to stay connected with lessons. Thoughts are my own.

Thousand of US Colleges and Versities are dropping SAT/ACT requirement for Fall 2021 Admision

In the times of Pandemic COVID-19 that has hit humanity, taking a standardized test may not be a comfortable idea for many students. Normally 4-year colleges across ask for SAT/ACT score for SAT application. And the test score is also valid across many world locations. Though the college board is not leaving any stone unturned and promises home testing now with some upgrades. But if that is not enough and you are worried about Under Grad admission here is some more respite. 

• Dozens of colleges and universities are dropping SAT/ACT requirements for fall 2021 applicants, and some for longer
• 1,130+ Accredited 4-Year Colleges and Universities with ACT/SAT-Optional Policies (for Fall 2021 Admission)

Perhaps this will help many of you in better college planning even in times of crisis.

However, taking a test is better than not taking it at all. If you are comfortable writing SAT/ACT go for it, chose home testing / online testing. Its good decision of colleges to do away with the test or make test score optional, may students will be benefitted. But student life and exams go together. Take SAT/ACT as optional :-)

Stay safe!

Time management when exams are rescheduled

The change in schedule really put me off. And a rescheduled exam date is a complete put off for me. World over exam dates were changing, campuses were closing, students were asked to leave the hostel rooms, classes were going online; all because of Novel corona virus. Thankfully it's gone now, of course after causing a worldwide havoc but we have to move forward. Time to time exam dates change for various reasons, while a few students may feel joy as they may get more time to prepare but often one such a change puts many students off. They need to reschedule everything and that takes a lot of time and energy. Time management is important in such situations.

Nobody can help it, we have to go with the flow. For a limited number of students a change in exam dates could be an opportunity to learn those topics or prepare better, but for the majority, a change in date is really a put off.

However, if you are the one who is waiting for the fresh exam dates, here are some suggestions in case you fall in my category.
1. During Covid-19 dates were rescheduled keeping your safety in mind, so you can maintain social distance. But in a general scenario there could be other reasons, for example, in India capital New Delhi schools are closed during winter months for long due to pollution causing bad health. Staying indoor is the key, to make maximum use of time. You can make good use of time to self-study, learn a new hobby or complete a course; there are many online courses or you can read a good book. You can use extra available time as an opportunity to learn new things or pick a new hobby.
2. Pursue an indoor hobby. For how long you have not played with Guitar or not seen your favorite movie. Chill, relax and make your day while staying inside. Learn cooking or read some books. Learn one new thing everyday that requires you to stay indoors and you will realize you have learnt a lot while alone. When you have a hobby you learn much more than what you do in a classroom. Because it's relaxing, you do not feel any pressure, and you get good results. Also this helps in improving concentration.
3. Solve some old question papers: I suppose you are well prepared to take the exams on any date, download some old question papers, or may be older, and take the test in exam-like conditions. Evaluate your performance. You can design your own question paper too. Or maybe involve a friend, ask him to set questions for you and you do one such for him. In the social media age you do not need to travel a distance for exchange of question papers with friends. 
4. Pursue writing: Who knows you could be the next Sidney Sheldon. Or redesign your home using old things. Or learn a new computer language. Why not learn some Python instead. if all this does not help take to Rubik's Cube. Period!!!
Staying active is important, other things fall in place. Maybe a math lesson is toughest for you, pick a topic or maybe one such topic that is not part of your syllabus, and soon you will realize you can do it. 
5. Relax. Though such holidays are really unfortunate, make the most of it. Do you remember the last time you really rested well without worrying about catching up with something early in the morning? Give your body and mind complete rest, getting bored is not bad either.

Manage your time well, its a commodity, make good use of your time, and prepare better.

Last updated: 5 September, 2025