HSEE IIT Preparation Tips 2022 [Prep Strategy]

If you are willing to work hard, you will undoubtedly succeed. With the correct plan, HSEE is not difficult to crack. 

The Humanities and Social Sciences Entrance Examination (HSEE) is one of the oldest departments in the Institute, providing intellectual and cultural foundations for the study of human relations in contemporary contexts.
Every year HSEE entrance exam is conducted by the IIT Madras. The candidates who want to get admissions in IIT Madras must qualify for the entrance test. 

Before Jumping onto preparation tips, let us first understand HSEE IIT exam pattern

HSEE 2022 Exam Pattern: Sectional Weightage

The HSEE exam pattern consists of specifics such as maximum marks, subjects, marking scheme, and duration of the examination.  Aspirants can go through the sectional weightage to understand the importance of different sections.

HSEE Sections	Number of Questions	Maximum Marks	Percentage Weightage	Time Duration
English and Comprehension Skill	36 questions	36	25%
Analytical & Quantitative Ability	36 questions	36	25%
General Studies-Indian Economy	18 questions	18	12.5%
General Studies-Indian Society and Culture	18 questions	18	12.5%
General Studies-World Affairs	18 questions	18	12.5%
General Studies-Environmental and Ecology	18 questions	18	12.5%
Total	144 questions	144		150 minutes

Humanities and Social Sciences Entrance Examination PART I Syllabus

English

This section tests the candidate’s ability to understand and use standard English, and to appreciate literary language. Questions are related to the following areas:

• Reading skills: Candidates will be required to read the given passage(s) that aim(s) to test their comprehension skills and answer the comprehension questions. (Or This section tests candidates’ reading comprehension skills of a given passage.) 
• Grammar: This section tests the candidate’s knowledge of English grammar including sentence structure and usage, the use of tenses, verb patterns, articles, and active and passive constructions etc. 
• Vocabulary: This section is a test of vocabulary and the ability to understand meaning, structure and collocation of words

Also Check: IIT HSEE Syllabus 2022

Analytical and Quantitative Ability

This section tests the candidate’s analytical skills and quantitative abilities. Questions are related to the following areas:

• Integers/fractions: In this Section Basic Integer and Fraction questions will be asked. 
• Data interpretations (bar graphs, pie charts etc.): In this section questions from basic types of charts and graphs will be asked. The most common types are line graphs, bar graphs and histograms, pie charts, and Cartesian graphs. 
• Time, distance and work: In this section the speed formulas, time and distance aptitude questions will be asked. 
• Averages: In this section questions will be asked from the three main types of average: mean, median and mode. 
• Simple and compound interest: Simple interest is based on the principal amount of a loan or deposit. And compound interest is based on the principal amount and the interest that accumulates on it in every period. 
• Elementary Trigonometry: This section is concerned with the shape of individual objects, spatial relationships among various objects, and the properties of surrounding space.
• Profit and loss: This section is based on basic profit and loss conceptual questions.
• Ratio proportion and variation: This section is based on Ratio, proportion and variation conceptual questions.
• Algebra: This section is based on Commutative, Associative, and Distributive Laws.
• Highest Common Factor (HCF) and Lowest Common Multiple, Calendar, Percentages, Discount, Age, Sums, Linear equations, Analytical reasoning, Logical reasoning Brain-teasers and patterns. 

General Studies

a. Indian Economy:

• This section is intended to test the understanding of some basic economic concepts and awareness of key issues pertaining to the Indian economy with a focus on the developments after independence. The concepts and issues covered are:
• Understanding the Economy: Scarcity, opportunity cost, resource allocation, economic systems and their characteristics, features of market economies, forces of demand and supply, elasticity of demand and supply.
• Main Features of Indian Economy: Natural resources; human resources -population size and composition, literacy and education, occupational distribution.
• Major Economic problems: Poverty, Unemployment and Inequality -concepts, measurement, trends, sectoral distribution and policies, inflation – trends, causes and remedies.
• Economic Growth and Development: Meaning and measurement of economic growth, stages of development, national income concepts and trends, trends in savings and investment; human development index, national policy on education, health and health care policies. Planning in India: Five-Year Plans – objectives, priorities and problems.
• Sectoral Development: agriculture – Green Revolution and technological changes, current issues and policies; industry-evolution of industrial policies in India (from 1948), strategies for industrial development, public and private sectors, small and medium industries, infrastructure, transport and communication, service sector etc.
• Foreign Trade and International Economy: balance of payments, foreign exchange reserves and trade policy, I.M.F., W.T.O., international aid.
• Money, Banking and Public Finance: Concepts of money and measures of money supply.

Also Check: IIT HSEE Application Form 2022

b. Indian Society and Culture:

• Structure of Indian Society: Caste, Class and Tribe, Institutions of Marriage, Family and Kinship, Political institutions, Demographic Indicators and Trends.
• Social Change in India: Sanskritization, Modernization, Westernization and Secularization, Social Movements and Regionalism, Panchayati Raj Institutions & Governance, Affirmative Action Programme of the Government, Commissions and Policy Interventions.
• Medieval and Modern Indian History: Delhi Sultanate and Mughal era; British Raj; Uprising of 1857; (Social) Reform, and Resistance Movements; Indian National Movement and the Emergence of the Indian nation.
• Indian Philosophy and Thinkers: Jainism, Buddhism, Orthodox Systems, Sikhism, Sufism, Gandhi, Swami Vivekananda, Rabindranath Tagore, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.
• Indian Traditions and Knowledge Systems: Classical dance forms, Architecture, Education, Ethics, Language and Grammar, Painting, Music, Theater, Textiles Indian Literature, Mathematical and Medical systems.

c. World Affairs:

• Emergence of the US and USSR; emergence of UN system; the Cold War and nuclear race; disintegration of Soviet Union, decline of Communism and rise of nationalism; Arab-Israel conflict; India and the World; NAM and role of India; India-China and India- Pakistan relations, China and the World, conflict and wars.
• Democracy and Development; Challenges to democracy; North-South divide on issues of development; UN and its various developmental and peacekeeping operations; Nuclearization and Non-proliferation; India in SAARC and ASEAN; International terrorism, fundamentalism and the War on Terror; Indo-US relations; New centres of power in Asia, Latin America and Africa.
• Hunger and Poverty; Human Rights, Democracy and Development; Environmental degradation and green politics; Issues of Race, Ethnicity and Gender; Deprived Classes and minority politics; Religion in the contemporary world; Culture and Civilization; Globalization and changing economic, cultural and political landscape; Mass media and cultural change; Emergence of various popular mass movements.

d. Environment and Ecology:

• Global Environmental Picture: Population Growth, Degradation of Soils, Global Atmospheric Changes, Loss of Biodiversity.
• Ecosystems: Structure of Ecosystems, Biotic Structure, Categories of Organisms, Feeding and Non-feeding Relationships, Ecosystems and how they work, Elements in Living and Non-living Systems, Energy Laws, Nutrient Cycling.
• Pollution: Major forms of Pollution and their Impact, Primary and Secondary Pollutants, Control Strategies, Indoor Pollutants, Global Warming, International Treaties.
• Principles of Solar Energy, Hydropower, Wind Power, Biomass Energy, Ocean Thermal Energy, Geothermal Energy, and Tidal power.

Humanities and Social Sciences Entrance Examination PART II Syllabus

Topics for the essay writing in Part II will be based on current affairs and general knowledge. The essay should build an argument, demonstrate a clear perspective and be substantiated with examples, wherever possible.

Preparation Tips for Students Preparing For HSEE At Home

Small steps can have a big impact on your life. Here are a few tips to keep in mind that, if followed correctly, will be game changers and eventually help you prepare effectively for HSEE.

Choosing the Right Reference Books

When it comes to exam preparation, books are the finest instrument. The selection of the appropriate books will assist students in understanding and planning their preparation for all of the important test subjects.
Candidates taking the HSEE Exam should read the best publications that explain each subject in depth. To help you prepare, we've compiled a selection of the top HSEE books.

Also Check: TENTATIVE HSEE 2022 ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA 

English proficiency

English proficiency assesses the candidates' reading abilities. The candidates' comprehension abilities are evaluated. 

Book Name	Author
Objective General English	R. S. Aggarwal
High school english grammar and composition	wren & martin
Word Power Made Easy	Norman Lewis

Analytical and Quantitative Ability

Candidates will be required to assess, and examine Analytical and Quantitative Ability questions. This section assesses the applicants' basic mathematical calculations’. They will have to answer the questions based on their knowledge.

Book Name	Author
Quantitative Aptitude	R. S. Aggarwal
Fast Track Objective Arithmetic	Rajesh Verma
Course books for 8th, 9th and 10th standard.	NCERT
A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning	RS Aggarwal
501 Challenging Logical reasoning Practice Book	Learning Express

General Studies

Candidates will be required to assess, examine, and complete arguments presented in general English. This section assesses the applicants' General awareness’. They will have to answer the questions based on their knowledge.

Book Name	Author
History Of Modern India	Bipin Chandra
Manorama Year Book	Mammen Mathew
Objective General Studies	O P Varma
Pratiyogita Darpan	Editorial Board : Pratiyogita Darpan

Small steps can lead to a big change

So, if you have decided to prepare for HSEE, you have to make small changes in your lifestyle and routine, to help you progress towards your goal of getting into one of the Prestigious college.

• You must cultivate a habit of reading Newspapers, Books and novels.
• Read reference books like Word Power Made Easy by Normal Lewis to learn words from roots in a sequential manner and Martin English Grammar and Composition to improve grammar in addition to academic texts.

Also Check: HSEE IIT

Tracking your progress for preparation

• In order to keep track of time, it is necessary to track progress on a frequent basis. Make a weekly task list, mark items off as they are completed, eliminate completed activities, and add new ones on a daily basis.
• Rate your Accuracy and Speed, It is important for progress to keep an eye on accuracy and speed. 
• Join a quality test series that gives comprehensive time and accuracy assessments after each exam, along with explanations and video answers.
• Make your study strategy based on your grasping ability; no study plan works for everyone
• The questions that you believe are simple should be solved in the first attempt, and the questions that you believe are moderate should be given one try in the first attempt.

Learning Concepts Online

It is now incredibly simple to obtain information from the internet. You can explore several websites that provide teaching material and study resources using your computer or phone. You can also find chapter-by-chapter PDFs for all subjects, preparation tips, and live and recorded video training sessions. You can access a lot of content for free on YouTube, which saves you time. All of this will assist you in expanding your knowledge and achieving a higher exam result.

Revise Daily and Clear Doubts

You will memorize more if you revise frequently. The revision will aid in the recall of key information and formulas, which will increase your problem-solving abilities and accuracy. Never leave your doubts unanswered. Clear up any questions or doubts you have with your professors, friends, or other persons who can assist you. Make certain that all of the concepts are understood.

Solve Previous year question papers

It is critical to practice answering prior year's questions. This will assist you in gaining a better understanding of the question pattern and marking scheme for each topic. Solving prior year's question papers aids students in improving their problem-solving speed. Previous year's questions and solutions are simply accessible online for students.

Mock Tests

The more mock tests you take, the more comfortable you will be with the exam. This will assist you in increasing your confidence and allowing you to take the exam without tension. Attempt to complete the test within the allotted time. This aids in the development of problem-solving abilities and the effective management of time. After each simulated test, evaluate yourself. This will assist you in identifying your shortcomings and improving your performance on the following attempt.

Make short notes for revision

Making your own short notes on a chapter while learning is strongly advised. This should provide crucial information. When you only have a few days till the exam, these notes will come in handy. You can go over these notes again and again, memorizing key concepts and formulas.

Positive Attitude

You should always have a positive attitude. Believe in yourself. Always remind yourself what your goal is. You can listen to motivational speeches and also put such posters in your room. There will be times when you feel demotivated. Don’t give up hope. Eating healthy and exercising daily helps you to be in a relaxed mood. 

Suggested path for HSEE Preparation

The HSEE exam is based on the ability to observe and visualize. So, once you've gone through the entire syllabus and ideas, you can progress toward your objective by practicing and developing your aptitude for questions.

• The completion of your HSEE IIT Syllabus is the first milestone; the true journey of practicing and developing strategies for answering difficult questions begins once you have completed your syllabus.
• When you finish your syllabus, you have taken your first step toward your objective. Now you must choose a topic each week and extensively go over it by practicing questions from study material and previous year questions. In that week, try to solve at least two to three mocks of that area.
• Now comes the most essential part: analyzing your progress. After the exam, critically analyse the mock results to help you create new concepts and rectify conceptual and stupid blunders.

How to Plan your journey?

HSEE Journey has primarily three Important phases,

Stage-1 LEARNING

This level will include learning new concepts, vocabulary, idioms, and comprehension strategies.

Stage-2 EVALUATION

The testing process begins once you have completed your syllabus. You must now select subjects every week and extensively review them by practicing questions from study materials and previous year's questions.

Stage-3 ANALYZING YOUR PROGRESS

Taking a practice test can help you gain confidence, enhance your temperament, and learn the kind of questions that will be asked in the exam. Now comes the most essential part: analyzing your progress. Re-examine any questions you were unable to answer due to ideas, time management, or foolish blunders. The goal is to rectify each notion, unlearn it, and learn the right concepts while avoiding foolish mistakes.