In the recent times, there has been a sudden flood of courses that a student can opt for to become a teacher. The most popular among these is the B. Ed. course, also known as Bachelor of Education. This is a professional graduate degree that prepares students to work as a teacher in schools.
With the influx of a large number of schools and a high premium being placed on education, society has begun to understand the importance of teaching as a profession. A lot of the millennial generation is now taking up teaching as a profession. However, a lot of us are lost on where to begin our teaching journey.
We took the first step for you. let’s get started on how you will enter teaching as a career. Here’s all you need to know about B. Ed., the entrance exam for teaching.
How do I qualify for the B. Ed. course?
We have simplified the requirements below. Let’s take a look:
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- B. Ed. has a Common Entrance Test (CET) conducted across India to select eligible candidates who can qualify for the course. Â The general category needs a minimum of 50% marks to qualify.
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- In case this is your first time teaching, you would need to have a graduation/post graduation degree from a university that is recognized by the government.
- If you are already teaching or have a certificate in teaching, you should have a teaching experience of 2 years. You should also be in possession of an experience certificate, which states that you have already been employed as a teacher.
Different universities have different entrance examination dates. There are two intakes one in May and the other in October. Keep an eye on the university websites so that you can apply as soon as the admission process starts. Forms can be submitted physically or online.
What will my exam paper look like?
The B. Ed. exam is mostly objective in nature and held in English or Hindi. Â There are three parts, Part A, Part B and Part C. While Part A and B are common to all students, with Part C, you have a choice to select the subject that you are most familiar with.
The papers are divided in the following manner:
Part A and B – 25 marks
Part C – 100 marks
Division of marks are as below:
Mathematics – 100 marks
Physical Sciences – 100 marks
Physics – 50 marks
Chemistry – 50 marks
Biological Sciences – 100 marks
Botany – 50 marks
Zoology – 50 marks
Social Studies – 100 marks
Geography – 35 marks
History – 30 marks
Civics – 15 marks
Economics – 20 marks
English – 100 marks
So how do I prepare for the B. Ed. exam?
Part A – General English
The B. Ed. test comprises of Reading Comprehension, Correction of Sentences, Articles, Preposition, Tenses, Spelling, Vocabulary, Synonyms, and Antonyms, Transformation of sentences including Direct and Indirect speech, Voices, Simple, Complex and Compound sentences.
Reading books, newspapers, magazines on a regularly will help improve vocabulary and sentence formation. Â Have a notebook handy and list all the new words that you learn. Invest in a dictionary. You can also list the synonyms and antonyms of words. If done, diligently, you will have an intensive word bank even before you realise it.
Part  B – General Knowledge & Teaching Aptitude
General knowledge is a very broad topic, but some of the things that you will be tested on, include your awareness of the environment and the application of science in daily life. Current events, history, culture, geography, economics, ecology, scientific research and general policies of the country and its neighbours are also some topics that could be tested.Â
The latest edition of the Manorama yearbook should suffice as a reference book for preparation. Alternatively, you can also refer to the B.Ed. Entrance Exam Guide (Popular Master Guide) by RPH Editorial Board. There are also solved question paper banks that are available online or in physical stores.
Part C
The syllabus will be of graduation level for all subjects. For English, the syllabus will include topics like language functions, elements of phonetics, Grammar, phrasal Verbs (idioms), writing skills, study skills and reference skills.
Now let’s take a look at which are the top universities offering the B.Ed. course
Universities offering B. Ed. (full-time):
- University of Delhi (University of Delhi)
- Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University)
- Jamia Milia Islamia University (Jamia Milia Islamia University)
- Mahatma Gandhi University (Mahatma Gandhi University)
- Lovely Professional University (Lovely Professional University)
Universities offering B. Ed. (correspondence):
- Indira Gandhi National Open University (Indira Gandhi National Open University)
- Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University (Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University)
- Karnataka State Open University (Karnataka State Open University)
- Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University (Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University)
- Netaji Subhash Open University (Netaji Subhas Open University)
It is safe to conclude that there is a reason teaching is regarded as a noble profession. I mean look at the amount of effort required to only pass the entrance test. However, don’t let the quantity deter you from taking the exam.
Also, check out:Â 6 Mental Hacks To Ace Your Exams