Getting Started (DSE Entrance)

By Akshita Goyal

Hello everyone!

Considering that you all are just a semester away from your DSE entrance exam, I write this to give you few tips to crack the examination.
DSE entrance is one of those where each question is a dreamerger of economics and maths. So the best way to get a feel of the exam is through the past year papers. They are the best indicators of how tough or easy any question can get.

Frankly, I started with the past years and ended with them. Instead of going over all chapters you did in the past three years, I suggest the following steps:
1.Try out some past years and you may realise that you don't actually remember many concepts and formulae!
2.Go back to specific chapters concerning the questions you couldn't attempt  and spend quality time on them. A productive way to test your mettle after revision would be to redo the questions.
3.You can now tally your answers with the correct options given. I would personally suggest that you do not look at solution booklets and instead wrack your mind(even if it takes a day or two).
4.I gained a lot by discussing questions with my friends. We would argue over our own answers and in the process cover our weak areas.

It is just a game of regular and persistent practice and little bit everyday is an ideal way to go about it! Now, some important (necessary but not sufficient) chapters that DSE paper setters just completely adore:

1.Maths
•Set theory
•Probability
•The mean value theorem and others.

2.Microeconomics
•General equilibrium(This year we had lot of questions based on this, maybe because it covers both consumer and producer theory)
•Game theory (the 2013 paper has quite a few on these)

3.Macroeconomics
•AD-AS Framework and IS-LM Model(so, here they give you a set of 6-7 questions that are linked)
•Solow model
•Theory of money( this includes formulae like money multiplier etc.)

4.Statistics and Econometrics
I club these two subjects together because they are interdependent. Everything here is important for questions on these test almost every topic in it.

Lot of advice it seems! For those who wish to do masters, it is definitely a long wait but let it not affect you too much. I remember that my friends and I would sit for hours in the mess joking about the difference in the kind of papers each institute sets. Some of us remembered the correct options by heart! ;)
In the end, if you enjoy your preparation, you will definitely be able to pass it off well.  Because if you cherish the journey, the destination won't seem very far. Garner your preparation with confidence and a calm mind! Now, you are ready to attack the entrance!
In case of any queries, you can comment on this post, I shall try my best to help you out.

Bonne chance! :)

(Akshita Goyal graduated from St. Stephen's College in 2014. She got Rank 3 in DSE Entrance and was awarded Prof. Manmohan Singh Scholarship. She is currently pursuing MA in Economics at Delhi School of Economics)