Jahangir's World Times First Comprehensive Magazine for students/teachers of competitive exams and general readers as well.
JWT is a good source of authentic information one needs to have for important papers like English Essay, Pakistan Affairs and Current Affairs
Jahangir’s World Times (JWT): First of all, please tell us about your educational background?
Amar Shakir Jajja (ASJ): I had my schooling from more than a dozen cities of Punjab. However, I did intermediate from Government College University (GCU), Lahore, and BSc (Electrical Engineering) from the prestigious University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Lahore.
JWT: How much helpful did you find Jahangir’s World Times (JWT) in your preparation for PMS exam?
ASJ: JWT is very helpful in preparing especially current affairs-related topics in Pakistan’s context, besides being a good source of authentic information one needs to have for other important papers like English Essay and Pakistan Studies.
JWT: What, in your opinion, is the key to getting through compulsory papers of PMS exam, especially the General Knowledge paper?
ASJ: Well-rounded comprehension and conceptualization of topics is the key, in my opinion. General Knowledge is all about learning facts and the use of authentic data.
JWT: How answers should be written to get maximum marks in written part of PMS exam?
ASJ: I focused on writing answers in such a manner that my own perspective on issue at hand becomes evident. This, I believe, makes you stand out.
JWT: How did you structure your Essay?
ASJ: I am a great fan as well as an ardent practitioner of “two variables approach”. Fortunately, it worked well for me.
JWT: What was your strategy for the General Knowledge paper?
ASJ: No particular strategy as I have been a GK geek since my childhood. For static GK, I used GK book published by World Times Publications. While civered tge evolving GK through follow up of newspapers and news apps.
JWT: Should there be some word limit kept in mind while writing answers?
ASJ: No. Just focus on covering all the aspects you have been asked to write on in the question statement. Once you do that, move on to the next one.
JWT: Is it better to attempt optional papers in Urdu or one should go with English only?
ASJ: Go with English as material in this medium is readily available in hard as well as soft form.
JWT: How one should choose Optional Subjects?
ASJ: There are multiple factors one must consider while selecting optional subjects. I categorized them as subjective factors which include interest, comfort level, etc, and objective factors which include syllabus, scoring trend, etc.
JWT: Who deserves the credit for your success?
ASJ: My parents, my sister and brother-in-law.
JWT: As interviewers usually grill the interview candidates, how did you manage the situation?
ASJ: Nobody grilled me; rather they seemed to ignore me deliberately. Despite that, I held myself together and focused on my answers.
Advice for fresh aspirants
Be confident, be humble and be loyal to your Lord and mentor.
My Interview Experience
I was recovering from fever and coughing frantically on the interview day. Anyway, I mustered my courage and went to the interview room. Panellists were seemingly tired but they were all ears during the process. Not a single question was asked from my background, education or optional subjects. Whole interview revolved around my interests and hobbies. Nasir Durrani Sahib indulged in debate with me over my writings and ideological leanings. Seerat Asghar Sahib focused on my reading interests and another panellist, whose name has slipped my memory, explored my debating experiences. Finally, Mr Chairman gauged me through opinion-based questions. Overall, I was not satisfied with my performance as panellists seemed disinterested in me. But, now I realize that it was just a ploy to unsettle me.
