In Conversation with BILAL ZUBAIR 3rd in Punjab, PMS 2019-20

Jahangir’s World Times (JWT): First of all, please tell us about your educational background?

Bilal Zubair (BZ): I did my matriculation from The City School. Then, I completed intermediate studies from Punjab College of Science on full scholarship. After that, I did BSc engineering from UET, Lahore.

JWT: How significant was the role, you think, World Times Institute (WTI) played in your preparation for PMS examination?

BZ: I constantly sought guidance from the faculty members of World Times Institute. They were well aware of the modern trends in examination and interviews, and their guidance proved highly fruitful for me.

JWT: What, in your opinion, is the key to getting through compulsory papers of PMS exam, especially that of General Knowledge?

BZ: Aspirants must study relevant books, magazines and articles in the leading newspapers. They should keep themselves updated on latest developments and research in their subjects. Reading magazines, especially Jahangir’s World Times (JWT) and listening news on electronic media enhances General Knowledge of an aspirant to a considerable extent.

JWT:  How answers should be written to get maximum marks in the written part of PMS exam?

BZ: First of all, you must comprehend the questions properly and then structure your answers accordingly. This will help you to avoid digression and hit the bull’s eye. Also, usage of clear headings and adding facts and figures always adds value to your answer.

JWT:  How did you structure your Essay?

BZ: While writing the essay in PMS exam, selecting the right topic is of paramount importance. I chose the essay which I believed I had full grip on. After that, I made a holistic outline which included my stance on the topic statement. It also encompassed an overview of the arguments which I wanted to use in my essay. Right from the beginning till the conclusion of the essay, I focussed on staying relevant and writing in a coherent manner.

JWT: What was your strategy for the General Knowledge paper?

BZ: My primary sources to prepare for GK paper were the past papers of PPSC. I tried to solve as many of those as I could. Besides, I regularly read newspapers and certain magazines like The Economist and JWT magazine. Also, I consulted the book: ‘Who is Who and What is What’ published by World Times Publications.

JWT:  Should there be some word limit kept in mind while writing answers?

BZ: There isn’t any specific word limit. Questions should be answered after assessing how much explanation is necessary to address them in a comprehensive manner. Irrelevant material should be avoided and only relevant facts and figures should be added.

JWT: Is it better to attempt optional papers in Urdu or one should go with English only?

BZ: If an aspirant believes that (s)he can convey his/her point of view lucidly in English, I would recommend him/her to attempt optional papers in English. However, one should choose the medium one is comfortable with. This will help one convey one’s perspective clearly.

JWT: How one should choose Optional Subjects?

BZ: A candidate must focus on two main things while choosing the optional subjects. One is his/her area of interest and the other is his/her background knowledge of that subject. This will help him/her in understanding the concepts clearly and (s)he will be able to answer the questions in a proper way.

JWT:  Who deserves the credit for your success?

BZ: I am thankful to the Almighty who bestowed upon me this success. The credit for my success goes to my grandmother, my parents, teachers and friends who continuously supported me in this journey.

JWT: As interviewers usually grill the interview candidates, how did you manage the situation? 

BZ: I tried to remain calm, and answered the questions to the point. I think, candidates must remain humble and resilient when they are being grilled by the interviewers. That way, they will be unscathed by the grilling and will be able to answer the questions properly, and to the satisfaction of the panellists.