YAKSHA - A tool for success in Competitive Entrance Exams

Frequently asked questions
This document contains the information, that has been compiled on the basis of interaction with various individuals, groups who have been involved with this product. They could have been designers, database creators, database verifiers, beta testers, teachers, students or the buyers. If you want to add or give any kind of feedback on this list kindly send an email to: yaksha@uptecnet.com.

1. Yaskha! where does this name come from?

Yaksha name is given to a particular class of society in Indian mythology, but the Indian epic 'Mahabharat' has a special mention of this, as a godly being who comes out of the depth of the 'gyan sarovar' (The knowledge pond) and faces the pandav king 'Yudhisthar' who had gone their in search of the water. Yaksha asks some profound questions, and only when proper answers are received, he allows 'Yudhistar' to take water. In other words, we can visualise Yaksha as the godman who asks questions, and thus this name has been given to this question-bank software.

2. In what various forms this product is available?

Please refer to Product Range Page.

3. What is the prime purpose of this product?

This product is meant to act as an windows based interface to mutiple choice type objective question bank. The Software engine of this product has been written in a way that it can support all possible types of text, illustrations, equations which may be required to be a part of 2 to 6 multiple choice question. This product is usually shipped along with the question database. The subject/exams the database covers, makes a different version of this product.

4.Who could benefit from the use of this product?

Students preparing for various entrance exams can directly benefit from this product. This product gives them opportunity to test themselves at various stages of their preparation. Mock examinations of any kind real exams can be prepared.

The product is also targeted to help the examination paper setters to get a set of randomly picked required number of questions from a large database.

5. What subjects are covered?

Please refer to Product Range Page.

6. Are there similar things available for other Examinations?

You can name your examination which you don't find on the Product Range page, we shall try to release a new product for your examination also.

7. How large is the database?

Medical CD - More than 14,000 Plus Questions.
Engineering CD - more than 9800 questions.
IIT CD - More than 2900 questions.
MBA CD - More than 4800 questions.
CAT CD - More than 4000 questions.
Civil Services CD more than 7800 questions.
CDS CD - More than 11,000 Questions.
Master's quiz, more than 7000 questions.

8. How do we add more questions to this database?

If you want to suggest some good questions to be added into this database, you will have to mail your suggestions to yaksha@uptecnet.com. If your suggestions are worth, we will certainly add those questions in the next release of the product. We may also give you some complimentary offers for version upgrades if some good contributions are made by you.

9. How do we remove questions from this database?

We do have a question removal methodology built into the software, but for the initial releases this facility has not been directly extended to the end user. If you have found some major problems in our questions databank and you want to get rid of certain specific questions from your database, send us your feedback, and we will help you out.

10. What are the possible question types?

The basic Yaksha Software engine has been written for MCQ with any options from 2 to 6. The engine can support both option formats like, many choices one correct or many choice many correct. The engine is however provided pre-configured for the examination it is meant for.

This format of objective questions is popular due to availability of equipments for manually filled answer-sheet checking. Our aim is to ultimately convert all such paper based exams to online examination. Other suitable formats of asking questions will be added in due course of time.

11. What are the testing modes?

Yaksha software has the original concept of providing online model testing in various modes, defined as Examination, Confidence/Self-Appraisal.

The examination mode allows you to build a mock exam similar to a real exam. Unlike many other equivalent products, Yaksha is capable of building mock exam for any examination pattern by allowing the choice of Number of questions, Time Allotment or marking pattern etc.

The Confidence/self-appraisal mode allows good preparation of students by allowing to attempt questions till the correct one is chosen. This way student learns the answer as well as his actual performance in the same session. This mode also introduces a new technique of checking the confidence level.

After you have gone thru any of above modes, a special SCRUTINY session is allowed to you, where your marked choice and the correct answer is displayed together.

12. Confidence Level? How can any test determine this?

Ideally if you don't know the answer to a objective question, you should not attempt a question, if you still do so, your confidence index is low. This is our theme of testing the confidence level. There is a set formula by which we calculate an index, based on answering a question in first, second or third attempt. Believe us, this really works and many end-users have liked this idea.

13. How do I know that I am improving by attempting such tests?

After each test you are shown your performance chart and all your performance data can be recorded with a button called 'record-book'. In the record-book you can keep adding your performance data, and compare it for yourself, whether you are improving in successive attempts.

14. I don't have a habit of working on computers, so what is the point?

Friendly computers have been around for more than 20 years. In the new millennium if you are still keeping away from them, you are still living in a well. As far as your habit goes, believe us, we have seen people going crazy about doing everything, using computers, in a very very short time. No one can convince you, unless you, yourself give it a serious try.

15. Why Should I buy this. I can always copy it from someone?

We have no answers for software pirates, but for a genuine users, advantages will certainly beat the nominal price charged for this product. In addition to the price we are charging, we also assure for a free product support to ensure your comfortable working. We also keep giving many schemes to genuine users. We have also kept an open registration policy to allow the use of this software in a book-ware form, i.e. the software can be carried to any machine by anyone and run there.

16. Are there such test available from other sources?

There certainly are, many other vendors who have products in this category, both in India and outside. We have studied many other products and built Yaksha from scratch without bias of any kind. Most of the thought which has gone behind conceiving various testing modes is original. Our promise is to keep Yaksha, the best in its product category.

17. My speed on computers seem to differ. How do I adjust myself?

Computers are still evolving, to come up to the expectations of a common man. The interface which computers provide is still little un-natural and quite a bit of practice is required till you master the medium. The interface which Yaksha provides is one step forward, to other online examinations. It has both keyboard and mouse interface which is very simple to understand. If you get involved with this medium, you will see that your speed will normalize soon.

18. What should I do If I do not own a computer with me?

Computers are still quite costly from typical earning standards. It may not be easier for the student community like you, to own a personal machine. The alternative we are providing is to make public access points for using such facilities on a nominal charge basis. If you want to open such a center, please write to yaksha@uptecnet.com.

19. Who helps me if I have doubts in certain questions?

Our panel of subject experts can help you, in your question related doubts and you can use the feedback form provided with the Help of Yaksha Application.

20. Where can I find the solutions to various questions?

Yaksha has been currently conceived as a model testing unit. The solution to the problems will have to be found from your regular study material. Please do not request us, for providing detailed solutions to problems. You may inform us if you seriously doubt a particular answer in our database.

We are however launching another version in this series with detailed solutions. If you are interested please mail to yaksha@uptecnet.com we shall send you information as soon as it is released.

21. Can computer provide me hints on solving the problems?

The solution version of CD shall contain this feature also.

22. What Syllabus is covered in this databank?

The syllabus we refer for developing the questions database is taken from various prospectus and bulletins of various examinations our faculty has been making best possible effort to cover questions on all possible topics. If you have any specific queries please write to yaksha@uptecnet.com.

23. Can I take printouts of various questions?

This highly demanded feature has now been introduced in the current releases on the shelves in the DVD Box packaging. Each question can be taken separately in a print form or the entire session can be printed along with its answer sheet.

24. Can I take print-out of my performance card?

Oh Sure! this feature of yaksha is actually quite interesting. It not only allows taking your performance output as a specially generated certificate, but it allows customisation for the name of the agency/person issuing that certificate.

25. How this kind of product has been developed?

The product has been developed using MS-Visual C++ with MFC library. The data development has been done by developing special tools made for this kind of work.