Pvt guidance centres cashing in

Walk into one of the city’s many private career guidance centres and the routine follows: Register, take a multiple-choice test and then sit through a counselling session.

Walk into one of the city’s many private career guidance centres and the routine follows: Register, take a multiple-choice test and then sit through a counselling session.

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While the efficacy of the three-hour exercise is debatable, more students are signing up at such private centres.

Ascend Psychology, a private career guidance centre, claimed that it conducted tests such as the Differential Aptitude Test, orientation and interest tests on two to three students daily. The tests, the organisation claimed, are internationally standardised and tweaked to fit Indian students’ needs.

At other private institutes, which charge Rs 500 to Rs 2,000 per session, a single aptitude test followed by a counselling session suffices.

Very few hold an interest test, which, psychologists claim, yields more field specific results.

The tests are popular as they are not based on rote learning and go beyond textbooks to understand students’ abilities.

“Initially, students asked just about career options. But now, they worry about change of streams, career scope, promotions, money, etc,” said Madhavi Sheth, of Solutions Counselling Centre.

For Sahil Aggarwal, a CBSE Class 10 student, an aptitude test only confirmed that he had good numerical ability and spatial understanding. “But a personal session with the counsellor helped narrow my focus towards architecture,” he said.

Not everyone is satisfied. “The test only confirmed my inclination towards fashion designing. What I really want to know is the best places to apply to, and whether I need to go abroad,” said Gitanjali Pillai, a Class 11 student.

Resourceful students such as Ratna Khera, also bank on the internet and career magazines for information.