The Hindu Business Line : Score more

Mathews believes “that a student in Kanyakumari or Kathmandu or Kampala (Uganda) should have access to the same quality of training that students have in larger cities around the world.”

He commissioned a team of experts to develop the curriculum. The training is focused on teaching techniques that will be applied on actual questions from GRE and GMAT exams.

The techniques are meant to increase a student’s accuracy and speed in a standardised test, says Mathews.

He promises that “the end result will be a significant improvement in test scores.”

A high-speed Internet connection and headset used for voice chat are required to use the service.

Students join an online classroom with live teachers and students around the world to interact as if they were in a real classroom, asking questions and getting clarifications in real time, says Mathews.

At a cost of $200, the online service offers only GRE and GMAT training for international students while providing admission counselling for students in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Spur for service

As an engineering student in 1999, Mathews, a native of Pathanamthitta district, wanted to do a masters programme in the US.

With no one to guide him, he sought admission in various colleges on his own. Mathews looks back and remembers stumbling along a rough path.

He says, “Life was difficult. Not knowing the way to work is a sure recipe for frustration and disappointment.”"

He feels students in bigger cities such as Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai are at a definite advantage over their counterparts from Coimbatore or Kerala due to easier access to professional training institutes and councillors.

paromita@thehindu.co.in