Every year, thousands of applicants apply for different competitive tests such as IELTS and GRE, TOEFL. The difficulty of these tests increases with each new year, helping you sort the wheat from chaff. Only a handful of candidates make it to top. It thus becomes important to devise a strategy in line with your strengths and weaknesses to stay ahead. Here are some tips and strategies to help you excel in competitive exams.
How to Prepare for Competitive Exams
General awareness is a area that is highly scored and takes less time to complete in competitive examinations. It is an important part exams like GATE, RBI-Grade A, SSC, and others. Here are some suggestions and tricks to assist you in passing this section.
- Read Newspapers
It is important to keep abreast of current affairs at all levels to score high on competitive exams. This can be accomplished by studying newspaper articles, current affairs magazines, important news reports, and books such as NCERTs. Pay attention to exam-specific topics. For example, if you are studying for the RBI Grade-B exam then take the Business and Economics sections thoroughly.
2. Take Notions
There are two advantages when you write notes in your own words. This not only allows you to keep information for a longer time but also allows you to update the syllabus.
3. Learn Something About Everything
The carry-on bag you have is able to hold just 10 apples. You can save money by purchasing 10 more apples that you can stuff into your bag. The bag breaks and you end up losing numerous apples. It’s the same for your memory. The range of tests is vast. You will find it hard to remember important details if you read all the material in detail. Note down your thoughts in a concise manner and go through every topic.
4. Review and Give Mock Tests
Revision is key to getting through the general knowledge section of competitive tests. You should dedicate at least 1-2 hours per day. Create mock tests that are current affairs-based to help you strengthen your study. This will help you in evaluating your weak points.
Competitive Exams
To test your basic English proficiency, tests for competitive exams contain a section that tests your verbal ability. You can score well on this section by following these guidelines :
- While it’s easy to remember the meaning behind an Idiom however, it is difficult to construct sentences using it. Reading is an important part of sentence structure and.
- Review the questions prior to you read the questions. This will make it easy to find the right answer. It also saves time.
- Take regular practice tests regularly. You will not only experience the feel of the real test but it also assists you in self-assessment.
- Make a list of vocabulary words that are used in mock tests. You can revise them and practice.
- Last but not least, practise as many varieties of questions as you can.
Preparing the Quantitative Section of Competitive Exams
Quantitative ability is one of the most difficult sections of competitive exams. It tests a candidate’s basic math skills. Here are some suggestions you can take to get an excellent score on this section.
- Practice previous year question papers. These papers will give you an idea of the exam structure and help prepare you accordingly.
- Cleanse your foundations, keep track of all important formulas, then go over them frequently to improve your speed.
- Know the basics of multiplication tables as well as cube roots to help you save time during the test. Make sure you know the square and cube roots of numbers up to 30 and then remember the multiplication table till 25.
- Do full-length mock papers.
- Begin by reading through the paper.
Reasoning Capability for Competitive Exams
Another section that is popular that is often used in competitive exams is the Reasoning ability. This section challenges students to work through subjects like patterns, puzzles and analogy. These are the top strategies to get through this section.
- Analyze and pay attention to your weaknesses.
- Do not answer if the task is taking a lot of time.
- Start solving questions from easy subjects like directions and analogy, and move on to more complex subjects like puzzles, coding-decoding, and Syllogisms.
How do I prepare for Competitive Exams with Job
A lot of people do not have the option of quitting their jobs to prepare for competitive tests. Here are some ways you can prepare for competitive tests at work.
- Weekends are your best friends. Concentrate on clearing your ideas and doing long-hour study during this time
- Request support from your boss and to lower your work hours so that you can concentrate on your studies.
- You should study in the morning. It is better to work in the morning, rather than waking up in the evening and getting ready to go to the night before bed.
- You can take coaching sessions during weekends if you need. It’s fine to have external support, as you have many things to do.
Tips for studying for tests
If you’re aware of the best ways to prepare for these competitive exams Here are some study tricks to increase your chance of learning well.
- Concentrate on your weaknesses only if you have the time to master it. There isn’t much time to learn something new, so concentrate on your weaknesses.
- You can rest, eat, and exercise to break the monotony of your cooking and keep you at peace.
- After you are prepared for the exam, relax and pamper yourself. This will help to relax.
- To boost your memory in the short term, practice mock tests
How can you prepare for competitive exams without the help of a coach
Although many people will say that competitive tests are not possible without coaching, the reality is that you can not just pass the test but also stand a higher chance of learning than others. Here’s how you can prepare for competitive exams without coaching:
- Create a timetable to aid in the preparation for the exam
- Start by understanding the basic concepts. Do not ignore any part of the course.
- If you do not have a backup plan from a coaching centre, you should be open to taking assistance from other sources like family, friends and even youtube channels
- Do you need to make multiple revisions?
- Mock exams are your best friends
- If that is helpful to you, consider joining a study team.
A Few General Tips
Here are some helpful tips and tricks to aid you in preparing for competitive exams.
- Read the course thoroughly.
- Make sure to invest more in areas that are weaker
- Follow the timetable.
- Regular breaks are important.
- Consume a balanced and healthy diet.
- Utilize flowcharts, tables graphs, or any other visual techniques to make notes.
Timetable for Competitive Exam Preparation
It is essential to have a timetable if you plan to be able to pass an exam that is competitive. The length of the test will determine the duration.
- Split your time in 45-minutes of study and then take a 15 minute break
- Test yourself and find out where you are at the moment.
- Next, pick up the subjects you’re weak in.
- Begin by providing them with the equivalent of half your time in class
- To improve upon the knowledge you have already acquired Choose the other part
- Make sure you get enough rest and sleep breaks
These tips and tricks will surely help you succeed on future competitive exams. Leverage Edu experts are available to help you choose the best exam to pass for the purpose of applying to international universities. The counsellors will help you choose the right exam, and will also help you develop a perfect strategy to ace the exam.
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