A common mistake students make while preparing for any competitive test is that they collect too many study materials/notes/suggestions, without objectively planning the way to move forward. As exams approach, they find it hard to tackle the collected materials, and either try to mug them up or simply read through them.
Generally it would be best if students make notes themselves, referring a standard text book and class notes, to strengthen all areas and to quickly review the whole syllabus. Referring too many text books at a time, especially in the latter half of the preparation period may be laborious and confusing for students.
More stress should be given to learning and understanding the material, rather than trying to memorize all/parts of the text, which remain unexplained. Critically analyzing the material would help the aspirants better in preparing for a Multiple Choice Type Questions. Trying to memorise too much may create confusion during the actual test, thus defeating the cause.
A positive, but a realistic goal should be set. Instead of thinking about the odds, one should be a believer. "YES I CAN" should be the punch line. Taking too much pressure on oneself may induce anxiety and subdue one's ability.
Studying for knowledge or insight into the subject is more motivating than studying to pass the examination. If you have knowledge, success comes by default.
Do not be selective or concentrate in areas of interest only. Instead, emphasis should be given to all areas. Try to understand the contents for better retention, instead of memorizing.
While studying, one should anticipate the questions that may arise from that particular portion. If one can do this successfully, a significant portion of the preparation is normally be considered to be over.
1. Calm down and focus on what's to come.
2. Try to utilize the entire time allotted optimally. Finishing too early and running out of time are both undesirable.
3. Read the instructions for each question carefully.
4. Go through the alternatives for every question carefully before making a decision. Often alternatives contain clues.
5. The first questions you choose to answer should be those which you are most confident about.
6. If you do not know the answer, attempt to try and eliminate the incorrect options as far as possible. If you can narrow down to two probable options, selection of the most probable answer becomes easier. Selection may also be done by the method of elimination.
7. In case none of the above strategies materialize, blind and random guessing are not encouraged. It may lead to negative scoring.
8. Do not let anxiety or frustration destroy your confidence.
Aspirants should take up regular practice exams. They help not only in evaluating one's preparation for the exam, but also add to the knowledge about the topic /subject.
Practice tests are efficient learning tools. Aspirants should regularly take up such tests to discover/explore their preparation/performance. Questions encountered in the practice tests help in long time retention, and often, similar questions in the actual test are better attempted. While taking practice tests, instead of focusing solely on the correct alternative, aspirants should look at the incorrect alternatives and give a thought as to why they are incorrect, and in what condition they might have been correct.