Preparation for entry test exams

Pakistan Medical Colleges and engineering universities

Introduction

Entry test exam is one of the screening tests used for isolation, separation and identification of students of different categories of knowledge and hardworking. Entry test exams are essential because our current examination system can’t differentiate between students of the different levels. There are various drawbacks in our current annual examination system. The extreme drawbacks of our current annual examination system are 

·         Non conceptual study

·         Totally related with ratta

·         Cheating oriented

·         Book oriented

·         Exams hanging around certain specific questions and topics

·         Various levels of teaching, colleges, students, paper checking and books etc

·         Following below standard notes and keys

·         No proper encouragement both for students and teachers 

This is one of the blessings of ETEA, SAT, NUST and various other related examination bodies to elevate the  level of studies and embrace students with hard work and concept

Topics, material, method of study and preparation for entry test exams are totally different but systematic as compared to that of other normal annual exams

Entry tests consist of Multiple Choice Questions comprises syllabus of SSC and HSSC. There are few chances of questions A-Level O-level syllabus      

 Chapter 01

There are certain stages and points, which should be in your mind while preparing yourselves for entry test exams

Stage No. 1:

(Collection of study materials)

A:        Collecting books and others materials related to entry test.  These books and material should be related with your course syllabus. If your are preparing,

·         For NUST entry test, Agha Khan other federal and Punjab colleges and universities you should follow Federal Board Books only or books comprising topics of federal Board syllabus

·         For ETEA ( KMU and UET) you should follow Books of KPK Boards only

B:         Search out past papers just for understanding the types and level of questions

Stage No. 2:

 (Immediately after SSC exam and preparation for first year annual exam)

A:         First make your mind for entry test, Your start of preparation for normal annual exams should also comprises entry test topics or related topics, therefore early at the start of first year study you should go through the whole book (All topics and exercises) for building up your mind and knowledge.

B:         Not only memorize different formulae, data, diagrams, results, procedures calculation but also make simple short notes which are essential for entry test exams

C:         Avoid selective study, which is lowest level of study enough for annual exam but not for entry test  

D:         Just for practice and understanding try to make certain MCQs from different topics, if your concept is clear then you will able to make good quality MCQs.

E:         For mature study, you can follow even different class of notes, keys related with your books syllabus

F:          Don’t interrupt and disturb your method of study for normal Annual exams

G:         Some time mutual discussion is more effective and fruitful than normal study

H:         continue your study even after 1^st year exam, both for coming second year and previous first 

Stage No. 3: 

(Immediately after 1^st year exam)

            Now you are student of 2^nd year. Your method of study should much mature than that of previous. Give very small period of time just for go through 1^st year books regularly. This time your study should consist of two categories

            A: Regular normal study for 2^nd year for your current annual exam

B: general method of study from 1^st year books i.e. surface study for continuation and touching 1^st year course

C: Also make very simple short notes for 2^nd year too, which are essential for entry test exams

Stage No. 4:

(Immediately after 2^nd year exam) 

·      Now you are in the stage for final and ultimate stage for preparation of entry test.

·      You have days not more than 60.

·      Now your methods of preparation should be totally entry test oriented

Point to be noted:

·      Keep all your old books and notes under your custody 

·      Don’t waste all those materials, which you had studied for your all previous exams

·      Don’t use new book and materials for your entry test exams

Method of study

Method of study for entry test consist of three steps

Step No.01:

Thorough study of your text books and different notes

During thorough study of your books, divide the whole book in three parts by

Using different colour highlighter

·            Use green colour highlighter for those points and material, which is conceptually cleared  and  well memorized to you

·            Use Yellow colour highlighter for those points and material, which are easy and conceptually cleared but to be remembered

·            Use red colour highlighter for those points and material, which are difficult and conceptually not cleared so be discussed with your current teacher

Step No.02: 

Collection of different important points, data, formulae, diagrams

              During study of your text books, sort out different important points, formulae, data and other applied material on separate sheets in short for

       

Importance:  These short points will not only help in solving different MCQs rapidly but also save your precious time near exam date

 

 Step No.03:

Self Evaluation of your knowledge

You should check Test your level of study and preparation for exams by

·            Solving different types of MCQs from past papers, text books and various other books available in market.  Solving papers should be consist of three modes

1: Easy Mode: First solve easy question for building up your knowledge and encouraging

2: Hard Mode: These types of MCQs are difficult and need full command on your subject

3: Practice Mode: These kinds of test are essential for your final preparation

·            Making and preparing some of your own MCQs from given topics, this will not only enhance your level of study but also make concepts

Stage No.04:

Practicing MCQs and revision

This is the final stage of your preparation this stage started, before one week or approximately 10 days of exam. Keep in your mind the following points in your mind

·            This stage is also called a revision period. There are no needs for extra study in this stage. The notes, material, points and all solved papers should be revised in this stage.

·             Focus should be given on Multiple Choice Questions. Try to solve maximum MCQs from various books up to your standard.

·            The most important point of this stage to analyze and evaluate your timing, keep in mind that there are   total number of 200 question  which should be solved in 180 minutes, so you have shortage of 20 minutes, therefore focus should given to your rate of attempting questions

·            Before answering the question, first you should understand the meaning and requirements of given question, therefore, during practice elevate your level to understand the theme of questions

Chapter 02

Points to be remembered before attempting paper

The answers of following questions should be in your mind before attempting the papers

·            Do you know the pattern of papers for your current exam?

·            Are you fully prepared for all subjects of your current exam

·            Are you mentally relax, sound and tension free

·            Do you have all the required material before starting paper

·            Your proper seat, roll number, ID etc are correct

·            Do you fully entertained the night before your paper day 

How to Attempt the paper?

            While attempting the paper, the following points should be in your mind

·            Don’t attempt all the MCQs in one go

·            Solve the simple, direct MCQ’s within short period of time

·            In the second solve difficult and reasoning questions

·            Special care should be given to the number of questions in both Question paper and answer sheet

·            Be relax and cool while filling the sphere in answer sheet

·            As there is negative marking so try to avoid guessing, if possible

 

Practice solving question

            When you are solving a question, first cancel out wrong option to increases the possibilities of selection of correct question e.g.

During the electrolysis of a dilute aqueous solution of sulfuric acid, select the correct option?

(a): The concentration of solution increases

(b): The concentration of solution decreases

(c): The conductivity H₂SO₄ is highest when 100% pure

(d): SO₄^-2 discharges at cathode. 

Option “d” is incorrect because SO₄^-2 is heavy ion and never discharges

Option “c” is incorrect because there are no free ions in 100 % pure acid, which are required for conductivity. Two options are omitted from option list and now there are 50% possibilities of selection of correct option.

(a): The concentration of solution increases

(b): The concentration of solution decreases

(c): The conductivity H₂SO₄ is highest when 100% pure

(d): SO₄^-2 discharges at cathode. 

As in aqueous solution H₂O molecules decomposes to for H₂ and O₂ gases,

So concentration of acid increases thus option A is correct

(a): The concentration of solution increases

Instruction for candidates

Students are required to follow the following instructions on day of test

 

·         Admit Card (ID Number) provided by the respective Institutions / ETEA.

·         Thin Tip Black Marker (Dollar Sketch line marker)

·         Clip Board to hold the Answer Sheet

·         Keep in your mind YOUR ID. Number, Name and Paper (A, B, C etc) are already filled so check all these well

·         Take care of Answer sheet properly i.e. avoiding folding, keep it away from sweat and water

·         Try to fill sphere totally and avoid spreading of ink on answer sheet

·         Don’t mark more than one options

·         Don’t use eraser, ink remover and whitener etc

·          Mobile, calculator etc are not allowed

·         For rough work, there is blank sheet at the end of question book

·         Avoid extra writing on answer sheet 

Note:   1: Syllabus and paper pattern of KPK medical colleges and UET Peshawar are same 

2: For other colleges and universities like Agha khan, Punjab medical colleges and NUST Federal Board syllabus is used but their paper pattern are different

                                                                       

                                                                                    Zawar Hussain

Assistant Professor

FG Boys College Mardan Cantt

03005369121