A detailed guide to preparing for engineering & technology entry tests

“Where are you, come here!”, I heard the booming voice of my dad across the floors.

Ofcourse he was looking for me. The sound, at that time, felt like summons to damnation for me. Stumbling, I stood up and started to move hesitatingly downstairs where my father was sitting. I knew the results of my HSSC exams were out, and there was no escape for me. My father wanted me take admission in a good engineering university but my poor grades perhaps spilt their dreams. That was when I realized it was a now or never kind of situation for me. And the entry tests were my only chance of landing in a good university.

This story is not over-rated. To be honest, if due to some reasons you have had a bit less marks in the HSSC exams, do not feel demotivated. You can and you will get through the entry test, ending up getting accepted at your favourite university. The basic essence of course is ‘Motivation’, without which there aren’t any chances. But having said that, let me clear it for once and for all that it is not that much hard work but the accompanied ‘smart work’ which can make you go places. Following is an excerpt which might help the young fellows in their Entry Test Preparations for the Engineering and Technology Universities.

Also Read: 8 facts you should be aware of when applying for university

Getting rid of mistake #1

For getting through the Entry Test, we first need to understand that what actually is demanded from us. You should know that what abilities will ensure that you pass through an Entry Test and prepare accordingly.

Knowing the objective
One thing is for sure, the criterion for sifting through the Entry Tests is not in any way similar to that of ‘Board Exams’. Engineering and Technology fields cope with intense problem solving skills which essentially require people with excellent comprehensions. So the entry tests for are designed in such a way as to test your quick problem solving skills.

Setting the objective
As of now you might have understood what universities need, so you know what you will be aiming at. need’, so you know what you will be aiming at.

Know the exam

Before you even open your book, check the University website, blogs, any good book and/or consult any senior who has passed that particular university’s exam. Check out any ‘Combination Key’ and other University guidelines. You should keep an eye out for the subject with most weightage. Give that course the utmost priority. You should also keep a check on time for the test so that you can practice accordingly.

For Engineering and Technology Universities Entry Tests, the hierarchy as per the number of question division generally is as Maths, Physics, Chemistry and English.

Know yourself

As you get ahead of knowing the exam, perform a personal check. Pick out the subjects you find interesting and those about which you are least bothered. Are mental calculations your thing or just typical Redox reactions. Pick out anything from your traits which you think might affect adversely or otherwise favourably on your test performance. Work hard on your weaker traits and polish them by practicing sample questions

Study time allocation and related management

Once that personal record is done, start management. First of all, divide the whole time in three or four parts. Those divisions are meant for making sure that you just not only sharpen your concepts but also that you challenge them with difficult questions in later time stages.

Keeping in mind the number of questions in Entry Test, your proficiency level in that subject, its applicability in other subjects, the average time you take in studying that subject and the length of course content you should then divide the time of one revision among each subject.

Getting on with the preparation

As soon as the necessary decision making has passed, you should rapidly indulge yourself in preparations. But on the way you might confront a ‘critical’ question.

Academy or not?!
As soon as the final exams of HSSC finish, the marketing game of Entry Test prep stations go stronger than it was ever before. They do what they can to show that it is impossible to get through the Entry Test if you don’t seek their guidance. I am not in any way saying that those institutes are completely needless. I also would have gotten into those sessions if I at any point thought that my concepts of whole HSSC were crystal clear.

What these institutes do is drain all of your time that you had with you in your clock bank and indulge you in super quick revision and test sessions with the guess papers they have. There is no point in choosing them if you lack the concepts.
So, decide for yourself and you can easily know at least for yourself if you need them or not.

Self-preparation

If you ever want not to choose any academy but instead want to prepare with yourselves, just buck up and let down any fears. You can straightaway start with the scheduling you had done. Start reading the chapters of the science subjects noting main points and clearing the concepts.

Concepts, concepts, concepts

Concepts are the entities which are being focused throughout whenever there is any mention of preparation of Entry Tests. Most of the people actually freak out thinking that this is out of there domain. Following are some techniques which if focused might benefit you.

1. Try to be the boss. YOU SHOULD QUESTION THE BOOK. Question the existence of every statement and as soon you get the answer, you get the concept.
2. For any lengthy paragraphs, look how each line gets its roots from previous line and without looking at the very next line just try to guess what it might be. That can only be done if you know where writer wants to lead you to.
3. Try to relate the study of one subject with other. By doing so, you will be getting too out of the mainstream.
4. Visualizations can be important in clarification of the concepts as these allow to get a good grasp over the subject matter. Seeing is believing.
5. Reach out for ‘Youtube’ videos on the problematic concepts which use intuitive methods of illustration to explain all the stuff.
6. Once you feel your concepts are clear, practice. Do not for a second think that you shouldn’t practice. Practice is your best weapon. It will sharpen your skill set and teach you time management.

Some exclusive subject-wise tips

1. For Mathematics prep you should have sound command over ‘Applied Mathematics’. While in practice, try to do the questions yourself, the guide should never be any resort.
2. Physics is next important subject which could be as easy as pie if you take on it as conceptually. Read the whole passage and try to figure out the conceptually important points, underlining them.
3. For Chemistry, you might be interested in getting familiar with the book only. There are not many concepts.
4. The content for English is rather vague. You know the type of questions but you can never have a clue of their source. Your grammatical sense and vocabulary should be good.

Lastly, you need to be really fast at calculations and other techniques which are meant for speedy executions as the time is going to be one major constraint. You can only come up with quick tricks if you practice.

The test phase

In any timetable which is properly set, there will always be time for improvement. Which could only be done if there are timings specified for the tests as well. Buy yourself an Entry Test book of MCQs or any of the Online Test Solutions. Run through them. Allow Mock Timed Exercises for yourself and practice for quick calculations of course. This is the time, when you pick out the calculations which are often repeated like Sines, Cosines etc. and memorise all of them against standard angles. This is also the time when you pick out your weaker zones and better them.

Revise, evaluate, improve and repeat.

Now that you have passed the tough times with the ribbon of hardwork, you are ready to take on your next challenge. Best wishes!