So you guys are ready to face your
entry test after a couple of days? Or, aren’t you? Entry Test stress can make
a student so perplexed at times that it takes a toll on their performance big
time! Mostly it is due to lack of planning in entrance exam preparation
or inappropriate temperament for facing the entry test situation. There are
some students, who are not regular or so good in their preparations, but facing
the exam gets the better of them.
Today, I receive a message on
facebook from Riphah’s aspirant about how to prepare and handle the pressure
for the entry test. I was replying to that, but then it grew up very long so I
just converted the reply into an article about how to prepare for Riphah's (Medical)
entry test. I know it’s late but better than never. As I appeared (Engineering)
in it some 3.5 years earlier, I may not be much updated about the current patterns
and scenarios but this article is all about general strategies. Now most of you
guys are reading this to share a solution or some sort of self-experimented
technique to handle pressure or just want to GET IN to the MBBS or BDS program.
Well I’m not some sort of BABA GEE that I might have some sort of solution for
this problem. In my opinion there is no running from it. No shortcut,
whatsoever. That’s why people called "under pressure" situations just like
Shahid Afridi is under Pressure now days for some unknown reason. Well jokes
apart gear up and just focus. First of all your luck does matter in every entry
test across the world, so just deal with it, but it may help you only 5-10% in achieving
the success, rest 90-95% should come from you.
There are some easy questions in
the entry test and might be some tough. There are some MCQs you like and there
are MCQs you hate. You can't help it, you can't ignore any of given MCQs. It is
an human tendency that we avoid tough things, and specially students leave
tough questions for the end and spend more time on the questions they already
know. This approach is wrong. Never ignore tough questions for the very last
few moments of the entry test. But REMEMBER, do solve those questions at first you've got a good grip on.
"Jo darr gaya samjho marr gaya",
said by an actor in some Bollywood movie. Although self belief and self-confidence
are very vital in general. But here I can just talk about the confidence of solving
any question. Generally, just by reading a question one should be able to say that
I can or cannot solve this problem. BUT if you say may be, or may be not then there
is something fishy going on. So here one question arises, How to improve
confidence? How to handle this type of situation or more precisely how to
answer the million dollar question of entry test? As each mark of entry test
will count in selections. So it’s very simple, whenever you solve a question, think
about the big picture. For example, why this method worked? Is it possible to
apply other methods to the question? Will it work? Why or why not? It may take
some time initially, but that’s worth. Try this strategy for any question and
you will realize feeling more and more confident as you solve more problems. Here
I suggest you guys that for solving a problem, be it Physics, Chemistry, Biology
or Mathematics, always assume that to the problem you are attempting is unknown
and you must have to find the answer.
Now to control your pressure, mind pressure, you
must control your fear. It's a natural observable fact and all things natural,
are unavoidable. So the best attempt we can make at not being afraid is to try
and not think about it. This applies for only the night before the test.
Erasing it from your mind beforehand could prove perilous.
Getting into Medical, MBBS to be precise
or Engineering is not a cake walk but believe me, it is like cake, you cannot
have a bigger bite of cake at once otherwise it will stuck to your throat,
similarly you cannot pass MBBS or Engineering entry test in a night reading
rather you require to read regularly and systematically. Make practice a
practice. Don't forget that only learning chapters will not take you anywhere,
it is questions that you need to answer in the entry test. So practice,
practice and practice till you are perfect at the chapter and then move ahead
with the next topic.
"Conquer you fear and I promise
you shall conquer the world" I heard this in some Hollywood movie. One more
thing, try not to stare at other applicants too much when you’re there for the entry
test. At last, just remember that there is no shortcut to success. So, plan adequately, strategize accordingly
and then execute smartly. If nothing works then put your hand on your chest and
say aloud “BHAIYA AAL IS WELL”. That might do the trick!
These couple of tips are just for
the entry test day only.
- Relax and staying confident is the mantra of success in any entry test.
- First complete the questions you are sure you can solve. Thus avoid the waste of time in trying to solve the problems you are not confident enough about.
- Remain cool, don’t get nervous, read questions carefully, work out a solution strategy in mind or on the paper, whatever works for you, then write the solution else you may end up doing what is called silly mistakes.
- Remember that there is no negative marking here at Riphah. So, if you know anything about the problem, so please write, write and write.
And I know that you have been
working very hard but guys there is no shortcut to success as I told you twice in
this article, so now if you have 3-4 days to prepare, prepare likewise
Please do not go to the section of "yaar akhiri din m kar lon ga/gi" NOO!! It
will only confuse you. Remember every hour spent in preparing is worth it. So, Good
Luck. :)
About the Author:
Fawad Chaudhry happens to be the President of Riphah Student Advisory Board, A final year student (Software Engineering) from Riphah International University. You can always find me on facebook. I could be reach at fawadriu [at] gmail.com.
Fawad Chaudhry is a freelance writer based in Pakistan. He posts here.
