With the entrance examinations for colleges for various bachelors as well as masters courses becoming more and more competitive with every passing year, the standard format of multiple choice questions (MCQs) for these exams has proved to be very successful and the most efficient and widely accepted format in the past years.
Studying for these MCQ based entrance exams has always been very different from studying for the usual theory based examinations. While the syllabus for both of these exams remains more or less the same, the study and paper pattern along with the approach and strategy differs to a large extent.
The exam for each stream and course is different and has its different patterns and essentials you need to follow while preparing for the same. Architecture CET exams are often divided into three sections general amplitude, Physics & mathematics and Subject knowledge, and in some cases a drafting/ drawing section for students to demonstrate their visualizing skills. In this article we will discuss the 4 secrets and strategies you need to keep in mind for CET exams for architecture.
1. Understanding the Paper Pattern
Once you have understood the syllabus for the exam and all the topics that are covered in it, it is very important to study, understand and analyse the paper pattern. Knowing the number of sections the paper is going to be divided into and the marks that section carries, helps to a large extent in the preparation for the paper, architecture CET exams are divided into 3 sections, each containing different number of questions weighing different marks, for eg, each question in the general amplitude section can carry 1 or 2 marks while each question in the mathematics section can carry 2 or 4 marks, knowing these weightage of the questions and their marks helps you prioritize which part you need to study first and understand your strengths and weaknesses and work on them.
2. Goal Oriented Strategic Study
Once you have a very good idea about the paper pattern and the marks distribution, the next step is scheduling the study pattern and the syllabus and the amount of time you will be giving to each topic daily. This time that you allot for each topic should be in direct relation to the marks and number of questions asked in the paper pattern for the said topic, this is called goal oriented study. Unlike for theory exams, pervious CET toppers have said to have a very narrowed down study strategy with the main goal of obtaining marks as per the pattern. While you follow this strategy it is also necessary you use the right study material, do some research, understand the books and the papers you are referring to and how they have helped the students in the previous years with their exams.
3. Learn Time Management with Mock Tests
By far one of the most important ways of understanding where you stand in your preparation towards the exam is by taking the mock tests. Self-Evaluation is the best way to start improvement, and indeed taking a few mock tests will help you understand and grasp the examination better than any tricks or strategy, it will also further save time and help you understand the areas you are lacking in and need improvement. Studying without taking mock tests can be over whelming when you finally appear for the exam, taking these mock tests eases you into the kind of questions that will be asked and just how much time you can spend on each section in order to complete the test in time. Once you have understood the paper pattern and have established a particular study strategy, it is highly recommended you take 1 mock test every two weeks which will give help you know whether your study strategy is working or you need to make some changes in it.
4. Learn Shortcuts
Tables, squares, and cubes got to get on your tips for successful mental calculation. These are major areas of Arithmetic topic in quants you ought to attempt to develop approximations, decimal fractions, and percentages for better performance. you’ll improve your vocabulary by pertaining to newspapers and reading books; also by adhering to a dictionary regularly. you would like to find out new words, adopt the proper usage, and make sure that you’ve got an eye fixed for mistakes.
