Study Abroad: How to ace standardised tests for undergraduate admissions

Standardised tests are a very important part of your application to universities abroad – for instance, most students applying to colleges in the US for undergraduate studies would have to take the SAT or ACT. Those applying to colleges in the UK might take the IELTS. Even students who want to pursue their education in India have to experience different standardized admissions tests, or college entrance exams, as several colleges and universities in India have their own unique admission test.

Taking a standardised admission test can be a daunting experience, not just because of its importance to your college admissions, but because the format of the tests is usually different from what one encounters in school exams, hence it’s unfamiliar. It is imperative for students to think about the different aspects of test preparation so that they can give it the best possible shot that they are capable of. In this article, I talk about six simple things that can help students prepare for their standardized college admissions test.

1. Understand the test format – When preparing for a particular test or exam, the first thing to do is to become familiar with the test's format. Visit the website of the testing organization or review books that help you prepare for that particular test. This will help you understand critical things like what the test contains, how long it is if there are breaks between questions, are all questions multiple choice or written answers are also needed, is there negative marking, etc. Taking a test without understanding the basic is not a good idea. Understanding the nuances of the test is a critical step in preparing for it. It can help you feel confident and save valuable time on test day.
2. Indirect preparation is important – Most standardised tests focus on testing skills that are important for succeeding in college and life beyond college. Hence, basic mathematical skills and English grammar are usually always part of tests. Sometimes, students might also be tested on General Knowledge, or if they want to pursue a specialised course, the standardized test might focus on testing more course-specific knowledge. One thing students should concentrate on is honing the skills needed to succeed in such tests, over time. Reading books and newspapers can be extremely helpful in preparing for college admissions tests. They help students improve their grammar, vocabulary, sentence construction etc. Reading the news keeps students up to speed with local as well as global events, which can also be extremely helpful.
3. Practice makes perfect – In order to do well on a standardised test, students have to master the different topics being tested, and also develop a good understanding of the different strategies required to ace that test. Practicing for a test is the only way to tackle both these requirements. Very frequently, the topics that are tested in college admissions tests are taught in school. Hence, students need to revise their school coursework thoroughly. The format of the test is usually what makes the test-taking experience challenging. There is no alternative to practicing a lot, for several weeks or months, before taking a standardised test. Focus your attention on each section of the test, and each different topic area being tested, with the intent to master each of them. Remember, there is no shortcut to practicing a lot if you want to do well on a standardised test.
4. Adopt productive strategies – Students will typically do one mock test after another to prepare for a standardised exam. However, some of them will notice that their scores aren’t improving over time. This happens when you aren’t focusing on identifying your weak areas. If there are particular topics or sections that you are scoring badly in, it is imperative that you focus your time on identifying this, and improving your score in it. Only then, your overall score can improve. If you continue focusing on areas where you’re already doing well, it won’t necessarily help you improve your score.
5. Concentrate on timing – While test practice is important, it comes with a caveat. The practice needs to be within a time-bound restriction since all standardised admissions tests are strictly timed. Hence, students should ideally replicate the real-day testing environment at home, and attempt to practice the entire test at once, instead of in parts. Typically, different sections are times separately, and this makes admissions tests different from regular high school or college-level tests. While practicing, look out for key trends or behavioral patterns in yourself - If you find you finished early and got easy questions wrong, then the next time you practice, you should slow down and read questions more carefully, and spend some extra time. If you didn’t finish your test in time, focus on what went wrong, identify the type of questions that you are slowing down on, and focus on improving that timing.
6. Hold your nerves on test day – Many students get very nervous before an important test, and this can have a negative impact on your performance. It is very important to hold your nerves and be calm, as you will be able to give your best shot, only if your mind is calm and focused. Preparing well can help to a large extent – if you are confident, you don’t need to be anxious or nervous about not doing well. Make sure you are well rested the night before an exam. Eat a good and healthy breakfast to retain focus. A few days before your test, make a list of all items you need to carry to the test centre, and gather them in one place so you don’t forget to carry things like your Admission Ticket, ID Card, stationery and calculator (if needed). Most standardised tests are long and have adequate breaks between sections. Carry a healthy snack to eat during those breaks to stay focused and sharp during the entire duration of the test.