Feb 25, 2025
Strategic planning is essential if you’re looking for ways to prepare for competitive exams in a smart way. Most exams are CBT, MCQ based and knowing the right tricks can be a game changer. Here are 8 proven preparation tips to make the exam journey smooth for you.
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Master keyboard shortcuts (e.g., arrow or number keys) on CBT platforms to move between questions quickly. This reduces anxiety, prevents rushing, and gives you more time to review answers effectively, ensuring a smoother exam experience.
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Start with questions you’re 100% confident about to build momentum and secure points early. Return to harder questions later to avoid guesswork and minimize the risk of negative marking, ensuring a strategic approach.
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Group questions by difficulty (easy, medium, hard) during practise. Answer easy ones first, then medium, and leave hard ones for last. This ensures confidence, reduces time spent on guessing, and maximizes efficiency.
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Avoid errors by focusing on understanding the question stem first. Misinterpreting questions often leads to incorrect answers, so take time to comprehend the question fully before reviewing the options.
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When unsure, eliminate options that seem identical or overly similar—they’re often distractors. Focus on subtle differences (e.g., tense, qualifiers) to narrow down choices effectively and make informed decisions.
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Look for patterns in multiple-choice answers (e.g., repeating numbers, outliers, or similar logic). Recognising these can help eliminate wrong options or identify the correct one more confidently, saving time and effort.
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If unsure, consider choosing an option that seems unrelated but slightly connected to the question’s logic. Obscure answers are often distractors, helping eliminate misleading choices and improving accuracy.
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For questions requiring all parts to be correct, guess quickly, mark for review, and revisit later if time permits. Avoid overthinking to prevent errors and save time, ensuring a balanced approach to difficult questions.
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