Students’ Speak: Tips to ace BITSAT 2020 like a pro

By: Gatiq Doultani

It is a speed-based test so the questions are easy as compared to the questions asked in JEE Main. The best way to improve the speed is to practice mock tests specially designed for BITSAT. 

Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences (BITS) is one of the most reputed institutes in our country for engineering and science courses. It is among top five Indian 'Institutes of Eminence' recognised by the Government of India in 2018. It has three campuses across India and one in Dubai and it provides an academic degree in 15 branches.

BITS organises a separate admission test known as BITS Admission Test (BITSAT) for entry into the first year of BTech or integrated courses.

The application forms for BITSAT are released in December every year, and the final exam is held in May. Candidates, who have passed Class 12th from any recognised central or state board or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry and Maths (PCM) and Proficiency in English are eligible for giving this exam.

If you are studying in Class 12th and your result is upcoming in 2020 then you are eligible to give BITSAT exam in 2020. Note that the candidate should obtain a minimum of aggregate 75% marks in PCM in 12th examination, with at least 60% marks in each of the PCM. First rank students of all the central and state boards in India are directly given admission in BITS irrespective of their BITSAT score.

BITSAT consists of four parts:

1) Chemistry

2) Physics

3) a) English Proficiency

1. b) Logical Reasoning

4) Mathematics/Biology

All questions are of multiple-choice questions (MCQs). Each correct answer fetches three marks while each incorrect answer has a penalty of one mark (-1 mark). All the questions and instructions of the test will be in English only, no marks are awarded or deducted for questions not attempted, in total there are 150 questions:

1. Chemistry: 40 questions
2. Physics: 40 questions
3. English Proficiency: 15 questions
4. Logical Reasoning: 10 questions
5. Mathematics: 45 questions

This test has an additional feature which makes it different from other tests. If a candidate answers all 150 questions (without skipping any question) in the stipulated time then the candidate will have an option of attempting 12 extra questions, if there is still time left. Note that, these extra questions will be from Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics only.

The question paper is designed in such a way that a good student will be able to answer 150 questions in 180 minutes. The extra questions (a minimum of 12) will give a chance to highly meritorious candidates to score higher. I request you to keep this thing in mind that there is negative marking for wrong answers even in the 12 extra questions and once you start these 12 extra questions you won't be able to make any correction in the actual 150 questions.

The test is conducted on the basis of NCERT syllabus for Class 11th and 12th. Candidates should refer to the NCERT textbooks (Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics).

Basic English and grammar are tested such as verbs, tenses, sentence formation, etc. The computer will announce the result to the candidate in terms of numbers of total correct answers and wrong answers, with the score.

The candidate can get to know their score as soon as the exam is over. The candidate can also check his or her score report at the BITS admission website in the next day of his or her test date. If you practice for English and logical reasoning beforehand, you can save time in such questions and devote to PCM.

It is a speed-based test so the questions are easy as compared to the questions asked in JEE Main. The best way to improve the speed is to practice mock tests specially designed for BITSAT. Also, practice previous year BITSAT papers/sample papers. Devote some time to English and logical reasoning as well. A lot of students think that the logical reasoning and English parts are easy and don't study those parts considering that they can do at the time of the test but that I would consider as overconfidence. Each section is equally important.

Since it is a speed-based test, the questions are easy and NCERT along with practising the previous year question papers is enough. The question might be tricky but not that much tough.

About the Author:

Gatiq Doultani is a student at Dronacharya Group of Institution pursuing Bachelor of Technology. He loves to be around computers and to code.