Students’ Speak: Time Management is crucial for preparing for competitive exams like AP ICET

By: T. Deepthi

Managing your time, making a schedule, covering all the topics and revising the work done including mock tests, sample papers and of course keeping calm & focus all the time during preparation will help you succeed.

What are the preparation tips for AP ICET exam?

AP ICET stands for Andhra Pradesh Integrated Common Entrance Test. AP ICET will be conducted by Sri Venkateswara University Tirupati on behalf of AP State Council of Higher Education. AP ICET is a state-wide entrance examination; on the basis of this examination admissions are given in various universities and its affiliated colleges. Both public, as well as private colleges of Andhra Pradesh, consider the score of AP ICET for admissions.

Last week tips and tricks

Last week tips may definitely help you to achieve success. During exam preparation, last days before exams are considered of utmost importance. Students start feeling anxiety, tension and some students may also have exam fever, & so on. Sharing some important tips to overcome these fears and achieve a good score.

• Time Management: In AP ICET, you will get 200 questions with time duration of 150 minutes. As the number of questions is more than the time provided to complete, this is why time management plays an important role in any competitive exam.
• Speed and Accuracy go hand-in-hand with time management in this exam
• Do not read new topics
• Revise each every important topics
• write as many mock tests as you can and analyse your performanc; ensure that mistakes are not repeated
• Solve previous year’s questions (repeated models)
• Do not devote too much time on single section & single question
• Try to keep calm and boost your confidence.
• read each question carefully.
• Moreover, in this examination, there is no negative marking so try to attempt all questions within the time frame

Tips on Time Management

I followed a few things to manage my time. As said earlier, time management is crucial for every student in all the competitive exams. Sharing a few tips on time management gained from my own experience. We all have to use the advantages of time management to our benefit.

• At first, I used to arrange time in a systematically for each and everything like syllabus, subjects, mock tests, etc., this helps me to focus on all the topics. In other words, I used to organise a time to ensure that there is no stress. I used to follow my schedule 1 month prior to the examination. I used to examine my requirements. Scoring good marks in any entrance exams like AP ICET is not just about successful study. Other factors like analysing your needs/ requirements and deciding whether which path or strategy is best to achieve success.
• A good way to manage time is by segregation of the subjects and allotment of time to each subject according to your strength and weakness related to a specific subject.
• Prepare a schedule which includes allocating  time to each and every activity  like revision, mock tests, analysis, doubts clarification, & so on
• Moreover, I used to follow my commitments, which I have planned before to attain a good score.

Scoring Topics

Aspirants should have detailed information about scoring topics to get a high score. If you want to know about scoring topics you should focus on previous years question papers, models & so on, Some of the scoring topics are mentioned below:

• From Data Sufficiency problem-solving, you will get maximum 55 questions. This is the highest scoring topic.
• From Arithmetic Ability, Algebra and Geometry, you will get maximum 40 questions.
• From Vocabulary, Business and Computer Terminology, you will get Maximum 30 questions.
• From Mathematical Ability, you will get maximum of 35 questions.
• From Analytical Ability, you will get maximum of 20 questions.

The above-mentioned topics are of utmost importance, to secure a good score.

Revision Approach/ Study Plan.

Another crucial thing is preparing a study plan/ timetable/ schedule. I used to stick to a simple schedule. In my timetable, I used to include everything such as sleep time, breakfast, lunch, dinner, yoga and all other activities. Therefore, I suggest you should also include these. In addition, add weekly mock tests, weekly revisions and weekly doubts clarification. In revision approach, I avoided all social media and I used technology and internet only for writing several mock tests and for reading about the experience of previous year toppers, etc., Moreover, I ensured that there are no shortcuts for achieving success other than studying and working hard towards my goal. During revision, I used to draw and follow pictorial representation like diagrams, flow-charts, etc., to remember many things and practice previous year’s papers and sample papers.  Also, I  took a regular break to refresh my mind while studying. I used to meet my friends and we used to discuss what we have learnt; this is just for revising the subjects. I had also shown interest in group discussions.

About the Author:

T. Deepthi is a student at Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayampursuing Bachelor in Technology (B.Tech) with a specialisation in Electronics and Communication Engineering.