“Encounter with the Entry Test- 2007”

Ali Ahsan Azeem (KEMU 2007-12)

 Introduction:

Entry test is an examination conducted for admission to various medical colleges. Most of the applicants know the basic details so I will not stress on the minute facts. There are a couple of things which one should know to make one’s position secure in the quest for medicine.

 FSc. has a weight-age of 70 % where as the Entry test has an importance of the rest 30 %. Nevertheless, you have to compete with more than 14,000 students for your admission.

It is a test of the knowledge you have acquired in the past two years, ability to manage time and intelligence.

 Preparation:

 Your books are going to be your best pals in your preparation. There isn’t any need of going for helping books or other preparatory stuff in the market.

 Biology:

Stick to the book. Read each and every sentence. Don’t miss anything. Have a look at the diagrams too.

 Chemistry:

Stick to the book. Read the facts and figures carefully.

 Physics:

Stick to the book. Remember all the formulas discussed, and you should be able to manipulate those equations if and when required. Also read the Interesting Information stuff on both sides of the pages. In one of our MCQ, efficiency of various power sources was asked.

 English: 

It isn’t really tough. If you have a good vocabulary reserve, you are through. Grammar portion may be a bit tricky at times.

 Pre-Test Planning:

 Now this is the important part which can make your actual test pretty easy. 70% accounts for your FSc. You have already strived hard for it. Now you need to worry about the rest 30 %. 

Calculate the percentage you have scored in your FSc. Say you have 950 marks in your FSc. Your percentage is 86.363 %. When you multiply it with 0.7, you will get your score out of seventy. For 950, it is 60.454. Last year, the cut off percentage for KEMU was 85.245 (It may increase this year). You have to score 24.791 in your entry test out of 30, which are almost 909 marks out of 1100. It means that out of the 220 questions, if you mark 182 questions right, you are in. Wow, 38 questions are enough to play with. The actual entry test is pretty easy and if you have prepared well, you may score 1000 out of 1100.

 Even with a less score, you can make to AIMC and others so;

 RULE 1: HAVE FAITH IN ALLAH

 RULE 2: RELAX; THERE ISN’T ANY THING TO WORRY ABOUT.

 RULE 3: FOCUS ON YOUR GOALS. STUDY AS IF IT’S YOUR ONLY JOB ON EARTH. 

RULE 4:  DIVIDE TIME FOR EACH OF THE SECTIONS. THOUGH BIOLOGY HAS SEVENTY MCQ’S, YOU MAY COMPLETE IT IN ONLY 30 MINUTES. 

RULE 5: IT’S NOT NECESSARY TO START WITH THE SUBJECT THAT IS GIVEN FIRST IN THE PAPER. MOST OF US STARTED OUR TEST WITH BIOLOGY. IT IS QUITE EASY, SIMPLE TO INTERPRET AND SAVES YOU TIME. THIS STRATEGY EARNS YOU PSYCHOLOGICAL ADVANTAGE AND YOU WILL FEEL RELAXED. 

RULE 6: GO FOR INTELLIGENT GUESSES. IF YOU CAN ELIMINATE TWO OF THE OPTIONS AND YOU ARE CONFUSED ABOUT THE OTHER TWO, FOLLOW YOUR INSTINCTS.  

RULE 7: DON’T EVER BE CONFUSED ABOUT THE OPTION ONCE YOU HAVE MARKED. YOU HAVE MARKED IT RIGHT. 

RULE 8: LEAVE A QUESTION ONLY IF YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THE STATEMENT.  

RULE 9: NEGATIVE MARKING WON’T HARM YOU MUCH.  

Let me quote an example to make it clear. Suppose there are five questions in which you are doubtful. You are able to eliminate two options, say A and B. There is a fifty percent chance that the option is C and another 50 percent that the option is D.  

Statistically speaking, If all these five questions are un-attempted, you lose 25 marks. If all the 5 questions you marked went wrong, you will lose 30, but there is a fairly good chance that 3 out of those five questions were right. For the three right questions out of five, you earned 13 in total.

 Still you earned 13 marks.

 If two out of those five were right, you will earn 7. Still it’s far better than losing 25.

 Learn to take Calculated risks.

 Also practice to shade the circles. It shall help you save time. Take ball points, or markers (which ever you like- I used markers) and use them to shade the paper. New markers often damage the paper fibres. Also prepare a couple of them for the actual test. You are not allowed to bring clipboards. The entry test paper will be in a folder. You can use it for support.

 Before the Test Day:

Don’t you dare touch the books one day prior to your test! Relax, stay calm, and enjoy the way you like. There are only two things regarding the test which you have to do on this day. Pray to Almighty Allah to be your companion and ask Allah for His Mercy. Secondly, gather belongings for the test; Markers and admit card. Don’t forget to bring your watch. It is NOT necessary that the place where you are seated has a wall-clock. I shall suggest that if the test is not in your city, and you can arrange a comfortable accommodation in the city where your test is going to take place- go for it- better not to take the risk. Go to bed in time so you can have a sound sleep. I know it’s difficult to overcome the nervousness but it is a part of your test. Sleep tight. :)

 The Actual Test Day:

 Get up well in time, dress comfortably. Pray to Allah for His very special blessings on you. Have a light breakfast. Don’t miss it. Half of your test depends upon your breakfast. You may want to bring a bottle of water to the test. Go to the examination centre. Usually there are parking issues because of the large number of candidates. I shall suggest you not to drive yourself if you can manage.

 If they say the test starts at 0900hrs, they really mean it. Hurry up.

 Before the Test:

 Go to the room where you are supposed to sit. Be confident; I know you are. You prepared to the best of your abilities.

 During the test:

The most important thing to note is that the OMR (optical mark reader sheets) are sensitive. Mark your roll number on the sheet VERY VERY CAREFULLY.

 Avoid stray marks on the answer sheet. Your whole preparation depends upon this sheet. Use it well; you won’t be given another in case you damage it.

 There is no need to get nervous. I now it happens at times that your heart beat quickens. Don’t worry about it. It’s natural. In case you feel you are getting too shaky (which I doubt) ask for a glass of water. 

There is no need to cheat. The sequence of question is shuffled in the question paper of your neighbours. If you help them, you will be thinning your own chances of admission. It’s a competition. Helping others won’t help you.

 During the test follow the sequence of subjects you have decided before the test. Stick to it. Do your rough work on the question paper, not on the OMR sheet. 

Keep your pace. No need to waste more than 90 seconds on any question unless you are atleast seven minutes ahead of time. I will personally suggest you to do biology first, then chemistry, followed by physics and English.

 Make sure that the question number on the answer sheet and the question paper are the same. Consult the invigilator in case of repetition of question numbers. Make sure you are mentally present during the test. You can worry about everything else after the test. 

You may save time at the end of the test. You can give it to those questions which you didn’t attempt during the test.

 After the test:

 Thank Allah Almighty and pray for a prosperous future. Take a chill pill and enjoy your vacation.

 Good Luck!