How to prepare for BITSAT 2018

How to prepare for BITSAT 2018 – For many Indians, an engineering degree is much coveted, because they believe with it comes prestige and job security. But does an engineering degree really provide job security or a job at all? According to a recent report by Aspiring Minds, a staggering 95% of engineering graduates in India can’t code while another report by McKinsey dated a few years back scathingly put the employability rate of engineers at 20%. These figures are enough to set the alarm bells ringing and send candidates scurrying for top institutes like BITS Pilani or an IIT, since they are perceived to be immune to these findings. But the problem again for any student is getting selected for these institutes, as competition is tough. Speaking of BITS Pilani, nearly 2 lakh candidates take the BITSAT every year for a pie of the 2000 odd seats that are on offer. Now this translates to around 100 candidates for every seat, making it tougher than even trying to get into an IIT. So, to be in contention for a seat at BITS Pilani, every aspirant needs to know how to prepare for BITSAT 2018 and follow through with his/her preparation dedicatedly. 

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Why is it critical to know how to prepare for BITSAT?

The BITSAT 2018 question paper will include 150 MCQs to be completed in 3 hours which means that students have just 1.2 minutes to answer the each question. That means that it will be a struggle to complete the paper correctly in the stipulated time for most candidates. Also, the question paper will have negative marking, so guesswork won’t cut it. And these are only glimpses of the challenges the exam throws. Considering how valuable each extra mark the candidate earns can be, it only makes sense to follow a preparation plan for BITSAT that covers all the aspects of the examination.

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How to Prepare for BITSAT?

BITSAT 2018 will be conducted by BITS Pilani for admission to undergraduate engineering programmes at its three campuses - Pilani, Goa and Hyderabad. To prepare for BITSAT 2018, the candidate can follow the tips listed below:

Work on the syllabus: No, it is not enough to simply become familiar with the syllabus of BITSAT 2018. Instead, break the syllabus into smaller parts and categorize them into levels – difficult, medium, and easy. This will enable you to figure out (1) where you stand in the overall scheme of things (2) where you need to start (3) which topics need special attention (4) the time you will need to complete the syllabus. In fact, you must have your eyes fixed on the syllabus at all times, to measure your progress.

BITSAT 2018 syllabus will be based on NCERT syllabus and will list topics included in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and English Proficiency & Logical Reasoning sections of the exam.

Match the BITSAT Syllabus with your Class XII syllabus

One method of preparing is to club the topics that are common for Class XII and BITSAT. This way you can prepare for both the exams – you can have your cake and eat it too!

Find out what is the exam pattern: Another BITSAT preparation tip involves learning about the exam pattern, like what subjects are covered, the types of questions asked, and marking scheme. It is based on the syllabus and exam pattern of BITSAT 2018 that your exam preparation will be built on. If you understand what to expect in the exam, tackling it becomes easy.

Salient features of BITSAT 2018 exam pattern:

Put a method to your madness (preparation): You must have in place a study plan. It needn’t be rigid, but having a study plan will help you avoid the many vagaries of exam preparation. For example, if you don’t have a study plan, you might not be able to properly determine how much progress you have made, and importantly your efficiency. At times, you might not even remember which topics you need to focus on, and instead expend precious energy reading or solving irrelevant stuff.

Count quality of study hours, not hours: You might sit in front of your books the whole day, and still not be able to properly get under the skin of what you are reading. It is because, while you are physically with your books, your mind is making peace somewhere else. So, if you are not feeling like studying, it is better to go outside, jump, shout, jog, go for a swim, and release all the pent up feelings. Once you are relaxed, come back to your study and get back to business. Also, remember, in most cases 7-8 hours of solid study every day is good enough; if you want, you may make it 9. But don’t do 12-14 hours crazy stuff, unless you are superman, because it is overkill and may damage you.

Get the book-combination right: By having the right books by your side, you can achieve big things. The right books in this sense means books that are easy to follow, explain the concepts with examples, and have little to no errors. NCERT books are examples of good books, as they not only explain all the concepts, but include illustrations and problems sets at the end of each section to fortify what you have learned. Also, since it is an engineering exam, the candidate needs to have books that have problem sets for sufficient practice.

Book Suggested for BITSAT Preparation 2018: Start off with NCERT Books for concept building. Then you can move on to more advanced books.

Make short notes while studying: While studying, make it a habit to take notes. One benefit of doing it is it will improve your attention and keep you sharp. Initially, the process may appear painful, but as you become habituated it will come naturally to you. Also, these notes you take are going to be very handy for revision as exam day approaches, as they are basically summary points. So, put the necessary effort to make these notes as potent as you can. Follow this BITSAT 2018 preparation tip, and you will not have to miss preparation even for a single day, as notes are easy to carry along, anywhere!

Do timely revision: After completing a topic, the next stage is revision. When planning a revision, the point to be considered is how regularly it needs to be done. Timely revision will help you stay on top your preparation as the topics you have read will stay fresh in your mind. If you have maintained notes, you can also use them to revise what you have read, and it will be a much faster process. And once you feel like you have mastered a topic, you can bring down the frequency of revision, and dedicate the time to some other topic.

Solve BITSAT sample papers: You have completed your syllabus, or part of it, but how do you check whether you are exam ready yet? The answer – by solving sample papers. Sample papers contain similar type of questions to those asked in the entrance exam, so your ability in solving them is a reflection of how far your preparation has progressed. If you can manage to easily solve the sample papers, it means you are on the right trajectory, or else you will have to put in more effort.

Take mock tests: Along with sample papers, you must also take mock tests, especially since BITSAT 2018 will be a computer-based test (CBT). Now while BITSAT authorities claim that the computer-based exam is designed in a way so that anybody can attempt it, yet unless someone has experienced it beforehand, there is this fear of the unknown. Additionally, by taking mock tests, the candidate will learn about time management and figure out where the errors are coming from. BITS Pilani in fact, publishes mock test or sample papers of BITSAT that the candidate can download and practice to get ready for the exam.

Finally, stay upbeat and healthy: An exam like BITSAT can be physically and mentally draining. So, it is important that you take timely breaks and enjoy life. Don’t go on pondering over BITSAT 2018 the whole time; it will only build anxiety. It would also help if you stick to small goals at a time and work to achieve it, rather than have some big, unrealistic ones. The bottom line is that you must stay healthy to be able to appear for the BITSAT 2018 exam!!

Follow these tips on “How to prepare for BITSAT 2018” and you are going to be in great shape to perform well in BITSAT 2018. Best of luck!!