Early Preparations Make Better Winners

Competitive exams like all India law entrance exam (AILET), Common Law Admission Test (CLAT), Integrated Program in Management (IPMAT) or BMS DU entrance exam these days have garnered a state of utmost importance and so has its preparation process. As soon as the student is on verge of clearing class 10th, one important question which bothers everyone is which stream to choose and which career to pursue. And added to the current ongoing situation, which is quite uncertain poses different challenges in front of the students. 

In addition to this one should also keep in mind the proposed changes in the New Education Policy (NEP) and incorporating one test for central universities CUCET. Both of these talk about building aptitude and admissions to universities based on aptitude.

In this competitive era, when a student is burdened with expectations from parents, teachers, society, and expectations from self, it becomes very important for them to be very hardworking and sure about their preparation. Beyond doubt that the stress level period will prolong with multi-directional pressure including the ones from the peers.

Students nowadays are sure of where they want to get in and they start working towards their career path as early as possible. However, if one is ambitious, handling pressure is the differentiating factor taking more effort than the actual studying for the exams. 

If one is serious and reluctant to pursue a rewarding career in law or Management, then the right time to start preparing is now. While students from different streams require different preparation strategies, a science student aspiring for IIT’s or Medical starts his basic fundamental preparations way before. But commerce or a humanities student starts the same thing once they enter class 12th or even after that.

But this doesn’t mean that the students from the latter streams are not serious about their future but the basic mindset is that 11th is for fun and frolic. On the contrary, it is time to work on the basics which are important for any entrance examination. 

For International Education SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) students start preparing from standard 11th, so not only class 11th allows one to utilize their time at an optimum level but also acts as a foundation for a solid benchmark to be achieved in all the entrances. Any student gearing up for their entrance preparation should aim to start early and ensure more focused pedagogy.

Advantages of starting early – Kickstart from an early age

Experts always advocate that it is never too early to train your brain. Young and energetic brains adjust to analytical thinking better than the ones who are already in the mould. Children should develop the spirit of competition early on to clear the entrance examinations. Therefore, preparing their minds early on can prove extremely beneficial for them.

1. Familiarity of the Course - It is very important to know your playground before playing on it and go up to securing a winning century for yourself. This time allows you to understand the topics and prepare your mindset for the entrances. The preparation is totally different from subjective exams. 
2. Flexible Learning - A student is at advantage and feels confident when he/she has the flexibility of learning. It gives you a chance to prepare a roadmap for yourself and reach your desired goal. It really helps you to finish the course early in class 11th as we all know that next year it will be a challenge to manage time for both Class 12th and the entrances.
3. Revision in the Board Class - This year a student can pay attention to revise the concepts and practice the questions based on them. It helps you identify the areas where you need to work and clear the concepts with aplomb.
4. High on Test - A preparation is not complete without the proper TESTING. A student gets ample time to test through TOPIC TESTs, SECTIONAL TESTs, FULL-LENGTH TESTs, and finally the MOCK TESTs. Proper analysis of these tests helps you understand the areas that require attention to increase potential scores in various entrances.

The parents need to decide whether they want their child to have fun now and struggle later when the focus shifts to board class to score a good percentage for a good college. Hence, focussing on developing the aptitude of the child early is recommended. It helps you master the topics asked in the aptitude test. 

Preparation for any entrance varies from person to person. The learners should understand their learning style and act accordingly. Any student who wants to ace such entrances should know that it is about three aspects LEARN, PRACTICE, and TEST. The learner should be pragmatic and not procrastinate in starting the process to lay the foundation for the same. A wise man once said that the right time to take action is NOW.

Ankit Kapoor

Guest Author The author is Head, Pratham Education