BITSAT Preparation Tips
Below are a few points that one must keep in mind while preparing for the entrances like BITSAT.
Understand the entrance exam
BITSAT or Birla Institute of Technology and Science Admission Test is a computer-based online test for admissions to Integrated First Degree programs of BITS campuses (Pilani, Goa, and Hyderabad). Candidates applying for B.E, B.Pharm, and M.Sc will be required to appear for this exam. Only those who have graduated or completed schooling in 2018 or are appearing for 2020 examinations are eligible for this exam. 2017 or before, graduates are NOT ELIGIBLE for this exam. The test shall consist of 4 parts: Part I- Physics; Part II-Chemistry; Part III- English Proficiency and Logical Reasoning; Part IV-Mathematics or Biology. Board toppers will be given direct admission irrespective of their score in the entrance exam. This gives BITS a chance to admit highly meritorious candidates and thus to elevate the standard of the college.
Check the prerequisites for the course
Before proceeding any further, once a candidate has decided what field he or she wants to proceed with, they should be 100% clear about the prerequisites of the course. Though the majority of the core engineering courses demand that a student clear his or her HS with Physics, Chemistry and Maths as their primary papers, a few courses demand a different prerequisite. A bio-science field demands that a candidate also have biology or biotechnology. The pharmaceutical course requires the candidate to either have Biology/ Mathematics as their optional paper. Post this, and one should also make a note of the minimum percentage or aggregate the course demands. A fundamental mistake that candidates seem to make is that they focus on the engineering entrances so much that they neglect the board exams. If a candidate does not have the minimum aggregate, he or she won’t get admission regardless of their score on the entrance exam.
Being aware of the dates
It would be the biggest irony if one were to lose the application deadline after all the painfully hard work. Candidates should keep browsing entrance exam sites regularly to stay updated regarding any notification. Applications for BITSAT 2020 opened in the month of December 2019 and shall close in the month of March 2020.
Time Management
This is something that every student should follow but it is also true that only a few are capable of mastering it. One cannot give enough stress to the importance of this point. Time is of the essence, so there is never a good time to start organizing and preparing, than NOW. There are essentially 3 steps that every topper follows, and this is – Organize, prepare and revise. Only after this can one start attempting tests. Without a sound preparation, no one can perform well in the exam. The key points to remember to manage time efficiently are mentioned below.
Know the syllabus
Usually, at the undergraduate level, the syllabus for entrances is the same. The primary subjects that a candidate should be thorough in for clearing the entrances are Maths, Physics, and Chemistry (MPC). If a candidate is applying for bio-based engineering courses then they should be thorough with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (PCB). So, based on the field of interest, the candidates should be clear about the sections and syllabus. The syllabus is usually at par with the syllabus for Board exams, so the candidate should not find much difficulty in preparing for both. Unlike JEE Mains, it will be enough if a candidate can grasp all the concepts provided in NCERT Books. To ace this exam, one should religiously study only the NCERT books and master all the problems mentioned in the books. The syllabus is usually available on their websites and certain topics that a candidate studies in his or her bachelors, are completely omitted in the exam. By doing so, one can cut down on spending time on studying unnecessary topics. But, the uniqueness of BITSAT is that along with the core Maths/Biology, Physics, and Chemistry, a whole section is assigned for English Proficiency and Logical Reasoning. So, it won’t be enough if one is good at the core subjects. BITSAT tends to filter candidates based on an all-around performance and thus only the meritorious candidates get selected.
Collect past question papers
This is a very vital step in preparing for BITSAT as it shows the candidates the trend in questioning. This, just like understanding the syllabus, helps cut downtime. By going through the question papers one can clearly note the questions that are repeated or topics that are repeated. The candidate can then focus on those topics more than the others. Another advantage is that this shall help students hone their logical reasoning and English proficiency skills. Another unique aspect of BITSAT is that it allows students to attempt 12 extra questions if the candidate has attempted all 150 questions in the test. This gives a chance to the highly meritorious candidates to score higher. But it is to be noted that the entire test has negative marking. So a candidate won’t survive on guesswork.
Understanding and studying interrelated topics
Another advantage of studying small topics such as vectors is that it incorporates a bit of Matrix. This way, the students can understand that even Matrices are another important topic like vectors. Combine both the concept, the basics of linear algebra gets covered. Similarly, students should make note of interrelated topics. Students might make a mistake of leaving behind a topic which is actually the base of understanding another broader topic. Thus, these things should also be noted.
Following a routine or a Time Table
The biggest advantage of following a timetable is that a candidate does not feel lost at any point in his or her preparation. They are required to abide by it and time, being a constraint, helps keep the candidates rooted in their books. Allowing break time is extremely important. It is important that parents understand this as much as the students as there is only a limited amount of time one can stay fixated on the book. Breaks help the brain recover from the stress and allows build more space for the intake of information. Usually, it advised that a student study for 1hr minimum at a stretch and then take a break of no more than 5-10 minutes. This should be repeated twice, followed by a longer break of 30 minutes. This helps the candidate retain most of the information and not get tired. Every day, one should revise the topic they covered that day. This helps in maximum retention. “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” This proverb is extremely apt as aspirants tend to overlook their health often in the route to success. This will only cause harm and retard the student’s preparation. Thus, it should be noted that games/ exercises/ yoga should definitely be a part of this routine.
Mock Test Series
Finally, when the exam season is close by, it is advised that students appear for multiple test series. This will hone the candidate’s precision and will curb out any bad habits during the exam. This also gives an additional sense of confidence by getting rid of exam phobia. Another advantage of appearing for mock tests is that the aspirants can analyze their performance and note the areas where they lack. They can then focus on those sections to try to perfect their scores. In the end, it is a mix of hard work in the beginning and smart work at the end. The goal should be clear for the aspirants to ace their exams.
