Have you ever questioned why you still don’t perform as well as you’d want on exams despite knowing the textbook well and out? Doing practice exams is one of the most underappreciated and effective methods for studying and preparing for exams (lots of them). It’s not always enough to understand the subject matter (and hence be able to answer all the questions), despite how you might feel. This is why:
1. Practice Exams Teach You How To Use Your Knowledge in New Settings & Queries.
In the past, we could get away with memorising everything and spitting it all out on the page. But as education has become more modernised, even standardised examinations and evaluations have begun to use more innovative ways to pose questions. They might show you something you’ve never seen before and ask you to respond appropriately by concluding the evidence. Although the connection between it and the fundamental ideas in the textbook will surely be there, you might only sometimes see it. Training your eyes to recognize such patterns and applications will be beneficial.
2. Exam-like Settings Make You Work on Practice Papers.
Practice papers must be completed under time constraints, with complete concentration, and without using notes. This is the closest representation of the real exam you can get and will help you develop your endurance. There are three main ways that exam conditions differ significantly from typical assignments: three factors: 1) the tight deadline, 2) the degree of difficulty, and 3) the length of the essay. At the planning stage, all three elements should be taken into consideration.
3. Practice Papers Show You How to Formulate Your Responses Clearly & Succinctly.
Unlike the in-depth explanations in textbooks and lecture notes, the answer keys and mark schemes for practice exams are typically considerably clearer, simpler, and more concise. Especially for often-asked questions (such as gel electrophoresis and the stages of the adaptive immune system for A-Level Biology), I write things down and add them to my notes. Additionally, utilising these condensed explanations and revision techniques can save time!
Further Steps On How to Complete Practice Papers for Maximum Impact
4. Time Yourself
This point is being emphasised again to emphasise the argument. While studying for my Prelims and A Levels, I admit that I only sometimes met this requirement (Math is the only subject where I occasionally completed the papers ahead of time). However, I would track the additional time I took and make an effort to reduce it until I was close to the time limit. You must complete everything in a single session, which is another requirement. You must prepare to overcome this weakness before the exam if your mind is easily diverted and worn out.
5. Recognize Your Errors & Improve.
Mark your work, and pay attention to any revisions you make. Make notes on your responses and fill in any gaps. Because I take great pains to cement the correct answers in my memory, such as by including notes, reminders, comments, and highlighting for my reference, the process for me takes at least half as long as the time I spend writing the paper (for example, one hour spent on corrections for a two-hour piece). As a result, the margins are entirely covered in tiny, coloured handwriting. Although some think this is a waste of time, it is crucial since it helps me internalise the correct answers and response strategies. If I don’t take the time to write it out, I’m more likely to memorise the incorrect response—my incorrect response—than the right one.
I usually try to be more critical of myself and give myself stricter marks since this helps me learn. I give myself a failing grade if I omit a crucial detail or use awkward language to improve my learning and memory. I will never forget the agony of seeing all those cross marks, and as a result, I will never do it wrong again. Most likely, if I’m too easy on myself, I won’t grow. Because of this, I frequently receive lower-than-expected grades on my practice papers, forcing me to put in more effort. Don’t do it, though, if you’re the type of person who becomes demotivated easily due to this.
6. Complete As Many As Possible
You can always have a few practice exams; there is never enough to go around, so the more, the better. When the thick stacks provided by our schools run out, you can always seek online, where resources are shared relatively freely, particularly Prelim papers from various institutions, which are helpful.
No gain without pain. Even though it may seem like you’re not progressing, you are. Just answer the questions again, even if they are similar or redundant. You’ll become more accustomed to the material and be less likely to make mistakes in the exam as you practise more. This is because when you’re under exam pressure, it’s simple for your brain to enter panic mode or make careless errors when pressed for time. However, for some of us who have prepared so thoroughly, the answers will practically automatically pour from our pen tip!
7. Review Your Papers
Never complete all your paperwork and toss them into a file in the corner of the room, where they languish for all time forgotten. They are treasures to be explored once more. I tend to capture pictures of complex questions and put them on my iPad in subject-specific folders or with coloured labels. (However, you can use whatever you like; the digital method is more effective because it can be retrieved more quickly without the need to sift through mountains of paper.) The day before the article, I went over EVERYONE of my errors again. To ensure my memory is intact, I occasionally attempt to redo them by omitting the solution.
How to Include Practice Papers in Your Review Routine
I don’t want to shock you with my revision schedules, but I recommend that you begin practising for your test no later than a week beforehand (and earlier for Prelims and A Levels).
Additionally, I enjoy spacing out my practice papers. To ensure I have enough time to complete everything, I prepare a month before the first paper and then fill in the practice papers I expect to accomplish on each day leading up to the exam. Except for the day before the article, I never devote a whole day to studying a subject since I don’t want to go insane.
Please be aware that this hectic schedule only occurs before essential exams and on weekends when I have the entire day open. I tend to over-commit a lot and fill my plan to the brim, as I explained in my last piece on how I focus and my alternative to the Pomodoro approach (which pushes me to be more productive).
Of course, I approached the A Levels in a very different way; because the distance between our examinations was so great, I handled the subjects one at a time, in the sequence they were assessed and changed my emphasis after the conclusion of each paper. You should be able to do a sizable number of practice papers by the time your examinations roll around if you start planning early, which is the lesson to learn from.
Lastly, I order my practice papers chronologically, starting in 2011 and moving up to 2021 for a ten-year series, to “save the best for last.” I want to do the most recent papers when I am best prepared, having reviewed and broadly understood everything because they are the most pertinent to the current curriculum and topics (fingers crossed).
Try it on Your Own!
By the way, my academic “successes” weren’t the consequence of natural intelligence. I am confident that HARD WORK is the deciding factor. I’ll repeat it: I’m not smart! Many students in my school could memorise vast amounts of knowledge with just one reading and acing test while still playing video games. (I’m a slow reader, which is one of my flaws.) If I didn’t study hard, I’d have failed exams previously, and I forget just as terrible as everyone else who doesn’t.
Practice exams are fantastic since they do not favour anyone and they recognize effort. You’ll get proportionate results if you’re prepared to put in the time and effort. If you still need convincing, large-scale studies have been done to support these statements, such as the one summarised in this TED talk about what top students do differently.
Completing numerous practice papers is usually the best course of action, so allow yourself ample time before your next exam! I’m sending you my customary best wishes! At the same time, I have received an excruciating amount of assistance from PfTuition which definitely had a positive impact on my grades. Feel free to contact them for any help! Otherwise, here is a list of free test paper websites that could help you! However, this is strictly not in any particular order.
1. Ph.D. Education
With 11 years of experience in the field, this business has lived up to its reputation. Verify that the free test papers you downloaded meet all of the following requirements to ensure that they are of high quality: The SA1 and SA2 are organised by topic, each step of the solution process should contain an accurate answer and an explanation, and you must confirm that the syllabus is current because MOE updates the curriculum for all topics every six years.
If you’re unsure, relax; Ph.D. Education ensures that all its free exam papers adhere to these standards. Their team includes experienced authors and editors who have written and edited publications in high demand in the educational sector. Visit the top 5 websites and download the free test papers to decrease the workload you must bear.
2. The Learning Space
Why are test questions necessary? There are several reasons, but practice makes perfect the main one. You get better the more you practise. Additionally, it gauges how well you comprehend a subject. Further, it will get you ready for the test itself. You will learn time management skills and how to answer questions in a disciplined manner. Third, it will benefit you to be acquainted with the scoring system. Finally, questions may be asked repeatedly. As a result, when this occurs, you are already familiar with the solutions or the answers to the questions.
All of these things are possible with The Learning Space. The free practice examinations they provide will help you approach the exams with the proper mindset and attitude, and the selection of free exam papers they have will astound you.
3. Smile Tutor
This business provides tutoring services to people who require them or wish to learn more. Despite being a corporation that offers tutorials, they also provide free exam papers on its website. Select the search icon, enter your search term, and you will be taken there. They can pick from a variety of documents, and they also include notes you can study and double-check the information. They do offer an accessible and user-friendly website.
In addition to the free test papers, they also offer exciting articles about the study, exams, and advice for students. There is also a choice for parents and tutors in addition to those. It was a very fascinating and remarkable read.
4. Test Paper.Biz
A generous business that never shies away from helping those in need. Giving free copies of the most recent test papers to test takers with family incomes under $3,000 is one of the services they provide. You only need to take advantage of this to complete the form on their website, supply the required documentation, and, if you meet the requirements, they will send you a soft copy of their most recent tests.
You can download their free exam papers, but they won’t be the most recent ones if you don’t want to pay but do not qualify as less privileged. If the free test papers have to fulfil the requirements outlined above, you can double them from your end. If you need to get in touch with Test Paper.Biz, email is the only way to do so.
5. TestPapersFree.com
A website made specifically for anyone looking to acquire free test papers. According to the website, test papers for the year 2020 have just been uploaded. Since we are still in the first half of 2021, it is safe to assume that the site is continually updated and staffed. On the website, there are no contact details; however, if you go to the Facebook page for the website (Primary, O-Level, and A-Level Test Papers), you can send a message and ask questions or leave a comment in the comment part.
The website’s exam paper library is exceptionally excellent. Several levels are available, including elementary, secondary, and junior college. In addition, all disciplines are covered, including maths, science, English, Chinese, and Tamil. Utilise the opportunity to download free exam papers from our website.
Exam preparation can benefit from test papers. This promotes the growth of confidence, readiness, and time management abilities. But getting one is complex. Yes, there are numerous websites where you may download free test papers, but there is always the chance that they are authentic and updated. Hopefully, these top 5 websites in Singapore where you can sample free test papers have allayed your concerns concerning the legitimacy and dependability of the exams. Have fun answering!