As the Opportunity Class Test approaches, intensifying your preparation about a month before can help to significantly boost performance. We've compiled some essential strategies as a starting point for your preparations.
Establish a Study Schedule
Create a structured study plan that covers all test subjects—Maths, English, and Thinking Skills. Dedicate specific times for each subject and stick to this schedule to ensure comprehensive coverage.
For instance, you could allocate an hour to each section on your Saturday morning. If you're weak in a particular section, dedicate an extra hour in the evening.
Your study schedule should involve a diverse range of activities so that the preparation process is more enjoyable. You could read a book of interest and practice skimming and comprehension. You could use a website like Mental Math Trainer to exercise speedy calculating, which is very useful for both the Thinking Skills and Math section of the OC Test.
Of course, you should also spend time practicing mock tests, which you can find for free on Test Academy. Mock tests expose you to new question types and allow you to hone your problem solving abilities. They also familiarise you with the test structure and timing, significantly easing nerves on the day.
Focus on Weak Areas
Not many like to work on their weaknesses but it could make all the difference come the day of the OC Test.
Identify weaker subjects or topics and allocate extra time to these areas. Use this month to strengthen these weaknesses, utilising practice questions. Our practice questions are great because every single question is accompanied with detailed working out for when you just can't figure it out.
It's really important to be specific with your weaknesses. "Math" is not a useful way to identify a weakness. "Probability" or "fractions" is more useful because it gives you a starting point for improvement. You can spend extra time understanding the explanations for questions you struggle with or learn basic concepts like fractional division.
If you're practicing on Test Academy, you can see your weakest section on the dashboard. From there, click on a test attempt from that section to see which question types you are performing poorly in.
Practice with Timed Tests
Simulate testing conditions by doing full-length, timed practice tests. This helps in adjusting to the pressure of the actual test and improves time management skills.
Review Practice Test Feedback
Carefully review errors made in practice tests to understand where you went wrong. Focus on understanding these mistakes to avoid repeating them in the actual test. As mentioned before, our tests provide detailed explanations for each question. We highly recommend you spend at least 15 minutes reviewing questions you got wrong. It might even be beneficial to reattempt questions with new knowledge on how to approach them.
Rest and Nutrition
Maintain a healthy lifestyle with proper sleep, nutrition, and physical activity. This not only boosts cognitive functions but also helps manage stress as the test day approaches. There's just too much scientific research backing this up. Building good exercise and sleep habits a few days before the test is impossible, but starting now makes it easy.
Mental Preparation
Prepare mentally by setting realistic goals and maintaining a positive attitude. Practice relaxation techniques like deep breathing or meditation to stay calm and focused during study sessions and on the test day.
Final Review
In the last week leading up to the test, focus on reviewing key concepts and practice tests rather than trying to learn new material. This helps consolidate knowledge and boosts confidence. You can also have realistic mock sessions where you follow the strict structure of the actual OC Test, taking the tests sequentially with short breaks in-between.
By following these detailed preparation strategies in the month leading up to the NSW Opportunity Class Test, you can enhance your readiness and approach the exam with confidence. We hope you make good use of these tips and good luck with your preparations!