There is no question that hard effort and preparation are the keys to success in Olympiad examinations; but, when the time comes to face the actual exam, how you act in the examination hall and compose your paper are equally crucial. It has been noted that many students, often inadvertently, make blunders during Olympiad tests, resulting in them failing to get a decent rank despite having worked hard to prepare for the exam.
- Not sticking to a pre-planned strategy
It’s a common blunder that practically every student commits. When they receive the question paper, they begin attempting without a method or plan. This might lead to spending too much time on the first few questions, leaving insufficient time to complete the paper on time. As a result, it is vital to read over the complete exam paper before beginning to attempt it. The components of the SOF Olympiad test are weighted differently. Each question in the Achievers Section is worth 2 or 3 points. First, try to answer those questions. Though they are challenging in terms of complexity, it is nonetheless recommended that you do not spend too much time on a single question. Practice on Class 8 Olympiad Papers With Answers and other previous year papers are a wonderful technique to solve questions with a prepared strategy. You may then calculate how much time you should spend on each question.
- Failure to correctly read the questions
The human brain has a tendency to perceive what it wants to see, which is especially true in the high-pressure setting of the exam room. If you don’t read a question thoroughly, your brain may display you the question you expect to see. For example, in an IMO test, a question may inquire, “Which of these possibilities is not a rational number?” However, in a rush, many students miss reading the word ‘not’ and immediately begin answering the question.
Similarly, many questions in the NSO test are focused on figures, graphs, flow charts, and so on. Before answering such queries, they must be thoroughly examined. You may improve your ability to understand questions accurately by training with specially created SOF worksheets.
- Not familiar with OMR-based exams
The format of the SOF Olympiad examinations is unlike any other school test. It employs an objective question pattern rather than a subjective question pattern. Students in these exams must write their responses on an OMR sheet provided with the question paper. Most kids in school are not aware of OMR-based exams.
They write their replies on the question paper rather than the OMR sheet, leaving the OMR sheet blank. As a parent, you must provide your kid with ample experience in taking OMR-based exams using the Olympiad Skills Development System. It is a downloaded test series with 8 tests and OMR sheets, comparable to Olympiad examinations.
- Answering a Question Twice
Another typical error made by students during Olympiad examinations is marking two answers to one question. As a result, both responses are incorrect! And it will not cost you a mark for that inquiry. So, carefully mark your response on the OMR page, and make sure that each question has just one answer marked. Another mistake students make is failing to skip the response number from the OMR sheet when they skip a question without responding it. As a result, all of the replies indicated from that point are incorrectly assigned to their associated question number. This is a terrible situation for any student. As a result, mark your answers carefully.
Students in lower courses are more likely to make this sort of error (Class 1 to 3). As a parent, you must assist your kid in avoiding such errors by making them aware of the OMR sheet.
- Do your calculations on paper
To save time, students frequently complete calculations in their heads exclusively, which is the leading source of foolish mistakes. It is recommended that you always keep a pencil with you so that you may conduct your calculations on paper; this allows you to always review your numbers and reduces the risks of errors. It is preferable to be cautious when answering the question rather than recognizing your error after you have completed the task and wasting time redoing it.
- Failing to write your name on the answer sheet
Students frequently neglect to enter their names and other personal information on the answer page. This error might result in NO RESULTS AT ALL. The best way to avoid making this error is to ensure that you accurately jot down your name and other personal information before beginning to compose your paper. Also, before submitting your work, double-check that everything is in order.
- Leaving Early from the Exam Room
It feels amazing when you finish your exam ahead of schedule. However, do not leave the exam room until the last bell rings. Some students make the mistake of exiting the test room at this moment. It’s too late after you leave — you can’t go back and mark unmarked questions. Take use of this chance to re-check and tally the full OMR sheet several times to ensure that you’ve answered all of the questions to the best of your ability.
- Panic as the Exam Nears Its End
You can never offer your best effort if you are anxious or panicked. Many students struggle with time management during the Olympiads. Students who do not pay attention to time management tend to worry at the conclusion of the exam. This is the primary cause of stupid mistakes and mishaps. To avoid this, take online tests that imitate the exam setting and allow you to become familiar with the exam format and time limit.
If you still have time at the conclusion of the paper, you should double-check all of your answers. Repeat the calculations to ensure you haven’t missed any stages. Many students ignore this step, but it is more crucial than it appears since it allows you to correct any mistakes you make and spares you from undue regret and confusion later on. You can refer to Class 8 Olympiad Papers With Answers.
