Have you ever said anything like this as you are leaving an exam hall: Oh, now I know the correct answer; If I only had more time! Why hadn’t it occurred to me before? That answer took way too much of my time!
We know you’d say yes since practically every student has experienced this at least once around exam time. We’ll go through some common Olympiad Exam Mistakes and how to prevent them in this article. This will help you improve your performance and prevent mistakes throughout the exam period.
Mistakes you should avoid doing while preparing for the Class 8 Olympiad
1. Exam anxiety
Do you become anxious about the paper before it starts and your heart begins to sound like a machine? This is the worst thing that can happen to you during an exam since it increases your chances of making mistakes. Relax. Clarify each doubt you have, plan ahead of time to minimize stress, get enough rest at night, and be confident. It will help you relax and improve your performance during the test.
2. Not reading the paper at least once
After you’ve thoroughly gone through your question paper, begin your paper. The sections in the International Maths Olympiad are weighted differently. Each question in the Achiever Section is worth 2 to 3 marks. First and foremost, attempt to answer those questions. However, don’t devote too much attention to anyone’s question. Always try to split your time according to the marks you’re working on, and keep track of your time using a watch.
3. Not answering a question in the final minutes
Negative marking is not permitted in most Maths Olympiads. As a result, even if you have a few minutes to respond, do not ignore any questions.
4.No experience with OMR-based examinations
Many kids are unprepared for OMR-based exams at the school level. They often use question sheets to write their answers and leave the OMR blank. Give yourself plenty of opportunities to practice taking an OMR-based MCQ Exam.
5. Forgetting your names and other personal information
Since they begin writing answers as soon as they get the exam question paper, many students neglect to fill their information on the exam sheets. If you forget to put your information on the exam sheet, your score will be zero. As a result, before beginning the test, jot down your personal information first and then start the exam.
6. Answering the same question twice
Another typical blunder made by students during Olympiad examinations is marking two answers to the same question. Both solutions are now incorrect! That question didn’t cost you any marks. As a result, carefully mark your answer on the OMR sheet, ensuring that only one solution is circled for each question. Students also make the mistake of forgetting to skip the answer number from the OMR sheet when they miss out on a question without answering it.
Consequently, all of the responses answered from that point on are incorrectly matched to their corresponding question number. Any student would be devastated by this. As a result, always be careful with your answers.
7. Failure to stick to a predetermined plan
It’s a common blunder made by almost all students. They begin answering the questions without any technique or preparation as they get the question paper. Consequently, you can spend too much time on the first few questions, leaving you with insufficient time to complete the paper on time. As a result, before beginning to try the exam, you must first go through the entire paper. Every question in the Achievers Section is worth 2 or 3 marks. First, attempt to answer these questions. Even though they are challenging in terms of complexity, it is nevertheless recommended that you not waste too much time on any one question. Practicing on previous year’s papers is an excellent approach to solve problems with a well-thought-out strategy. You may then estimate how much time you’ll need to answer each question.
8. Calculate everything on paper
Students often make calculations in their heads just to save time, which is the most common source of foolish errors. It is recommended that you have a pencil with you at all times to conduct your calculations on paper. This allows you to double-check your figures and reduces the likelihood of errors. It’s preferable to be careful when solving the issue than to discover your mistake after you’ve completed it and waste time redoing it.
9. Not double-checking the question when it’s becoming complicated
Occasionally, when attempting to solve a problem, we get to a phase that necessitates calculations that seem to be a little too difficult. We continue to use the correct formulae, but the result still does not seem to be accurate. Nine times out of 10, it’s because you made a mistake in a previous step; the error might be stupid, such as adding instead of subtracting or a 5 being misread as a 6. As a result, you must constantly approach the question slowly and methodically, going over each step.
10. Assuming graph-based questions are easy to do
Students often see graph-based problems as simple. However, this isn’t always true. Graphs, too, need a high level of focus since making a mistake when solving them is pretty simple. Always make sure the axes are correctly marked and labeled. It’s also a good idea to highlight and specify the spots where you should mark your answers. Another piece of advice is to be cautious with your graph paper since pencil markings are easily smeared.
Conclusion
Math is a topic that is more tricky than it is difficult. When taking an International Maths Olympiad exam, one must always be sure of oneself and keep the aforementioned mistakes to avoid in mind to get the best results. Also, note to review previous years’ question papers to acquire a head start in your preparation. In case you were not aware, the Previous Year Paper for IMO Class 8 Maths 2012 is a must for you to look at. It familiarizes you with some of the fundamental questions that are posted every year in the IMO exam. If you’re aware of any more mistakes that one should avoid while preparing for the Maths Class 8 do let us know in the comments.
