8 Best Effective Tips and Tricks for Entrance Exams (Topper Strategy)

Over decades of working with students at Aakash, we have learned one truth: Success is never accidental; it is designed.

The students who top tough exams do not just study more. They study differently.

As the old saying goes, “Well begun is half done.” The right habits, chosen early, change the entire outcome. In this blog, we are going to give you 8 such proven tips that will help you top any entrance exam you are preparing for. So let us get started!

Tip 1: Write and Learn

Most students read and study, which definitely is a great method. Reading creates familiarity, but writing, on the other hand, brings clarity. Writing forces the mind to organise thoughts. It reveals gaps and strengthens recall.

Use the write-and-learn method:

• After studying a topic, write short notes in your own words.
• Rewrite key formulas without looking at the book.
• Summarise each chapter on one page.
• Maintain a separate error notebook for wrong answers.

This technique sharpens entrance exam preparation because it converts passive reading into active engagement. What is written is remembered longer.

Tip 2: Study Along With Experts, Not Alone With Doubts

Many students struggle in silence. They repeat the same mistakes for weeks. The study-along method improves discipline and pace:

• Attend live or recorded classes at fixed hours.
• Pause and solve questions alongside the mentor.
• Note how problems are approached, not just solved.
• Match your speed with guided problem-solving sessions.

Learning with mentors at Aakash will help you accelerate your competitive exam preparation. It prevents blind spots. Over time, you will adopt better thinking patterns. That shift alone saves months of trial and error.

Tip 3: Use Pomodoro for Focus, Not as a Trend

You must have heard, “Sit in one place, forget about the rest of the world, and study for long hours.” This is one of the not-so-good ways to prepare for any entrance exam. Long hours create fatigue. What is necessary is focus! The Pomodoro method works here when used with sincerity.

Apply it with intent:

• Study for 25 minutes with full concentration.
• Keep all distractions away.
• Take a 5-minute break. Move your body.
• After four cycles, take a longer break.

This structure supports how to prepare for entrance exams without mental exhaustion. Short bursts sharpen attention. Discipline sustains momentum.

Tip 4: Learn Through Active Recall, Not Repeated Reading

Re-reading notes feels productive, but often it is not. The brain learns when it struggles to retrieve information.

Use active recall daily:

• Close the book after studying a topic.
• Create short question lists for each chapter.
• Test yourself without looking at notes.

This approach builds stronger memory pathways. It also prepares you for exam pressure, where recall matters more than recognition. Exam strategies begin with how you train your mind to retrieve, not just store.

Tip 5: Build a Flashcard System for High-Frequency Facts

Facts fade. Flashcards anchor them! Flashcards are powerful for formulas, definitions, reactions, and concepts that require frequent revision.

Use flashcards smartly:

• Keep one concept per card.
• Revise them daily in short gaps of time.
• Separate the mastered cards from the weak ones.
• Revisit weak cards more often.

This system supports entrance exam success tips by ensuring high retention of volatile information. Small tools, used daily, compound into a strong recall over months.

Tip 6: Use Colour Coding to Train Visual Memory

Research shows that learners who use colour coding to organise key information retain more than 10% of their knowledge compared to those who study from monochrome notes. The brain remembers patterns and contrasts. Plain notes blur together over time. Colour helps separate ideas.

Adopt a simple colour system:

• One colour for definitions.
• One for formulas.
• One for mistakes.
• One for exceptions.

Do not overdecorate. Use colours with purpose. This technique strengthens visual memory. It also makes revision faster. When time is short, structured notes offer clarity.

Tip 7: Mock Tests Are Training Grounds, Not Judgment Days

Mock tests reveal temperament. They teach you to manage time, nerves, and decision-making.

Use mock tests strategically:

• Simulate real exam conditions.
• Analyse wrong answers deeply.
• Track recurring error patterns.
• Practice skipping tough questions and returning later.

This habit shapes exam day strategy. It trains your mind to prioritise wisely. Practice makes a man perfect, but only when practice is analysed.

Free Practice Material For Students

Tip 8: Maintain a “Mistake Journal”

Mistakes repeat when they are forgotten. A mistake journal can help you with that. It converts errors into learning tools. How? Let us break that down for you:

• Write the wrong question
• Note why the mistake happened
• Write the correct method
• Review this journal weekly

This habit turns weakness into strength. Over time, repeated errors disappear because awareness replaces them.

Conclusion

An entrance exam tests more than knowledge. It tests composure, discipline, and method. The students who rise above pressure do not rely on chance. They prepare with structure. They practice with purpose. They revise with intent. Over the years, we have seen preparation transform when students adopt smarter methods, structured mock practice, and guided learning. The right strategy, with the right guidance, applied steadily, reshapes outcomes. Because in preparation, fortune favours the prepared mind!

FAQs

How do I balance school studies with entrance exam preparation?

Balance comes from integration, not separation. Align your school syllabus with entrance exam topics. Use school lessons as revision opportunities. Plan weekly targets that serve both goals. When concepts overlap, your effort doubles in value.

How often should I revise flashcards and notes?

Flashcards should be revised daily in short bursts. Notes need structured revision cycles. Revise within 24 hours of learning. Revisit after one week. Review again after one month. This spaced repetition prevents forgetting and strengthens long-term memory.

What if I feel stuck despite regular study?

Stagnation often signals a method problem, not an effort problem. Change how you revise. Shift from reading to recall. Increase mock analysis time. Seek feedback. Growth returns when the approach changes, not when hours simply increase.

How important is mentorship in exam preparation?

Mentorship accelerates clarity. It reduces wasted effort. It brings structure to revision. A mentor sees blind spots that students miss. Over time, guided learning builds confidence and steadier performance under pressure.