The General Aptitude Test and the Achievement Test are among the most important tests faced by high school students in Saudi Arabia, as they form a fundamental criterion for university admission. To achieve outstanding results in these tests, it is essential to follow a smart and organized preparation plan that focuses on understanding and application, not just memorization.
First: Understanding before memorization (Knowledge is the basis of success)
- Understanding the nature of each test:
• Aptitude test: Measures the ability to understand, analyze, and reason logically, focusing on skills acquired over many years of schooling. It is not a test of specific knowledge, but of the ability to use it.
• Achievement test: Measures your understanding of the scientific subjects (mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology) that you studied in the three years of high school. It is a test of specific scientific knowledge and content. - Familiarize yourself with the test structure: Know the number of questions, the time allotted for each section (quantitative/verbal in aptitude tests, subject-specific sections in achievement tests), and the question types (multiple choice, etc.). This knowledge will help you manage your time during the test.
Second: Building a strategic preparatory plan
- Start early: Don't put off preparing. Begin at least three to four months before the test date. Long, consistent preparation is more effective than last-minute crunching.
- Create a realistic schedule: allocate specific hours daily or weekly for preparation. Distribute your time between subjects, and focus on your weaknesses without neglecting your strengths.
Example: Two hours for the quantitative section, one hour for the verbal section, and two hours for reviewing biology material weekly. - Use reliable sources:
• Official books: Use the enrichment books issued by the National Center for Assessment (Qiyas) or distributed by schools.
• Online platforms: Take advantage of reliable educational applications and websites that offer interactive explanations and training questions.
• Educational channels on YouTube: There are many specialized channels that explain difficult concepts and provide model solutions to questions.
Third: Preparation strategies for each test
A. For the general aptitude test:
- Quantitative Section (Mathematics):
• Focus on the basics: Make sure you master the basic concepts in arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and statistics.
• Learn smart solutions: Discover quick solution methods and time-saving mathematical tricks.
• Practice word problems: Many of the quantitative section questions are word problems that need to be understood and reformulated into a mathematical equation. - Verbal section:
• Expand your linguistic horizons: Read various literary texts and articles to improve your understanding of the language.
• Practice solving verbal analogies and sentence completion questions frequently: they rely on memorizing a lot of vocabulary and understanding the relationships between words.
• Develop inference skills: Reading comprehension questions require quick reading, understanding the general context, and extracting the main and implicit ideas.
b. For the achievement test:
- Comprehensive review: List all the vocabulary items in the science subjects (especially for the third year of secondary school).
- Deep understanding: Don't just memorize laws and theories, but understand why they exist and how they apply. Ask yourself: "Why does this phenomenon occur?"“
- Solve the application exercises: Solve as many problems and practical experiments as possible. Connect the information to form a complete picture.
- Use mind maps: Help yourself connect and remember information easily by creating concept maps of big topics (such as: reproduction in plants, laws of motion in physics).
Fourth: Training on test models
- Solving past exam papers is one of the most effective methods. It gives you a real idea of the difficulty and style of the questions.
- Practice in test-like conditions: Sit in a quiet place and time yourself for the actual test. This will help you:
• Time management: Learn how to allocate time to questions and avoid dwelling on a difficult question for too long.
• Building mental endurance: Getting used to concentrating for long periods.
• Reduce stress: The more familiar the experience is, the less anxious you will be on test day.
Fifth: Tips for the final period and the day of the exam
- The day before the exam: Stop studying, only review your summaries or key points. Get enough sleep.
- In the exam hall: Stay calm. Start with the easy questions you know to build confidence and save time for the difficult ones.
- Time management: Divide your total time by the number of questions. If you get stuck on a question, mark it and move on to the next one, then come back to it later.
- Eliminate random guessing: Use the elimination process to systematically remove incorrect answers, increasing your chances of making the right choice.
- Make sure to fill in personal data and shade the answers correctly on the answer sheet.
conclusion
Preparing for the aptitude and achievement tests is a journey that requires patience, commitment, and a smart strategy. There is no magic solution, but perseverance and consistent practice are the keys to success. Trust in your abilities, begin your journey with confidence, and remember that this test is just one stop on your long educational path.
