Scholarships are financial aids provided to students usually for pursuing higher education. It can be given by the Government, Private institutions, or any personal grant of interested parties.
Scholarships are meant to lighten the financial burden of higher education courses for deserving students.
Scholarships are not handed out to everyone who applies for them. They are given out to students who can prove that they deserve the aid.
Apart from academic scores, participation in extracurricular activities, and other such criteria, students must clear scholarship examinations and interviews to receive the scholarship.
Scholarship examinations are a way of providing certainty to the scholarship provider, that the aid will be used only by a deserving student.
Several students aspire for scholarships. Therefore, to prove their worth, students need to attempt scholarship examinations and interviews.
Below, we have attempted to spell out, guidelines for students on how to prepare for scholarship examinations.
1. Information on The Scholarship and It’s Sponsor
The first and foremost tip on how to prepare for scholarship exams is to get in-depth information about the scholarship, the eligibility criteria, and other information.
Although scholarships are given by institutions and private bodies to deserving students, there could be more specific criteria.
For example, some scholarships are community-based while others might be based on gender. Whatever it is, be sure to know the eligibility for every scholarship before you apply or prepare for it.
You do not want to prepare so much for a scholarship examination and in the end, find out that you are not eligible for it due to a small technical issue.
Read the details of the scholarship well, before you apply for it. Note down the eligibility and qualification criteria required for the scholarship beforehand.
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2. Scholarship Portions
The next step is to find out about the syllabus covered in the scholarship examination. Students will need to find out what type of questions will be asked in the examination and what syllabus to study for a particular scholarship.
Apart from this information, it is necessary to know more details about the scholarship like how many examinations will be conducted and the format of the scholarship examination.
Knowing these details will help you prepare better. It will help you formulate your timetable for studying for these exams.
3. Prepare a Timetable
One of the best ways of how to prepare for a scholarship exam is to prepare a timetable for all the portions you need to cover under for scholarship examination. Making a timetable helps you to be more organised while studying.
4. Give Adequate Importance to Verbal Reasoning Questions
One of the main objectives of scholarship examinations is to check your power of reasoning and logical thinking.
So, one of the answers to the question of how to pass scholarship exams is to prepare for verbal reasoning questions.
Based on the topic, scholarships usually have an entire section on verbal reasoning. This is because it is through verbal reasoning, the scholarship sponsor will be able to gauge your efficiency to reason and investigate.
Verbal reasoning is your ability to answer questions from an impromptu passage or text. It is more like a comprehension.
Verbal reasoning examinations tests your ability to comprehend and understand. It is something you cannot study as it is extempore.
However, as the saying goes Practice makes a man perfect. Practicing verbal reasoning can go a long way.
There are many question-and-answer verbal reasoning practice sheets available online. Attempt these questions for extra practice on the subject.
Based on individual topics that may come in the scholarship examination, the following portals provide practice sheets.
https://www.indiabix.com/verbal-reasoning/questions-and-answers/
https://www.shl.com/shldirect/en/assessment-advice/example-questions/verbal-reasoning
https://www.assessmentday.co.uk/aptitudetests_verbal.htm
5. Browse Through Previous Years Papers
Browsing through previous years’ question papers will give you a fair idea of what to expect this year. It will show you the pattern of the question paper and the type of questions that may appear.
Make sure to look out for any changes in the pattern, that they may announce before applying for the scholarship.
Solve all the questions of the previous year’s papers. The more papers you solve the more prepared you get.
6. Prepare for The Quantitative Type of Questions
Quantitative types of questions are a more mathematical oriented type of questions. These kinds of questions necessarily test your Intelligent Quotient.
Quantitative questioning can be of three types namely:
- Quantitative questions using comparison
- Multiple-choice questions
- Questions involving numeric solutions
- Data simplification
7. Quantitative Questions Using Comparison
As the name suggests, this type of questioning involves the comparison of two or more quantities. The idea behind quantitative questions is to gauge your interpretation skills.
Deciphering each question step by step is the key to solving these types of questions.
8. Multiple-Choice Questions
This type of questioning requires you to mark one or more correct answers from a list of possible answers. It is pertinent to note that at times there may be more than one right answer provided.
In such a case be sure to mark the options correctly. Marking the wrong answers in multiple-choice questions usually attracts negative points.
Therefore, it is necessary to prepare yourself well in advance for the examination to avoid guesswork and errors.
9. Questions Involving Numeric Solutions
Just as you attempt a mathematics examination, these questions are mathematical problems that require you to fill out a value in the space provided. You can work out the mathematical problems in your rough column.
10. Data Simplification or Interpretation
Data simplification requires you to elucidate or explain the content of the given data.
For example, the data interpretation of a pie chart or bar graph.
11. Hard Work and Perseverance
Quoting the famous tennis player Andre Agassi “If you don’t practice, you don’t deserve to win.” The same policy goes for scholarships too.
The race for a scholarship is very competitive. There are thousands of students out there who are eyeing the same scholarship.
The key is to have an edge over the other aspirants and practice is the key. Hard work and practice are the keys to success.
Always remember success is not an accident, it is hard work, perseverance, learning, and studying.
12. Relax and Focus
Having said that hard work is the key to success, also remember not to forget to relax. All work and no play make Jack a dull boy. Study hard and take regular intervals to relax and rejuvenate your brain.
The Big No No’s of Scholarship Preparation:
We have made a list of all that you have to do to prepare for a scholarship exam. But now, here is a list of big No No’s
1. Never Be Overconfident
Your academic scores are great. Your experience is great. Your confidence is overflowing. You are sure to get the scholarship.
This is the biggest mistake students make. Do not think that because you fulfill all the eligibility criteria you will automatically get the scholarship.
Remember there are thousands of students just like you. As Oscar Wilde quoted “Confidence is good but overconfidence always sinks the ship.”
2. Too Much Reference
Some students make the mistake of referring to too many books to study for the exam. This is a waste of time and energy.
Usually, the scholarship examination details will enlist the books and reference material to refer to. Use those books to study for the scholarship examination.
3. Do Not Ignore the Question Paper Pattern
Like we have mentioned above, always keep a note of the question paper details like pattern and marking system. Prioritise your study time according to the question paper pattern.
4. Do Not Leave Out Topics
Cover all the portions mentioned in the syllabus. Do not omit any topic.
Follow all these tips to successfully attempt your scholarship exams. Last but not least do not lose hope.
The road to success is not a bed of roses. Try and try till you succeed.
