Optometry is a rewarding profession but it also has its cons: it demands dedication and perseverance. The Optometry Admission Test (OAT) is an exam that tests you on your capability for the Optometry field. The most important thing to realize is that top scorers “don’t do different things, they do some things differently”. For preparing for the exam, you need to get your strategy sorted and focus on your preparation using efficient tools like flashcards. Listed are the ways using which you can not only prepare well but even ace at the exam:
Prerequisites of Optometry Admission Test
The syllabus includes 40 Questions from biology, 30 Questions from general chemistry, 30 questions from organic chemistry, 50 Questions from Reading comprehension, 40 Questions from physics, and 40 questions from Quantitative Reasoning.
If you want to ace all these subjects especially physics which is found comparatively difficult by aspirants you have to revisit concepts of mathematics like algebra, geometry, calculus, and vectors.
1. Schedule/ Daily Routine
Adequate time is a must but consistently working is a necessity. Make your sleeping cycle consistent. You may use apps like Focus and techniques like Pomodoro. Pomodoro is a technique used to work effectively without getting exhausted.
2. Practice Mock Papers and Previous Years Papers
A lot of aspirants make this mistake by just focusing on the theory. Application of concepts is even more important. Practice papers are going to teach you that the art of attempting an exam, without which, your preparation will always be incomplete.
3. Revision
After studying all the concepts, it is natural to forget things especially when the syllabus is so vast. Revision will help you get out of the cycle of forgetting and relearning. You should ideally revise after 24 hours and then after a week, followed by a revision every month before the exam.
Subject Wise Strategies
Organic chemistry
- • Organic chemistry is a very conceptual subject.
- • Memorisation is involved to a great extent, especially of reactions and the name of the scientists.
- • Focus on reaction mechanisms and general concepts like inductive effect, resonance, mesomeric effect, and isomerism. Get your basics cleared by learning IUPAC naming of organic compounds.
- • Make a separate notebook just for naming reactions. It will come handy during revisions.
General Chemistry
- • Chemistry is a subject full of exceptions and examiners test you on them all the time. Focus on all the periodic table trends but don’t forget to mug up the exceptions.
- • You might have to revisit mathematical concepts like logarithm especially for topics like Electrochemistry and Chemical Kinetics.
- • Periodic table and molecular structure are the basics and will be tested everywhere.
- • Get a periodic table chart and paste it somewhere, so it comes handy while comparing different elements in questions.
Biology
- • Biology is an interesting subject that tests you on your memory and knowledge of living organisms.
- • Flashcards come handy to revisit topics frequently.
- • AnkiApp is a very useful tool especially when it comes to mugging up examples of botany.
- • Biological data can be visualized and studied hence, animations from YouTube and other online platforms will help in your preparation.
Reading Comprehension
- • Practice can help you with this subject to great extent.
- • Go through the answers of top scorers and understand how they framed their answers.
- • Read the questions first before attempting the answers. It will help you in delivering what the question demands.
- • After you have read the question, make a rough structure of the answer in your mind and write accordingly. This will save you a lot of your time.
Physics
- • This subject demands to be understood and is pretty time-consuming.
- • Make short notes of all the formulas and try to derive formulas on your own.
- • Avoid mugging up, try to understand every concept. This will also increase your intelligent quotient.
- • Physics has different branches like electromagnetism, atomic physics (also known as modern physics) but the basics and majority of the concepts are covered in mechanical physics.
Quantitative Reasoning
- • This section will test your logical and analytical skills.
- • The best way to prepare for it is by taking it as a fun subject like a game and solve the questions.
- • You can also use applications like Elevate – Brain Training Games that turn out ot be useful in helping you think logically and analytically.
- • You can practice quantitative reasoning using books too. Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations. R S Aggarwal is a highly rated book on Amazon that you can consider for your preparation.
Here are some extra tips for OAT
- • Meditation is a great tool to sharpen your mind and increase its capacity of focusing by helping to retain for a longer duration. Try apps like Oak – Meditation and Breathing and Tide – Sleep. Focus. Meditation. Breathe for meditation.
Also after all the revision, if you still find it hard to retain, try incorporating these techniques to remember:
- • Associate – Try linking new information to previous knowledge
- • Chunking – Break down the information into smaller chunks.
This was all about Optometry Admission Test.
