University Admission Maths Test Preparation in Qatar
University admission maths test preparation in Qatar: a clear six-week study plan, the most common topics and how to practise under time pressure.
As secondary school draws to a close, an important question starts to occupy students and their families: how do I prepare for the university admission maths test? Many students do well at school, then discover that the admission test is different in its format, its timing and the nature of its questions. The good news is that university admission maths test preparation is a skill that can be learned with an organised plan and regular practice.
In this article we set out a practical plan suited to admission tests at local universities in general, and equally to anyone preparing for a well-known international test such as the SAT.
Why is the university admission maths test different from a school test?
A school test usually measures what was taught in a particular unit or term. An admission test measures skills built up over years. A question on fractions may sit next to one on functions and another on statistics, and the student has to switch between them quickly.
It also differs in two more ways:
- Time is limited: knowing the solution is not enough; you have to reach it quickly.
- How questions are worded: many are word problems that require understanding what is being asked before doing any calculation.
That is why revising the school textbook is not enough. You need practice in the format of the test itself.
A common mistake is to leave preparation until the final weeks of the school year, so that the pressure of school exams and the admission test arrives at the same time. Starting early, even with just a few hours a week, is far better than intensive last-minute preparation, because it leaves time to consolidate skills rather than cram them.
The topics that come up most in admission tests
The details vary from test to test, but the following skills usually recur in university admission maths tests:
- Arithmetic and number: fractions, percentages, ratio and proportion, powers and roots.
- Algebra: simplifying expressions, solving linear equations and inequalities, simultaneous equations and quadratic equations.
- Functions: reading graphs, gradient, evaluating a function and simple transformations.
- Geometry: area and perimeter, angles, triangles, Pythagoras' theorem and the circle.
- Statistics and basic probability: mean, median and mode, reading tables and charts, and simple probability.
Start with the basics before the advanced material. Many mistakes in algebra and function questions come from an old weakness in fractions or ratios.
A six-week admission test preparation plan
This is a suggested plan that you can adjust to your time and level:
Week 1: know your starting point
Take a full test before revising anything. You can begin with the free maths placement test, which covers the skills needed for admission tests at local universities and gives you a clear score and level. Note down the topics where you made mistakes.
Weeks 2 and 3: close the gaps
Give each day to one topic from your list of mistakes. Review the rule, then work through a set of graded questions. Do not move on to a new topic until you can solve the current one's questions with confidence.
Weeks 4 and 5: practise in test format
Start doing full tests with the full number of questions and in real time. After each test, read the explanation for every question you got wrong, and also for those you got right by guessing.
Week 6: consolidation and confidence
Cut back on new material, and focus on reviewing your recurring mistakes and doing one or two full tests. Sleep well in the final days.
Practising under time pressure
Many students know how to solve a question but lose marks because of time. Here are some practical tips:
- Work out the time per question before you start, and roughly stick to it.
- Skip a question that is taking too long and come back to it if the test allows; otherwise choose the most reasonable answer and move on.
- Eliminate wrong options first; this improves your chances even when you are not sure.
- Substitute numbers into the options sometimes; it can be quicker than a full algebraic solution.
- Review your mistakes after every practice test; practice without review repeats the same mistakes.
This is exactly why we designed the Admission Prep subscription: for 75 QAR for 30 days you get full 60-question maths practice tests in multiple versions, with a worked solution after every question, the option to retake tests and tracking of how your scores improve. If you need intensive one-to-one support, you can also look at private SAT and admission prep lessons on the Programs page.
Start preparing today
Success in a university admission test does not depend on ability alone, but on organised preparation and repeated practice in the test format. The earlier you start, the more time you have to close gaps calmly. Subscribe now to admission test training, and take your first full practice test this week.