How Many Questions Should You Practice Daily for Olympiads?
One question that every student desiring to do well in the Olympiad exams often asks is, “how many question should I practice every day?” Some students do 5 questions and feel it is enough. Others do 100 and get tired and confused. The reality is somewhere in between.
One of the most crucial habits is to practice Olympiad questions on a daily basis. However, it's not solely about the number of questions. It's all about practice and being smart about it. This blog will assist you in choosing a daily practice routine depending on your class level.
How Many Questions Should You Solve Every Day?
The number of questions to attempt per day will be determined by class and time available. The number of questions that a class 4 student has to do is not the same as the number of questions that a class 9 student has to do. The important thing is to practice regularly, without skipping.
The basic guideline to follow is that quality is more important than quantity. The solution to 20 questions with full understanding is preferable to solve 50 questions with no understanding. However, here is an easy guide for you to plan:
|
Class |
Questions Per Day |
Mock Tests Per Week |
|
Class 3 - 5 |
10 - 15 questions |
1 mock test |
|
Class 6 - 8 |
20 - 25 questions |
1 - 2 mock tests |
For students in classes 6 to 8, daily practice of 20-25 questions from the Olympiad papers is a good goal. Include an additional 1-2 Olympiad, mock tests every week and you will make clear progress within a month.
How to Split Your Daily Practice Time?
Just solving random questions is not a plan. One has to spend the study time judiciously. A good practice session consists of three elements: new questions, practice in the old question paper, and going over the errors.
Many students do not do the part of the mistake review. This is a big error. If you do go back and learn why you missed a question, you will not repeat your mistake in actual exam.
|
Type of Practice |
Time to Spend |
Purpose |
|
Olympiad practice questions |
20 - 25 minutes |
Build concept understanding |
|
Olympiad question paper (past) |
15 - 20 minutes |
Understand exam pattern |
|
Olympiad mock tests |
Full test on weekends |
Test speed and accuracy |
|
Revision of mistakes |
10 minutes daily |
Avoid repeating errors |
Note that Olympiad mock tests are retained during the weekend. This is because a full mock test is time-consuming and requires complete concentration. On weekdays, keep your practices shorter – this way, you will not feel stressed.
Best Resources to Practice From
Mere selection of the right study material is a great difference. The wrong books or random sources will cause you to waste time. The best way to prepare for Olympiad exams is to practice with the official Olympiad question papers and reputable IMO Olympiad books.
The previous year's paper of NSO is one of the best resource for science students. It will tell you exactly what type of questions you will encounter on the actual exam. Likewise, IMO Olympiad books are ideal for students who are preparing for IMO. This is a resource guide to the exam you are pursuing:
|
Exam |
Resource to Use |
Why It Helps |
|
NSO (Science) |
Olympiad Previous year paper and Science guide |
Understand real exam questions |
|
IMO (Maths) |
Oswaal Books IMO Maths Previous Year Papers |
Strong maths problem solving |
|
IEO (English) |
Olympiad question paper sets |
Practice grammar and vocabulary |
|
All Olympiads |
Olympiad mock tests online/offline |
Full exam simulation |
When first attempting, many students are surprised. However, with practice their difficulty level will decrease.
The books for Maths provide you with a lot of different kinds of problems. They begin with easy questions and gradually progress to more difficult ones, providing a good foundation for confidence to be developed in stages.
Read More: How to Improve Logical Reasoning for Olympiad Exams?
Common Mistakes Students Make While Practising
The one big mistake is just trying to solve easy questions. Easy questions are good but do not prepare you for the actual Olympiad exam. Make sure you include medium and hard questions in your daily practice.
Yet another error is failing to try out full Olympiad tests. There are quite a few students who read books but will never sit for a timed test. Mock tests prepare your brain to work under time constraints, an important aspect of exam day.
Finally, don't miss days. On busy days, work on 10 or more Olympiad practice problems. It's better to study for 3 hours one day, and 3 hours the next day, than 3 hours one day, and nothing the next day.
Conclusion
No one right answer to the number of questions each student should have. Just with a proper plan (right amount of daily Olympiad practice questions, regular Olympiad mock tests, and smart usage of the question paper of the Olympiad, and the previous year papers of NSO) you'll be well-prepared.
Always start small and build up the amount over time. Do use good sources such as IMO Olympiad Books and Official papers. Keep in mind it's not about the number of questions you're able to complete in a day. It's about your consistency day after day.
Other Recommended Olympiad Books:
FAQs - How Many Questions Should You Practice Daily for Olympiads?
Class 6th should be able to make 20 to 25 questions per day. This should contain a variety of easy, medium and difficult questions taken from an Olympiad question paper or a book.
Indeed, Olympiad Mock Tests are very significant! They will aid you in simulated exam settings, enhance your rate and reveal you that areas require more focus.
Try not to skip. 10 quick Olympiad practice questions at the end of the day, even on a busy day, maintain the brain habit. The key to a good ranking in any Olympiad exam is consistency, on a monthly basis for months.
