NMAT TRICK TIPS

You don't really have to enroll in a review center.

It all boils down on one thing: if you have the money, go enroll, but if you don't, then you don't have to. If you are like me who still relies on her parents' financial support, do your parents a favor and don't unload 5,000 pesos for a week's worth of review. It doesn't guarantee you anything anyway. A review center cannot feed you everything, studying on your own is still essential.

The handout exams given by CEM

Most of the questions in these handouts are patterned from the actual test.

Sure you may think that "I’m sure nothing will come out of that exam because that review material is given by company conducting the exam. I'll just take a glance at it". This is a common move to make. This is what I did at my first take. The technique is most of the part 1 questions that are for I.Q testing are exactly like that of the handout. So since I.Q cannot be memorized, familiarize yourself with the exam. Repeat answering these exams without memorizing the correct answer. After days of doing these test repeatedly you will find yourself answering faster and will be able to see the patterns more easily.

The technique in test 2 is that if you analyze every question, there would be a particular topic being discussed by each question. For you to easily review these subjects. You can just review the general topic of each of the questions. Almost all of the questions in the actual exam revolves around these topic. This will help you if you are already cramming, especially if you only have a basic background around these subjects. As a nurse the part on chemistry and physics was the hardest for me.

Google VS dictionary, text books, encyclopedia

Most of us are taught not to believe in the internet because of the freedom on how many people can write about any particular topic without a proper body for regulation of their contents making wrong information rampant on the internet. But actually Google is faster, easier and more convenient tool for reviewing. Most of the subjects you need to learn are on the internet. Since I know most of you are cramming (like me back then) you should use this tool a lot. Compare typing than reading the index, searching around the pages for a particular topic in a book you barely read during high school. 

Time management

Manage your time. Start the days of your review not to conscious of the time. Establish a baseline. Answer all the questions and look how precise you are and how much time it took you to answer the questions. And day by day try to reduce the time and increase the number of correct marks in your paper.  Remember that you may know all of the answers but you need to get to the question first before you can answer. Always try to improve your time.

Intelligent Guess

One way to be intelligent in the exam is to guess the answer. Use the cancellation method to narrow your choices to two and pick one. It is better to have a 50-50% chance to get the correct answer than to be 100% sure you got it wrong.

NMAT REVIEW RESOURCES

People reviewing for the NMAT have two options, first is self-studying, and second is enrolling in a review center (or both for those who really want to get the much coveted 90+ percentile). While the second option may be less laborious, with one only having to attend his review classes and pick up from lessons programmed by the review center, it needless to say, costs money. Self-studying on the other hand, which should be free if one has the needed resources on hand, is a lot more taxing, and requires more focus if one is determined to get a good score from the exam.

Here are some of review resources in the internet:

PART 1

·         
Reading Comprehension

Reading Comprehension (also known as Critical Reading) questions test your ability to understand a passage and answer questions on the basis of what is stated and implied in the passage. Here is the link: http://www.majortests.com/sat/reading-comprehension.php

·         
Inductive Reasoning

Here, you will see sets of figures wherein you will need to determine the next figure according to the given series I might say that you won't be having any trouble in this part if you will keep on practicing. There are several websites where you can practice inductive reasoning. And here it is:

 http://www.assessmentday.co.uk/inductive_reasoning.htm

                        http://www.fibonicci.com/abstract-reasoning/test/

 http://www.shldirect.com/inductive_reasoning.html

I bet that you will enjoy answering those practice tests. There is also a figure grouping in the inductive reasoning part. You will just need to determine the outcasts of the given set of figures. There's also number and letter series in the last part of IR instead of figures. Here are some links for you to practice. (You will need an adobe flash reader to view some of these links)

http://www.psychometric-success.com/practice-  papers/Psychometric%20Success%20Numerical%20Ability%20-%20Reasoning%20Practice%20Test%201.pdf

http://www.psychometric-success.com/faq/faq-numerical-reasoning-tests.htm

http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/tests/mathstest2.htm

http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/tests/sequences.htm

http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/tests/mathstest.htm

·         Quantitative

If you need help in college algebra, you have come to the right place.  Note that you do not have to be a student at WTAMU to use any of these online tutorials.  They were created as a service to anyone who needs help in these areas of math.

http://www.wtamu.edu/academic/anns/mps/math/mathlab/col_algebra/index.htm

·         Perceptual Acuity

First subpart is the hidden figure. You will need to find the given figure on the given choices. Next is the mirror image. As the name implies, you will need to search for the mirror image of the given figure. And last but not the least, the Identical Information. There are given sentences and then on the choices, you will need to identify its identical sentence. Take note on the s's, periods, commas, apostrophes, and numbers.

PART 2

The second  part which consists of Biology, Physics, Sociology, and Chemistry. For biology, it may cover ecology, cells, genetics, basic anatomy, physiology, etc. In physics, it may include heat, motion, electromagnetism, etc.

For sociology psychology, here is a website for you Sparknotes: Sociology and Psychology

SparkNotes provides study guides for a number of other subjects, including math, health, physics, biology, chemistry, economics and sociology.

http://www.sparknotes.com/sociology/

http://www.sparknotes.com/psychology/

THE MSA NMAT REVIEWER

According to Allan Paul I. Carreon (MSA NMAT Reviewer, 2001), The National Medical Admission Test (NMAT) is carefully designed. It does not seek to test the amount of knowledge the examinee can recall in various fields of Science, Math and English. More importantly, the test is constructed so as to also be able to determine how well the examinee can synthesize information and make use of his or her reasoning skills in analyzing and solving various problems.

As such, I have designed this reviewer to meet that demand of the actual NMAT. More often as I could, I made the questions as challenging and perhaps even more hard so than the actual NMAT in order to give you the chance to adequately prepare for the actual test.

The first part of the NMAT consists of four tests that deal with subjects outside of the sciences.

Test A (Verbal) has two sections. The first is on analogies. Most of the analogies I have constructed are general in nature. However, a few do deal with scientific concepts, while others consist of more specific aesthetic areas such as music, art, literature and even pop culture. The second section is on reading comprehension; it consists of five selections followed by five questions each. I have sought to make the selections as diverse as possible not only to cater to different tastes but also in keeping with the diverse nature of the selections used in the actual NMAT. Thus, the five selections I have chosen have forms that range from songs to poetry (both English and Filipino) to humorous essays to scientific articles to news items.         

Test B (Inductive Reasoning) is designed to assess your intuitive reasoning skills; it consists of three sections. The first section is on figure series; your ability to determine what comes next in a series of related figures is tested here. The second section deals with figure grouping; in it, you are required to decipher what figure among a given group does not belong. The last section of Test B is on number and letter series; your skills in identifying number and letter patterns and applying them are tested here.

Test C (Quantitative) focuses on mathematical ability. It has three sections. The first section is on fundamental operations; these questions are structured in basic form and designed to test your direct solving skills. Although currently the NMAT does not include Calculus, I have included three simple Calculus problems in this section as a review of your basic college math; also, it is a good review in case the NMAT includes this important aspect of the mathematics in the future. The second section deals with word problems. In this section, your ability not only to do mathematical operations but also to apply them in various areas of everyday life is tested. Most of them require a great degree of skill in translating sentences into mathematical equations; a couple, however, do deal with more objective questions such as equations of slopes and factoring methods. The last section of Test C is on data interpretation. In it, various data in the form of graphs, charts and tables are given, and questions regarding the said data are asked. This section will enhance your skill in understanding and analyzing sets of data.

Test D (Perceptual Acuity) is a relatively unique feature of the NMAT; in it, your visual sharpness is tested in the belief that good doctors must have good eye sights in order to practice the profession competently. Test D has three sections. The first consist of hidden figures, wherein a figure is given and you must decide which among a given group of choices contains that figure; your ability to spot concealed figures is tested here. The second section is about determining which figure is the exact mirror image of a given one; this exercises your skills not only to spot differences but also to spot similarities. The final section consists of written information; the job to identify which among the given choices gives exactly the same information will test not only your visual skills in spotting differences but may also serve to enhance your editing skills.   The second part of the NMAT consists of four tests that deal with the natural and social sciences.         

Test A (Biology) is designed to determine your knowledge in the biological sciences. It deals with everything from General Biology to specific fields such as Zoology, Botany, Taxonomy and Physiology.

Test B (Physics) focuses on the physical sciences. Areas covered include Mechanics, Heat, Electromagnetics and Optics. Although currently the NMAT does not really include the Theory of Relativity, I have included some questions on this subject because of its importance in modern Physics as well as in anticipation of any possible future inclusion in the NMAT.

Test C (Social Science) is all about the social sciences. The two main sciences dealt with are Psychology and Sociology. Most of the questions here are taken from General Psychology and General Sociology courses. However, some questions are designed to ensure that your ability to synthesize and apply basic concepts is well-tested.

Test D (Chemistry) is on the chemical sciences. The major areas included are General Chemistry, Quantitative and Qualitative Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry and Nuclear Chemistry.

What follows is a topic outline of the subject areas under each science that I have used in this reviewer and which is also used in the NMAT. It can also serve as a good topic outline for review in MCAT (Medical College Admission Test), the NMAT equivalent in the United States of America and Canada.

Biology

I. General Biology Concepts
II. Plant Morpho-Anatomy, Histology and Physiology
III. Animal Morpho-Anatomy, Histology and Physiology
IV. Taxonomy, Systematics and Evolution
V. Developmental Biology
VI. Genetics
VII. Cell Biology and Biochemistry
VIII. Ecology

Physics

I. General Physics Concept
II. Vectors
III. Mechanics: Kinematics and Dynamics
IV. Electromagnetics
V. Waves
VI. Optics
VII. Heat and Energy
VIII. Relativity

Social Sciences

A. Psychology

I. General Psychology Concepts
II. Biological Background
III. Sensation, Perception and States of Consciousness
IV. Learning, Memory, Thought, Language and Intelligence
V. Development, Motivation, Emotion and Personality
VI. Psychopathology and Therapies
VII. Social Psychology
VIII. Applied Psychology

B. Sociology

I. General Sociology Concepts
II. Culture, Social Structures, Organization and Stratification
III. Socialization, Interaction, Deviance and Social Control
IV. Race, Ethnicity and Gender
V. Marriage, Family and Education
VI. Politics, Economy and Religion
VII. Science and Technology
VIII. Population, Urbanization and Collective Behavior

Chemistry

I. General Chemistry Concepts
II. Qualitative Chemistry
III. Analytic and Quantitative Chemistry
IV. Organic Chemistry
V. Biochemistry
VI. Physical Chemistry
VII. Thermochemistry
VIII. Nuclearchemistry

  

NMAT Inductive Reasoning (Figure Grouping)

 

How to answer these type of questions.

Answer: CORRELATION- Practice your eagle eye in looking for the difference as much as possible.

1. MOVEMENT- turn it 360 degrees if you have too. If you don’t see any FLIPPING move to the next category.

2. MODIFICATION- in this image we see a static image and only one image has a difference which is letter C in which the checkered rectangle is placed wrong.

3. LENGTH/SIZE. Although this is the hardest to spot, always look for it if you can't find any more clues.