How I Got 1st Position In NUMS MDCAT ft. Ibrahim Shafi | Complete Guide

Summary

Ibrahim Shafi, last year's Nums MDCAT topper, shares effective strategies for acing the upcoming Nums MDCAT exam. With less than a week to go, he emphasizes focusing on revisions, not learning new material, maintaining a healthy diet and sleep schedule, and practicing past papers. For subject-specific advice, he recommends reviewing key topics in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and English while minimizing stress. Lastly, he offers tips for tackling the psychological segment of the exam, advising students to focus on speed and time management over getting the 'right' answer.

Takeaways

• 😀 Don't start anything new in the last week. Focus on revising what you've already studied rather than trying to learn new concepts or books.
• 😀 Prioritize light revision and avoid overworking. Your memory retention decreases in the last week, so it's better to review familiar material.
• 😀 Take care of your health by maintaining a balanced diet and ensuring you get enough sleep to avoid burnout and stress.
• 😀 Past papers are invaluable. Reviewing NUMS MDCAT past papers from the last 3-4 years can help you identify recurring patterns and questions.
• 😀 For biology, stick to your board's recommended textbooks and focus on revising key concepts rather than getting caught up in minute details.
• 😀 Chemistry revision should include reviewing important topics like stoichiometry and organic chemistry, as well as key formulas and concepts.
• 😀 For physics, focus on revising formulas and key concepts. There's no need to spend excessive time on numericals, as they are less likely to appear in the exam.
• 😀 In English, focus on grammar rules, punctuation, and review past paper vocabulary rather than trying to memorize new words.
• 😀 The psychological segment consists of open-ended questions. Don't stress about getting the 'right' answer—just answer quickly and trust your instincts.
• 😀 Time management is crucial during the psychological segment. Complete all 50 questions within the 15-minute limit, even if you're unsure of the answers.
• 😀 The psychological section likely contributes only a small portion (around 4-5%) of your final score, so focus on completing the multiple-choice questions to secure those points.

Q & A

What is the most important strategy during the last week before the NUMS MDCAT?

The most important strategy is to avoid starting anything new. Students should focus solely on revising previously studied material, as memory retention for new content is low in the last week.

Why should students avoid peer pressure during the last week of preparation?

Peer pressure can lead students to study new or unnecessary topics, which is detrimental because learning new material at this stage is unlikely to be retained and wastes valuable time.

How should students approach past papers in their final week of preparation?

Students should solve past NUMS MDCAT papers from recent years (2022–2024) and relevant pass papers from other boards. Past papers help identify question patterns and repeated topics, which is crucial for last-minute preparation.

What role does diet and sleep play during the final week?

Maintaining a healthy diet and proper sleep is essential to avoid burnout and stress. Studying excessively at this stage can reduce efficiency and negatively affect performance.

How should students revise Biology in the last week?

Students should skim and scan notes, highlighted content, and previously studied material. Focus on key concepts rather than minute details, with the last 2–3 days dedicated to final review of important points.

What is the recommended strategy for Chemistry revision?

Revise common chapters from your board's textbook and include any frequently tested chapters from other boards if time permits. Focus on first-year chapters first and leave organic chemistry and conceptual topics for the final days. Formulas should be written separately for quick review.

How should Physics be handled in the last week?

Physics has lower weightage, so focus only on formulas. Avoid practicing end-of-chapter exercises or numericals since they are complex, time-consuming, and unlikely to appear on the test.

What is the suggested approach for English preparation in the last week?

Focus on past paper vocabulary and grammar rules rather than learning new vocabulary. Review mistakes from previous MCQs and skim examples to reinforce understanding.

How should students handle the psychological segment of the NUMS MDCAT?

The psychological segment contains open-ended questions and is minor in weightage (~4–5%). Students should focus on completing the MCQs quickly, filling in bubbles without overthinking, as there are no strictly 'right' answers.

Why is skimming and scanning emphasized over detailed studying in the last week?

Skimming and scanning helps reinforce memory of previously studied content without wasting time. Detailed studying of new or complex material is ineffective due to low retention during the last week.

How should students prioritize subjects in the final week?

Priority should be given to Biology and Chemistry due to higher weightage and detail, followed by English for grammar review. Physics requires minimal focus, mainly formula review.

What common mistakes should students avoid during the last week?

Students should avoid starting new topics, overworking to the point of burnout, neglecting sleep and diet, and spending excessive time on low-weightage sections like Physics or vocabulary.