The MCAT, GRE and SIE will be the major deciding factors in your admissions decision. But that doesn’t mean you should take these tests without preparing first. Just like any other test, it can be easily time-consuming and stressful.
So, in this article, we tried to answer how long it takes to study for MCAT, GRE, and SIE qualification exams.
How Long to Study for the Following Courses;
While different courses take different times to study, all of them need a substantial number of hours, weeks, or months to complete. Check out the differences between MCAT, GAMSAT and other courses to understand more.
Below, we take each of the common courses and how long it will take you to study them.
1. MCAT
MCAT is a very challenging test which comprises four sections. Each section consists of multiple sub-sections, which you must answer correctly to achieve the desired score.
The time taken to prepare for this exam depends on your current study habits and preparation level. The current time taken by students varies from 2-3 months.
Steps To Prepare For MCAT:
1) Complete your undergraduate studies with good grades and make yourself eligible for Medical School Admissions Test (MCAT).
2) Do well in your undergraduate courses and ensure a strong foundation in science and math concepts to score high marks on MCAT.
3) Ensure that you are comfortable taking tests, as MCAT is also a test of nerves. Build your confidence by taking mock tests online or at the school’s library at least twice before the actual test day.
2. GRE
The GRE General Test is an admissions test that many graduate schools use to evaluate applicants’ academic preparation.
Specifically, The GRE General Test takes four months and the GRE Subject Test: takes six months
If you plan to graduate school, the GRE General Test is an important component of your application. It takes about three hours to complete, and you can take it at any testing centre worldwide. There are two sections: Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning.
The Verbal section consists of four questions, including one on Reading Comprehension, one on Sentence Correction, one on Synonyms/Antonyms, and one on Critical Thinking (multiple-choice). Each question has a time limit of 25 minutes. You’ll also have 15 minutes to answer a question that asks you to analyze a passage from an essay or book.
The Quantitative section consists of a total of four questions. The first three questions ask you to analyze data provided in the passage; the last question requires you to describe a graphically presented data set or calculate an answer by hand. Each question has a time limit of 25 minutes and is worth 50 points each.
3. ISAT
The ISAT is an international standardized test that allows you to compare your performance with other students worldwide. You can use it to determine the best place to study and possibly obtain a scholarship.
You may be able to take the ISAT more than once if you wish to improve your scores or if there are differences between your first attempt at taking it and your last attempt at taking it later on in life. The average time to study for the ISAT is about 6-8 weeks.
It depends on your time and how fast you want to study. You will also need to know how to study efficiently. There are many ways to learn new things, but some are better than others.
The ISAT consists of three parts: Reading, Writing, and Math. Once you have completed all three parts, you will receive your score in each subject area. The scores are then added together to give you an overall score of 200 points.
The course consists of 4 parts: reading comprehension, writing composition, mathematics and an essay. The last section is optional but can be used as a writing sample for colleges or universities.
4. STEP 3
Generally, the time to study for STEP 3 is between 12 and 18 months. The time it takes you to pass this exam will be largely dependent on a few factors:
- The amount of effort you put into studying.
- Your ability to absorb information quickly.
- Whether you’re taking any classes in preparation for the exam.
- How much time do you have available to study.
- Your lifestyle, work schedule and other obligations (if applicable).
- How motivated you are to succeed.
5. NCLEX
NCLEX-RN is a computer-based test that assesses your knowledge of nursing and nursing care. You will be given 150 questions and must answer 75 questions correctly to pass. If you fail to answer even one question, you will not be able to proceed with the test. You have one week to complete it.
The NCLEX-RN can be taken only once every five years after you complete your education requirements.
You can also take practice tests online if you want to prepare for the real test. You must practice with real questions before taking a practice exam to know what kind of difficulty level is expected during the real exam session.
You should also consider taking a course that teaches how to study effectively when preparing for the NCLEX-RN examination session. You can find various courses available online by doing some research on Google or other search engines.
6. SIE
For most courses, you can complete the course within one year. If you need more time to study, you can take up to three years to complete your studies. If you need more time than this, you should consider the following options:
- You may need to study full-time and take some time off during the holidays or at different times of the year.
- You may need to study part-time and divide your workload over several subjects in your course.
- You may prefer to study online by distance learning or online through an online platform such as Moodle or Coursera.
7. GMAT
There are many different ways to study for the GMAT, depending on your goals and preferences. For example, you should take as many practice tests as possible to get into a top business school.
On the other hand, if you want to save money on tuition fees by taking the GMAT in December instead of July or August (which is when it’s typically administered), then you don’t need to spend as much time preparing for it.
The first step in studying for the GMAT is determining what time of year suits your schedule best. If you’re interested in applying early in the year and need an extra boost, then taking a few practice tests in November or December will help prepare you well for the test’s February administration date.
If you don’t mind waiting until July or August before applying, then taking several practice tests during those months will be more helpful than using them only once or twice weekly throughout January and February.
8. CCNA
Two months is enough time to earn CCNA. If you are a beginner, do not expect to learn everything in two months. No matter how experienced you are, studying for at least one month is always good practice.
Knowing what you want to accomplish before starting your CCNA study is important. You can use the following tips to help you decide on what course or topics you would like to study:
Get a clear understanding of the Cisco certifications path and which ones will help you get into your dream job.
Make a list of all the tasks needed in your career path and see how they relate to Cisco certifications.
Decide on what skill sets are required for each job and which will help you advance within your role at work and/or develop new skills needed for other jobs that might be available.
How to Shorten the Time Spent Studying the Courses
The following are some tips to help you reduce the time spent studying:
- Take frequent breaks. It is important to take frequent short breaks throughout the day. Take a break every 30 minutes or so. You should also take a break after every hour of study.
- Keep a goal in mind. Set goals for yourself and stick with them. For example, if you want to reduce your studying time by 15%, set aside an hour or two each day for studying, no matter what else you do in your day.
- Use an online tutor. Online tutors are available for many subjects and are very affordable and convenient. They can be accessed from anywhere, so there’s no excuse not to use them!
- Set a timer on your phone or computer so that it goes off every 30 minutes, reminding you to take a break and recharge your energy levels before continuing with your studies.
- Learn as much as possible before the course starts, and then review what you already know.
- Read ahead in your textbook, but don’t get bogged down in it if you aren’t sure what’s going on; skip around so that you don’t have to read it all at once.
- Take notes as you listen to lectures or watch videos of lectures so that you can refer back to them later on when you need them (if they’re not too difficult).
- Take tests early and often so that you can score well on them and focus on getting full credit for each question (rather than trying to memorize everything).
