After a mock, go through wrong answers, unanswered questions and correct guesses before taking the next test.
Allow 2–3 hours to review each full mock covering Paper I and Economics. You can split the review over two study sessions.
On this page
Which test should you take?
| Type of practice test | When to take it |
|---|---|
| Topic test | When you want to check one topic, such as elasticity, before moving to the next. |
| Subject test | After covering a subject, when you need to choose between methods without a chapter heading as a clue. |
| Full mock: Paper I + Economics | During preparation and revision, to practise both papers together within 3 hours. |
For a past paper to attempt, use the question-paper and final-key downloads.
The exam-pattern article gives the current format. Our study plans show where these tests fit into a weekly schedule.
Go through the wrong and doubtful answers
Try the question again before reading the solution. Did you forget the concept, miss a condition or make a calculation error?
Your notes can be as short as this:
| What went wrong | What to revise or practise |
|---|---|
| I had not studied the topic | Read the topic and solve a few questions on it. |
| I confused two concepts | Write the difference, with an example of each. |
| I missed a word or condition | Mark the part you missed and check for it in similar questions. |
| My calculation was wrong | Find the first wrong step and redo it. Check signs, units and whether you answered the quantity asked for. |
| I spent too long on the question | Try a shorter method, or practise leaving it and returning later. |
Include correct guesses in this review. For questions with confusing options, check why the other options are wrong as well.
Decide what to study before the next mock
Start with errors that came up more than once. If you mixed up the Ricardian and Heckscher–Ohlin models, compare their assumptions and explanations of trade. Then try questions on both models with your notes closed.
Finish the main corrections before taking another mock.
Check your timing
Record how much time each paper took and where you were unable to finish. If Paper I regularly takes too long, practise its slower units separately and try a different time split in the next mock.
Mark a difficult question for later if it is holding you up. At the end, check whether you had enough time to return to the marked questions.
How to compare mock scores
Compare similar tests: full mocks with full mocks, and subject tests with tests from the same subject. Note which questions you had solved before; remembered answers can raise your mock score.
For a full mock, record Paper I marks out of 100, Economics marks out of 200 and the combined score out of 300. Note which questions you left because you did not know the topic and which you ran out of time for. The first group needs study; the second may need calculation practice or a change in how long you spend on a difficult question.
The cutoff article gives the official five-cycle history for comparison.
During the final week
Leave time for revising formulas, diagrams and questions you got wrong earlier. If you take a full mock, schedule it early enough to check the paper afterwards.
Read the current admit-card instructions for reporting time, documents and exam-day requirements. Check the official NTA site for notices.
You can find practice material on the free resources page. To read about Xaptiq's preparation plans, see how it works.