Feeling overwhelmed by the numerical ability section of your upcoming Philippine civil service exam (PRC), LET, or any other exam with math? You’re not alone! Many test-takers struggle with basic operations, decimals, percentages, and fractions under pressure. But fear not, future public servant! “Numerical Operation Basic Operation Practice Test Reviewer” is here to turn your math anxiety into confident mastery.
What you should learn first:
Brush up on fundamental arithmetic: Ensure you’re comfortable with addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, exponents, and order of operations (PEMDAS). Practice manipulating simple equations and solving word problems.
Familiarize yourself with common conversions: Be prepared to convert fractions to decimals and vice versa, percentages to decimals, and vice versa.
Remember squares and cubes: Knowing common squares (up to 12) and cubes (up to 5) can save you time in calculations.
Specific Strategies:
Order of operations (PEMDAS): Always follow PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division (from left to right), Addition and Subtraction (from left to right)) to avoid calculation errors.
Factorials: Remember that n! (factorial of n) is the product of all positive integers less than or equal to n (e.g., 5! = 5 x 4 x 3 x 2 x 1 = 120).
Rounding: Understand rounding conventions (nearest hundredth, tenth, etc.) and apply them accurately.
Fractions and decimals: Be comfortable converting between fractions and decimals using multiplication or division by appropriate powers of 10.
Percentages: Remember that percentages represent parts per hundred, so dividing by 100 converts them to decimals.
Time Management:
Prioritize quickly solvable questions: Identify easy questions (like simple additions or subtractions) and answer them first, building your confidence and momentum.
Scan for keywords: Look for words like “difference,” “quotient,” and “sum” to understand question type and apply relevant operations promptly.
Estimate complex questions: For trickier problems, estimate the answer range to avoid getting bogged down in calculations. If your answer falls wildly outside the options, re-evaluate your approach.
Skip and revisit: If you get stuck on a question, mark it and move on. Come back later with a fresh perspective or after completing easier questions.
Pace yourself: Allocate time effectively. Don’t spend too much on any single question, especially considering the overall number of questions in the exam.
Stay calm and focused: Anxiety can cloud your judgment. Take deep breaths and remind yourself to apply your knowledge and strategies.
Double-check your answers: Before submitting, quickly review your answers to catch any careless mistakes.
Practice with sample questions: Familiarize yourself with the format and difficulty level of the actual exam by practicing with sample questions and time constraints.
By following these tips and practicing regularly, you can increase your confidence and accuracy in tackling basic operation questions in your civil service exam. Remember, time management plays a crucial role, so practice pacing yourself while solving problems effectively. Good luck!
