This article provides 5 reasons why practicing sample exam questions is the MOST important preparation technique when studying for the NCA exams.
1) Know what to expect
When you look at sample questions you will get an idea of what type of questions to expect on the NCA exam. When you are reading notes/books, you are only consuming information. As much as it is important to have the required knowledge, it is equally important to spend time understanding HOW this knowledge can be tested on the exam.
2) Learn to write under pressure
You will be surprised at how slow and confused your brain can get when you are under pressure. If you practice writing the answers under pressure before the actual exam, you are letting your brain get used to this pressure and not freak out if something seems confusing.
3) Learning how to write
Writing is THE MOST important skill a lawyer needs to succeed in the legal profession. The more you practice questions and think through issues, the more organized your legal writing will get. It doesn’t matter if you weren’t born with great writing skills. This skill can be learned by practicing as much as you can.
4) Becoming used to thinking on the spot
When you practice sample exam questions, you are learning the skill to think through novel issues on the spot. You will never get questions that you have already answered. You are likely to get facts that you have never read before. Thus, it is important to develop this skill as much as you can.
5) Understand how many things could go wrong
Sometimes you think you know the answer until you actually start writing it. You may keep thinking about ways to improve answers or make it perfect. You should learn the skill of thinking straight and perhaps learning to identify what is most important in order to pass within the given time frame.