Embarking on your ISAT journey is a significant step toward a future in fields like medicine, dentistry, and veterinary science. While the thought of tackling 100 questions in three hours may feel overwhelming, the good news is that success hinges less on memorising facts and more on refining your reasoning and problem-solving skills.
Below, you’ll find five practical strategies designed to help you manage your time effectively, develop stronger reading and quantitative abilities, recreate exam conditions, and maintain the calm mindset you need to excel on test day.
5 Practical Strategies for ISAT Success
Strategy 1: Master Time Management when Preparing for the ISAT
Time management is crucial when facing 100 questions in just three hours. Many students underestimate how quickly the minutes slip by once they encounter challenging passages or complex data. By planning your approach to each question set, you can avoid the stressful rush that often occurs during the final minutes of the exam. A steady, well-structured pace allows you to give each question the attention it deserves without sacrificing overall progress.
A helpful technique is to break the exam into “timed blocks.” For instance, aim to complete about 25 questions by the 40-minute mark. During practice, use an alarm or countdown timer to replicate the real test environment. If you notice a question taking too long, make a strategic guess, note the question number, and move on. This prevents you from dwelling on a single problem and potentially missing easier questions later.
Once you’ve guessed and flagged any difficult items, plan to revisit them if time remains at the end. This approach helps you minimise the risk of leaving questions unanswered. Over time, your pacing will improve, and you’ll develop a strong sense of how much time to allocate per question. Proper time management not only improves your score potential but also helps lower test-day anxiety, since you’ll be familiar with the rhythm of a timed exam.
Strategy 2: Enhance Your Reading Skills for ISAT Critical Reasoning
The Critical Reasoning (CR) section of the ISAT requires you to absorb and interpret information from a variety of passages—often drawn from the humanities or social sciences. Strengthening your reading skills is the key to doing this efficiently. Rather than memorising facts, focus on understanding the core argument, the supporting details, and the author’s perspective. Being able to pick out assumptions and discern how evidence is used will help you evaluate the logic behind each statement.
To build these skills, make it a habit to read widely—choose articles, opinion pieces, and essays from different sources and on different subjects. After reading, challenge yourself to summarise the main points. Identify the claim, the evidence provided, and any underlying assumptions the writer makes. This process trains you to quickly extract essential information and see how each part of the text supports or detracts from the argument.
In addition to summarising, try to generate your own questions about the reading. Ask yourself if there are any obvious counterarguments, or if the writer uses emotional appeals instead of data. Evaluate the quality of the evidence and the credibility of the source. Engaging with texts in this way will help you become faster and sharper when encountering new passages on the ISAT, reducing the likelihood of being overwhelmed by unfamiliar topics.
Strategy 3: Strengthen Your ISAT Quantitative Abilities
Quantitative Reasoning (QR) on the ISAT tests your ability to interpret numbers, spot trends, and solve problems using basic math concepts. You don’t need advanced calculus or highly specialised knowledge, but you do need to be comfortable handling data under time pressure. Gaining confidence in numerical reasoning starts with a solid grasp of fundamental mathematical skills like algebra, ratios, percentages, and interpreting graphs or charts.
When studying, focus on practicing short sets of questions that mimic the ISAT’s style. Look for examples where you must read a chart or table, then draw conclusions or solve a problem using that data. The key is to apply logical steps systematically: define the problem, identify relevant data, perform the necessary calculation, and interpret the result. Doing so consistently will help you avoid careless mistakes and confusion on test day.
To make quantitative practice a part of your daily routine, seek out real-life opportunities to engage with numbers. Calculate discounts during shopping trips, analyse basic statistics in the news, or break down data from sports results. Each time you do this, you’re training your mind to process numerical information quickly and accurately. Over time, these everyday exercises build intuitive familiarity with numbers, which will serve you well when you’re racing against the ISAT clock.
Strategy 4: Recreate ISAT Exam Conditions Through Targeted Simulations
Nothing prepares you for the ISAT better than simulating the actual exam experience. By creating test-like conditions—complete with strict timing, a quiet space, and no interruptions—you can train your mind and body to handle the real pressure of exam day. This helps you identify and address issues like anxiety spikes, pacing problems, or unfamiliar question formats before they can derail your actual performance.
Choose practice materials that closely reflect ISAT questions in both style and difficulty. Set aside a dedicated three-hour block where you’ll face a full 100-question test. Treat it like the real thing: no phone, no distractions, and limited breaks. As you work through the questions, apply the pacing and guessing strategies you’ve been honing. Keep an eye on the clock, aim to reach the halfway mark by 90 minutes, and skip or flag questions that take too long.
After completing the simulation, don’t just tally your score and walk away. Thoroughly review each question—especially the ones you missed. Look for patterns in your mistakes. Did you rush through certain passages and misunderstand a key detail? Were you tripped up by specific math concepts? Identifying these trends allows you to tailor your subsequent study sessions to address your weaknesses. Over multiple simulations, you’ll notice tangible improvements in both accuracy and confidence.
Strategy 5: Cultivate a Calm and Focused Mindset leading up the the ISAT Exam
Staying calm under pressure can make a significant difference on test day. Even if you’ve mastered every reading technique and math concept, anxiety can disrupt your performance if you don’t manage it effectively. Recognising when stress starts to build—and knowing how to dial it back—helps you maintain the clarity you need to reason through questions.
Incorporate simple relaxation or mindfulness exercises into your study routine. For instance, when you notice your mind racing, stop for a few moments of deep, steady breathing. Visualise a place or moment where you feel relaxed and remind yourself that you’ve prepared thoroughly. Over time, this response will become second nature, making it easier to stay composed during the actual test when the stakes feel higher.
On the ISAT itself, remember that there’s no penalty for guessing. If you feel stuck on a difficult question, choose the best possible answer, mark the question if the interface allows, and move forward to the next one. You can always come back if time remains at the end. This approach keeps you from losing too much time on any single item, and it reinforces a positive, confident mindset. Every question you answer is another chance to earn points, and by staying calm, you give yourself the best shot at success.
