Last Minute Olympiad Exam Preparation

Author at PW
November 07, 2025
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When the Olympiad exam date approaches, many students start feeling nervous about how to study or revise everything on time. These exams are not like regular school tests. Olympiads are national and international competitions that check how well you understand subjects like maths, science, and English. They test your logic, problem-solving skills, and clear understanding of concepts.

With only a few days left, your last-minute Olympiad exam preparation should be smart and focused. Instead of learning new topics, you must use this time to revise important formulas, practice challenging questions, and solve past papers. A calm mind and the right strategy can help you prepare effectively even at the last minute.

Along with it, using the right study materials, such as PW Olympiad books, can make revision faster and more effective. These Olympiad preparation books cover all important topics and give you plenty of practice questions so that you remember key concepts till the final exam day. To learn more tips on how to boost your last-minute Olympiad exam preparation, keep reading.

Last Minute Olympiad Exam Preparation Strategy

Last-minute Olympiad exam preparations may feel stressful, but with the right plan, you can do it effectively. You just have to stay calm, revise smartly, and focus only on what's most important. To help you better understand this, here are some tips that can make your last-minute Olympiad exam preparation more exam-focused:

Revise a Lot Using Short Notes

  • In the final moments before an exam, short notes become your best friend. Read your formula sheets, mind maps, or quick notes every day. Don’t try to read whole chapters again.

  • Make a list of key formulas, rules, and tricky points that you forget easily. Keep this list with you and revise it many times before the exam day.

Practice Questions Daily Using PYQs 

  • Even during your last-minute Olympiad exam preparations, you should not stop practicing. Solve at least one or two previous year question paper sets every day.

  • It keeps your mind active and improves your speed. Pick mixed questions to check your problem-solving skills.

  • Also, solve conceptual questions that test your understanding, not just memory.

Give Time to Weak Areas

  • Don’t skip topics you find hard. Give them at least an hour or more to revise them in the last few days before your Olympiad exam.

  • You don’t have to study everything deeply; just make sure you can handle basic-level questions from those parts. This gives you confidence that no topic will surprise you in the exam.

Avoid Learning New Topics

  • Many students make the mistake of learning something new at the last minute. This only causes stress and confusion.

  • Trust your preparation and focus on what you already know. A peaceful mind will help you recall information better during the exam.

Read More: Common Mistakes to Avoid While Preparing for Olympiad Exams

Tips to Stay Focused During the Olympiad Exam

It is normal to feel a little nervous on your final exam. But try to calm yourself and focus on performing well. Here are some tips for your final exam day to help you stay confident:

Read Each Question Carefully

  • Before you start answering, take a deep breath and read every question properly.

  • Many students lose marks just because they rush and miss small details.

  • Take a few extra seconds to understand what is being asked before you choose or write your answer.

Manage Your Time Wisely

  • Keep an eye on the clock, but don’t let it distract you. If one question seems too tough, skip it for now and come back later.

  • This way, you’ll finish all the questions you know first and won’t waste time on one tough problem.

Maintain Your Calm

  • If you feel stuck, don’t panic. Take a short pause, close your eyes for a moment, and refocus.

  • Remind yourself that you have prepared well and can handle the paper. A calm mind works faster and makes fewer mistakes.

Double-Check Your Answers

  • If time allows, go through your answers once again before submitting.

  • Check for calculation errors, missed questions, or incomplete steps.

  • This re-checking can help you score a few extra marks.

Olympiad exams are a bit more challenging than normal school tests, especially in subjects like Maths and Science. If you’re planning to appear for the upcoming Science or Maths Olympiad exams, here are a few preparation tips that can help you do well:

Read More: Must-Have Olympiad Books for 2025 Exams

Math Olympiad Preparation Tips

Math Olympiad exams test your speed, accuracy, and understanding of core concepts. If you’re getting ready for the upcoming IMO exam, which will be held on November 12, November 28, and December 12, 2025, this is the time to make your final math Olympiad preparation stronger. Here are some tips to make your math olympiad preparation more effective:

  • Spend some time daily doing quick maths in your head. 

  • Try multiplying small numbers without writing, revise squares up to 30, and practice short tricks for fractions or percentages. These simple habits will help you save time during the Math Olympiad exam.

  • Don’t just remember formulas, but also try to see how they work. While solving geometry questions, draw neat diagrams.

  • Solve one complete Math Olympiad paper every day. Set a timer and finish it within the exam time. This will help you get used to the real test atmosphere and improve your time management.

  • After finishing each paper, check your answers carefully. Write down the topics or question types you got wrong and revise them again.

How to Boost Your Science Olympiad Preparations?

In India, some of the main Science Olympiad exams include the Indian National Physics Olympiad (INPhO), National Standard Examination in Biology (NSEB), National Standard Examination in Chemistry (NSEC), and Indian Biology Olympiad (INBO).

The National Science Olympiad (NSO) is also an important exam, which will be held on November 13, November 27, and December 11, 2025. If you are preparing for it, here are some helpful last-minute Science Olympiad preparation tips to make your study more effective.

  • Solve Science Olympiad question papers from previous years. This helps you understand the kind of questions asked and which topics are more important. It also helps you improve your speed and confidence before the actual exam.

  • While revising, make simple diagrams and flowcharts. These help you remember lessons like human body systems, electricity circuits, or the life cycle of plants easily and clearly.

  • At this point, don’t start anything new. Revise the topics you already know well. Solve one or two sample papers each day to test how quickly and correctly you can answer questions.

  • Instead of memorising facts, try to understand how scientific ideas work in real situations. Practice application-based questions that need reasoning or observation. This will help you think logically and answer better during the exam.

Also read: NSEP Syllabus 2025 for Class 11 and 12

Olympiad Preparation Books

Olympiad Books 2025 by PW are offered to help you boost your last-minute Olympiad exam preparations. These books make science and maths concepts easy to understand through concept maps and clear diagrams. They focus on important Olympiad topics, helping you study the right chapters in a simple and organised way. Explore the PW Olympiad books here:

PW Olympiad Books

Olympiad Preparation Books for Class 3

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Olympiad Books for Class 4

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Olympiad Books for Class 5

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Olympiad Preparation Books for Class 6

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Olympiad Books for Class 7

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Olympiad Books for Class 11

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Olympiad Preparation Books for Class 12

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Why Use PW Olympiad Books for Effective Preparations

PW Olympiad preparation books are thoughtfully curated to help you strengthen your maths and science concepts while preparing smartly for the upcoming Olympiad exams. They make learning simpler, more interesting, and exam-focused.

  • Easy-to-Understand Concept Maps: Tough topics are explained using easy diagrams to help you revise faster and remember better.

  • Focused Olympiad Topics: Covers only the important topics that matter most in Olympiad exams, saving your time.

  • Advanced Practice MCQs: Offers well-designed questions that test your understanding and build accuracy.

  • Previous Year Question Practice: These Olympiad books 2025 include real exam PYQs so you can understand the exam format and level of difficulty.

  • Step-by-Step Solved Problems: In these PW Olympiad books, each topic includes solved examples to help you learn the right way to approach similar questions.

  • Creative Thinking Questions: These Olympiad preparation books encourage out-of-the-box thinking through fun and logical Curious Junior-type questions.

Olympiad Exam Preparation FAQs

Q.1. How to prepare for the Olympiad exam in the final days?

Ans. In the last few days of your Olympiad exam preparation, focus only on revision and practice. Go through key chapters and revise key formulas. Use PW Olympiad books for quick topic-wise practice, as they include previous year Olympiad questions and concept maps that make revision easy.

Q.2. How to score 100% in the Olympiad?

Ans. To score 100% in the olympiad, you must build a strong base in all topics and practice regularly. Revise daily, solve previous years' papers, and use Olympiad preparation books to cover important questions.

Q.3. Are Olympiad exams harder than JEE?

Ans. Olympiad exams test deep understanding and logical thinking. Some Math Olympiad or Science Olympiad questions can be harder than JEE ones, but they focus more on concepts and creative problem-solving than long calculations.

Q.4. How do you get 1st rank in the Olympiad?

Ans. To get 1st rank, start your Olympiad exam preparation as soon as possible and keep revising till the exam day. Use trusted olympiad books, such as those provided by PW, that cover all important topics and important previous year questions.

Q.5. Is the Olympiad exam good for kids?

Ans. Yes, Olympiad exams are very good for kids, as they help improve logical thinking, accuracy, and problem-solving skills. Early Olympiad exam preparation also helps children perform better in school and future entrance exams.

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