Ultimate Guide to IOE Entrance Examination : Everything You Need to Know

When should I start preparing for the IOE entrance?

If you have decided to attempt IOE (Institute of Engineering) entrance just after getting enrolled in +2, firstly focus on your course content. The majority of entrance questions will be asked from your +2 course content from subjects English, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. If you think, you require some extra help and counselling to crack the entrance exam, study at the institutes as per your wish. If you are well acquainted with your +2 course, then it won't be much difficult for you to specially prepare for entrance after your grade 12 exams as well. Just be consistent with your study routine. In short, good study during your 2-year Science Course is the main foundation of IOE preparation.

What is the marking structure of the IOE Entrance Exam?

You have 100 questions to solve within 2 hours. 100 questions comprise 60 (1 mark) questions and 40 (2 mark) questions. 1 mark question generally consists of English grammar, concept and memory-based questions and simple calculations involving different formulae. 2 mark questions comprise long questions. These questions include tricky and sometimes complicated problems. You may have to use more than one concept or procedure to solve these questions. Most students feel difficulty while solving 2-mark physics questions. You have to practise Physics Numericals to get the most out of this section right. You have to hit the right trick to solve it.  

How can I get a good score? 

-Get yourself sufficient study materials.
-Any 2 books of past questions will be enough for you if you practise thoroughly and wisely.
-Attempt weekly tests of the EngineeringDote app, which is free of cost. 
-Repeat the questions that you have mistaken while practising.
-As questions are asked from all chapters uniformly, never skip a chapter. 
-If you have a time limit to study all details of one chapter, grab the basic concept of it. Most of the time, a basic concept is useful rather than too many specific details.
-If you feel difficult to memorize, use the basic concept to make specific derivations.       Derivations are not much difficult if you have inserted theory in your mind.
-Know how to use calculator tricks to get maximum scores in maths. The IOE entrance exam will be less stressful if you have good calculator skills.

Is time management easy or hard in the IOE entrance exam?

As per the marking structure, you will have 51 seconds to solve a 1-mark question and 102 seconds to solve a 2-mark question on average. So, time management is pretty challenging.

Tips to solve 1-mark questions:

Memory-based questions do not consume time. So, study well and if you don't know the answer in more than 30 seconds, skip the question. In general, formula-based questions are asked to solve in this section. So, memorize the right formula and grab the values of physical quantities given in the question. Now, you just have to press the digits in the calculator and operate the formula. The answer is all yours. Grammar questions seem quite easy but they are confusing in actuality. So, it is better to re-learn the basics of grammar. 

Tips to solve 2-mark questions:

These questions generally involve more than one concept or formula. So, you have to be a little strategic while solving these questions. Sometimes, it might take more than 5 minutes to solve one question. In this case, you have to know the right tricks to check 4 options through the calculator. You can easily learn calculator tricks through youtube.

 
What rank should I obtain?

Targeting for a fixed score depends on one's priority. Before attending exams, be aware of the scores required for a certain rank. Always target the highest score of your potential. Cutoff ranks might vary each year.  Depending on your priority, you can target a score. 

What is the priority form? How does an applicant get admission on the basis of a priority form?

A priority form is an online form which is different for each college. This form is released only after the IOE entrance result is published. Passed students are supposed to get seats on a particular branch (for eg: Computer, Civil) on the basis of priority form. You will fill up your priority details there.

For example, You secured the 400th position at the entrance. While filling out the priority form for Pulchowk Campus, you chose Civil Engineering(Regular), Civil Engineering(Full Fee) and Architect Engineering(Regular) as 1st, 2nd and 3rd priority respectively. Here, your name will appear on the admission list in one of the three fields you chose. If your rank doesn't provide you with the first priority, it will automatically lead you to the second one. If you do not meet the rank requirement of 3rd priority, you will not be chosen for that campus in any of the branches. So, the choice of priority should be made with your utmost interest and by checking whether your rank comes within the cutoff rank. In that way, IOE will include your name in the admission list. There will be some chances of getting a seat in upper priority if a seat in your lower priority gets vacant.