ALEXOLOGY DAILY

What to study for the entrance exam? Check out tips to prepare!

Education / Date: 06-23-2025

Starting to study for the entrance exam is not a simple task: in addition to many universities still having their own admission model, the subjects are varied and the list of contents is extensive.

Still, this isn’t an impossible mission — even if you’re starting from scratch or deciding to study on your own. With organization and focus , it’s possible to prepare for the most diverse exams in USA. Want to know how? Keep reading and find out!

How to start studying for the entrance exam?

The first step for anyone who wants to start studying for the entrance exam is to decide which tests will be taken . This is important because each entrance exam has its own syllabus — that is, a list of subjects covered — and understanding it makes the whole process much easier.

Defining your preferred universities is also a way to save money . After all, educational institutions that have their own entrance exams usually charge application fees, and not everyone is eligible for exemptions.

What subjects are included in the entrance exam?

If you are looking for a list of subjects that are covered in all entrance exams, we warn you that there is no such list . It is impossible to define with certainty what to study for the entrance exam, since there are several tests, each with its own characteristics .

For this reason, we emphasize that reading the notices is essential to check which subjects will be covered and how . In general, the institutions responsible for the entrance exam publish the so-called syllabus in the notices : the list with all the subjects that will be required, in detail.

In general, the content will be based on what was studied during high school and the tests cover ten subjects : English Language, Foreign Language, History, Geography, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Biology and Writing.

How to study for the entrance exam from scratch?

If you don't have the habit of studying for college entrance exams yet, this task may seem much harder than it actually is. We're not going to lie: it really is a lot of work . But it's also true that you only need two things: organization and focus.

Well, organization, focus, and some practical tips . Check it out:

1. Make a study schedule

No matter where you're starting from, studying for college entrance exams always starts with the same first step: a study schedule . After all, it's a very important tool to ensure that you'll be able to cover all the important subjects without going crazy in the process .

Remember: a good schedule takes into account not only your other responsibilities (classes, work, homework, sports, etc.), but also your leisure time. It may not seem like it, but resting your mind is essential to improving your performance — so don't skip your breaks !

2. Observe the most requested content

As we explained, knowing which entrance exam to take is the first step in this entire process. And, considering that you have already done this research, it is time to determine what the syllabus normally requires.

For this step, keep it simple: make a list of all the subjects covered in all courses. Then, look at your study schedule and see if they are covered.

Take advantage of this moment to make adjustments and refine this study plan, making it even more aligned with your goals.

3. Focus on your area

Of course, all entrance exams need to assess candidates in all areas of knowledge, and it's obvious that you don't want to do poorly in any of them. However, let's be honest: not all subjects are essential for you to get into the higher education course of your dreams .

Courses are usually divided into three main areas , organized as follows:

The grades for each course also take this division into consideration. Thus, a student who wants to study Medicine should focus more on Biology subjects; someone who wants to study Law, Humanities; someone who wants Engineering, Exact Sciences. And so on.

To save time and effort, focusing on subjects in your field can be a good idea. Of course, you still need to study everything. But you can dedicate more time to the subjects that will really impact your final grade.

4. Practice writing

Writing is the only important subject for all courses , no matter what area they belong to. It is also the only test common to any entrance exam, regardless of the phase. In other words: it needs to be a priority .

And the best way to study writing is by getting hands-on . So, practice a lot — at least once a week, with as many different writing topics as you can find.

It may also be interesting to understand which genres and types of texts are usually required at your institution of interest.