CLASS 12 student Shreya Vardhan recently accomplished a feat by scoring full marks in SAT, TOEFL and Advanced Placement tests, which give students an edge during college admissions and scholarship applications. Her mother, Reena, says that she always taught her daughter to be focused towards her goal because then God made sure that she achieves it. The 15-year-old from DPS RK Puram shares her success and life mantras.
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SHREYA'S REPORT CARD:
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Q. How long did you prepare for these exams and which universities are on your radar?
A. I came to know about it through my friends at my school. I began preparing for it last October and gave exams in January this year. I have not decided on the university but I would like to go to institutions like MIT and Princeton.
Q. What was the key ingredient that helped you crack all the tests?
A. Reading over the years helped me a lot especially in the Critical Reading Section of SAT. It is designed to test how you read and understand.
Q. Tell us your study strategy?
A. I did not take any coaching. I think solving practice papers is very important. I tried to understand the pattern of questions, which helped me in scoring well. Apart from school studies, I set deadlines and made sure I finished a certain number of practice papers in a week. I also read related books.
Q. Wha’s your future aspiration?
A. I aspire to be a researcher in Physics, which is my favourite subject. I also want to become a fiction writer. I have already written some articles for newspapers and short stories for magazines.
Q. Who are your role models?
A. My parents, famous scientists like CV Raman, Madame Curie. Even some fictional characters inspire me a lot.
| Preparation strategies |
- Read a lot, not just for exams but to build general awareness
- Always be focused towards your goal
- Solve more and more practice papers
- Set deadlines and stick by them Understand the pattern of questions
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Q. What are your interests besides studies?
A. I like to play tennis; Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are my favourite players. I never miss their matches. I also paint and draw cartoons.
Q. What have been your other achievements?
A. I have been an NTSE scholar, and secured fifth rank in International Olympiad of Science in Class 9 and tenth rank in International Olympiad of English in Class 10.
Q. Your advice to students taking these exams?
A. Focus on what interests you. Read. And read everything with general interest. Set your deadlines and try to meet them. Solve as many practice papers as possible.
