Master's Kankor cheat sheet

Mastery requires knowing core definitions, key theories, and the standard methods of inquiry in your chosen program field.

Organize each subject into concept maps linking definitions, formulas, and applications to improve recall under exam pressure.

Distinguish between descriptive knowledge (what a phenomenon is) and procedural knowledge (how to solve a problem in the field).

Prioritize high-frequency topics identified from official syllabi and past exam trends rather than rarely tested edge cases.

For each major topic, memorize one canonical example and one counterexample to test conceptual boundaries.

Use spaced repetition: review material at increasing intervals (1 day, 3 days, 7 days, 21 days) to counter forgetting.

Practice retrieval, not rereading: self-quizzing strengthens memory more than passive review.

Connect theory to real-world applications in your field; applied questions reward transfer of knowledge.

Track errors in a log categorized by topic to target weak areas systematically.

Analogies test relationships: identify the precise relation (part-whole, cause-effect, synonym, function) before choosing an answer.

Syllogisms: valid conclusions must follow necessarily; reject options that are merely plausible or true in real life.

Number series: check differences, ratios, squares/cubes, alternating patterns, and prime sequences in that order.

Odd-one-out: classify by shared property (category, parity, letter position, syllable count) and pick the item lacking it.

Coding-decoding: map letters to positions (A=1 … Z=26) and test shifts, reversals, and keyword substitutions.

Blood relations: draw a family tree with gender and generation markers; never rely on memory alone.

Direction sense: sketch the path on paper; net displacement uses Pythagoras for right-angle turns.

Statement-assumption: an assumption is unstated but necessary; if negating it destroys the argument, it is assumed.

Time management: allocate roughly 1 minute per aptitude item; skip and return to time sinks.

English grammar: subject-verb agreement, tense consistency, articles, prepositions, and conditionals are the most tested structures.

Reading comprehension: locate the main idea in the first or last sentence of a paragraph; answer only from the passage, not outside knowledge.

Vocabulary in context: infer meaning from surrounding words, prefixes (un-, re-, pre-), and suffixes (-tion, -able, -ous).

Dari/Pashto: distinguish homographs and correct ezafe/grammatical gender usage; watch for formal versus colloquial register.

Idioms and proverbs: memorize meaning rather than literal translation; both Dari and Pashto exams frequently test proverb completion.

Punctuation rules: commas separate clauses, semicolons join related independent clauses, apostrophes mark possession.

Active vs passive voice: identify the doer; passive constructions often hide the subject in exam distractors.

Translation items: preserve meaning and tense; literal word-for-word rendering often produces wrong answers.

Error-spotting: read the full sentence before marking; a later clause may correct an apparent earlier error.

Percentages: part = percent × whole; successive percentage changes of a% and b% give net change a + b + ab/100.

Profit and loss: profit% = (SP − CP)/CP × 100; discount is calculated on marked price, not cost price.

Ratio and proportion: if a:b = c:d then ad = bc; use unitary method for scaling quantities.

Averages: average = sum/count; adding a value changes the sum by that value and the count by one.

Speed, distance, time: D = S × T; for equal distances at speeds x and y, average speed = 2xy/(x + y).

Simple and compound interest: SI = PRT/100; CI = P(1 + R/100)^T − P.

Geometry: area of triangle = ½ × base × height; circle area = πr², circumference = 2πr; Pythagoras a² + b² = c².

Permutations and combinations: nPr = n!/(n−r)!; nCr = n!/(r!(n−r)!); use combinations when order is irrelevant.

Data interpretation: compute percentages from tables and bar charts; estimate first, then verify with exact calculation.

Afghanistan geography: 34 provinces, capital Kabul; major rivers include the Amu Darya, Helmand, and Kabul rivers.

Afghanistan history: key dates include independence in 1919, the 1978 Saur Revolution, and the 2001 Bonn Conference.

International organizations: the UN was founded in 1945 with headquarters in New York; the WHO, UNESCO, and UNICEF are UN agencies.

Capitals and currencies: match countries to capitals (e.g., Iran–Tehran, Pakistan–Islamabad, Turkey–Ankara) and currencies.

Nobel Prizes, Olympic hosts, and world leaders are frequent current-affairs items; verify the year before answering.

Science basics: SI units (meter, kilogram, second, ampere, kelvin, mole, candela); water boils at 100°C at sea level.

Islamic knowledge: five pillars, Hijri calendar starting 622 CE, and major pilgrimage rites are commonly tested.

Current affairs: review events from the past 12 months from reputable sources; note dates, names, and institutions.

When unsure, eliminate clearly false options; absolute words like 'always' or 'never' often signal incorrect choices.