PMA Cadet Entrance Test common mistakes
PMA Cadet Entrance Test · Understand the traps and how to avoid them.
Spending too long on one hard Mathematics item and leaving later questions blank or rushed.
The Mathematics section is timed and candidates often treat it like a school test where finishing every problem matters more than banking easy marks; a single multi-step algebra or geometry question can consume five minutes.
What to do instead
Practise with a hard stop of roughly 90 seconds per item. On the first pass, answer only questions you can finish quickly, mark the rest, and return with remaining time. Do timed drills of 25 mixed items in 30 minutes and review which items ate the clock.
Losing marks on word problems by solving for an intermediate value instead of the quantity actually asked.
Under time pressure candidates grab the first number they compute and move on; the final sentence of the problem is often read last and forgotten.
What to do instead
After computing, underline the question's final sentence and write a one-line answer statement naming the unit (e.g. 'cost per cadet = 45 pesos'). Build a habit of re-reading the last line before selecting an answer.
Choosing an English answer that sounds formal rather than the one that is grammatically correct.
Candidates rely on how a sentence sounds, and long, elaborate phrasing feels more academic; this is especially risky on grammar and usage items where the error is subtle.
What to do instead
For grammar items, isolate the tested structure (subject-verb agreement, tense, pronoun reference, parallelism) and test each option against that one rule. Practise 20 error-identification items per session and name the rule violated before choosing.
Running out of time on the reading passage because the candidate reads the passage twice before looking at the questions.
Passages feel dense and candidates fear missing detail, so they read for full comprehension rather than for the specific information the questions demand.
What to do instead
Skim the questions first, then read the passage once with those questions in mind, marking line references. Answer vocabulary-in-context items from surrounding sentences rather than from general word knowledge.
Mixing up mass, weight, and the difference between a chemical change and a physical change in Science items.
Everyday language blurs these terms (people say 'weight' for mass), and textbook definitions are recalled loosely rather than as operational tests.
What to do instead
Memorise decision rules: mass is amount of matter measured in kilograms and unchanged by location; weight is a force in newtons that varies with gravity. A chemical change forms a new substance (colour, gas, precipitate, heat) and is not easily reversed. Apply the rule to five everyday examples per study session.
Guessing at abstract reasoning items by overall pattern impression instead of testing a stated rule.
Abstract reasoning is unfamiliar to most candidates, who treat it as intuition; they pick the figure that 'looks right' without counting elements or tracking rotation.
What to do instead
Adopt a checklist applied to every item: number of shapes, sides, shading, position, rotation direction and step, and size. State the rule in words before choosing, then verify it against every panel. Do 15-minute sets and write the rule for each item during review.
Believing unverified current-events claims picked up from social media and answering General Information items from them.
General Information rewards accurate recall of names, offices, and dates, but candidates study from viral posts and comments rather than from primary or reputable sources.
What to do instead
Build a dated one-page fact sheet from official sources (government gazettes, agency websites, reputable news wires) covering the current president, vice president, key cabinet posts, and major recent national events. Update it monthly and test yourself on dates and exact titles.
Filling every answer sheet bubble before checking that answer numbers align with question numbers after a skipped item.
One skipped question causes a one-row shift that silently corrupts every later answer; candidates rarely notice until scores are released.
What to do instead
When skipping, mark the answer sheet at that number and confirm alignment at every page turn. In practice, simulate the real sheet and deliberately skip items to rehearse the check.
Ignoring instructions about the number of correct answers or 'choose the best answer' wording.
Candidates assume every item has exactly one answer and skim the stem, so they miss items asking for the best, the exception, or all that apply.
What to do instead
Read the stem twice, circling qualifiers such as NOT, EXCEPT, best, and all that apply. Practise with mixed-format sets so the qualifier becomes the first thing you look for.
Studying only content and never rehearsing under full exam conditions, so fatigue and anxiety degrade performance in later sections.
Sections are taken back-to-back and mental stamina drops; candidates who only do short untimed practice meet the real test with no pacing or endurance plan.
What to do instead
Take at least two full-length timed mock tests in the same section order with no breaks. Track accuracy per section over time, and build a test-day routine covering sleep, breakfast, and a two-minute reset between sections.