How Sofia Klak Aced the National Multisubject Test
A graduate from Lviv Lyceum No. 81 named after Petro Sahaidachny, Sofia Klak, has achieved an outstanding result on Ukraine's National Multisubject Test (NMT), earning a perfect 200 points in three subjects. She shared her preparation strategies, which included tutoring sessions, the Quizlet app, and the use of sticky notes and associations to improve memory retention.
Over the course of the year, Sofia worked with tutors in mathematics, English, and the history of Ukraine. For the Ukrainian language portion, her mother—who holds a degree in philology—helped her prepare. To memorize historical dates, Sofia listened to the song 'History of Ukraine in 5 Minutes' by the band TNMK. She also created interactive flashcards using the Quizlet app, which she described as a highly convenient tool for memorization.
“The Quizlet app also helped me a lot—you can make interactive flashcards there. It has various tools, but the most popular one is definitely the flashcards. They make it really easy to remember dates and definitions. For example, I used them to learn English vocabulary.” – Sofia Klak
Sofia also relied on sticky notes with reminders and definitions, while the method of associations helped her tackle complex topics. For instance, she noted that associative chains can be useful. She mentioned the Dorohobuzh Icon of the Mother of God, which test-takers need to know, and explained how her tutor suggested remembering it by thinking, 'Dorohobuzh' sounds like 'she sees the road,' because the Virgin Mary in the icon has large eyes.
Advice for Future Graduates
Sofia also offered tips for upcoming graduates. She recommends:
- Don't be afraid to talk to other test-takers before the NMT;
- Remember to bring a bottle of water to the exam.
“Of course, you need to try to pull yourself together. I was even more nervous before the test itself, but I calmed down when I saw the questions because they looked familiar—I had been preparing for them all year. That's when I realized there was nothing I didn't know.” – Sofia Klak
The NMT is the successor to the External Independent Evaluation (ZNO), which has been in place in Ukraine since 2008. The Ukrainian Center for Educational Quality Assessment (UCEQA) was responsible for developing and implementing the ZNO. This standardized testing system is a key part of university admissions in the country.
Sofia Klak's success on the NMT highlights the growing competition among Ukrainian applicants and underscores the importance of consistent preparation for the exam. The advice she offers can benefit future generations of graduates preparing for this critical milestone. Modern tools like Quizlet are becoming increasingly popular in education, opening up new possibilities for effective test preparation.
In addition to Sofia Klak's impressive achievement, another graduate from Lviv recently excelled in Ukraine's educational assessments, scoring a perfect 600 on the national exam. This highlights a growing trend of academic excellence among students in the region. For more insights into the remarkable accomplishments of Lviv graduates, check out this article on their recent successes in national examinations.