Downloads: 0
Informative Article | Mathematics | Volume 15 Issue 6, June 2026 | Pages: 85 - 89 | India
The Strategic Role of Mental Mathematics Techniques in High-Stakes Competitive Examinations
Abstract: The high stakes competitive examinations are used as main institutions' entry points for admission and job appointment in an academic and professional selection in today's world. They are almost invariably timed tests and candidates have to answer difficult numerical and quantitative aspects of the questions with at the same time fastness and accuracy. The paper discusses the strategic value of mental mathematics techniques with special emphasis on the methods developed with Vedic Mathematics, Trachtenberg speed systems and modern cognitive mental arithmetic methods in maximizing the performance of candidates. The cognitive mechanisms underlying these techniques are discussed; they are linked to working memory optimization, cognitive load reduction and the reduction of mathematical anxiety. Moreover, the paper investigates the efficiency of certain mental math heuristics in solving matrices from the standardized test papers to show the algorithmic shift from serial computational processing to parallel heuristic processing a candidate has to go through in mental arithmetic. In conclusion, we propose that structured mental calculation should be an integral part of the school curriculum in secondary and higher levels of schooling as a necessary precondition for being able to perform equally in present-day competitive testing environments.
Keywords: Working Memory, Quantitative Aptitude, Competitive Examinations, Cognitive Load
How to Cite?: Dr. Jini Varghese P, "The Strategic Role of Mental Mathematics Techniques in High-Stakes Competitive Examinations", Volume 15 Issue 6, June 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 85-89, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26530134727, DOI: https://dx.dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26530134727