Anyone preparing for college entrance exams knows that studying goes far beyond the traditional content learned in classrooms. To do well on this type of exam, especially in the essay section, a strong sociocultural background is essential.

If you want to know how to improve and expand your sociocultural repertoire to guarantee the best grades, check out our tips!

So, what exactly is sociocultural repertoire?

Sociocultural repertoire is the set of knowledge, references, and worldview acquired by an individual throughout life, through individual experiences. This involves different areas of knowledge, such as history, philosophy, sociology, politics, economics, health, culture, environment, among others.

Why is this important for the college entrance exam?

It is very common for college entrance exam questions to relate to the most relevant issues for society. Therefore, having a broad sociocultural repertoire favors understanding the exam and, consequently, increases the chances of passing. 

Furthermore, essays in this type of exam often address current affairs. In the ENEM, for example, one of the required competencies is... understand the essay prompt and apply their knowledge to the development of the topic. When you have a good repertoire, writing the text becomes much easier.  

4 simple tips to increase your sociocultural repertoire.

A student's sociocultural repertoire is built over time, adding their experiences to the content they learn. However, there are ways to enhance it through simple actions. Check out 4 ways to increase your cultural repertoire.

1. Read, watch, and listen to the news.

To broaden your cultural horizons, it is recommended that you follow the news daily and stay updated on current issues.

Thanks to technology, it's very easy nowadays to access information from Brazil and the world. To make this practice more dynamic, look for different sources of content, such as podcasts, infographics, and videos. On the other hand, you need to be very careful with fake news. This type of false news can harm your performance in... ENEM and in the college entrance exam. 

2. Watching films and documentaries

Nothing beats combining studies and leisure, right? Series and movie marathons can be an excellent way to prepare for college entrance exams. Just choose the right productions!

At this point, the tip is to research the most relevant current topics and look for related films and documentaries. You can also take notes and create... mind maps with the data collected. 

Here are some topics that may come up in upcoming exams: 

• Covid-19 pandemic;
• The challenges of distance learning;
• Global economic crisis;
• Elections in the United States;
• Deforestation in the Amazon and the Pantanal;
• Global refugee crisis;
• Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya
• Religious diversity;
• Violence against women;
• Urban Mobility;
• Political reform;
• Fake news.

3. Participate in discussion groups

This is an excellent way to learn! According to William Glasser, a famous American psychiatrist, we memorize content better when we actively participate in the learning process. This involves talking, debating, teaching, or explaining the subject to someone. 

Create discussion groups about current events with your colleagues. During this pandemic, meetings can be held online. 

These meetings generate new ideas, stimulate critical thinking, and help develop argumentation skills. Furthermore, before the meetings, participants prepare for the debate by gathering information on the topic and enriching their sociocultural repertoire.

4. Break away from the conventional.

You probably already have your favorite subjects. However, to do well on the college entrance exam, you need to break away from the conventional. Read about topics you've never read before, consume different types of culture, talk to people outside your social circle, and allow yourself to broaden your way of thinking. This way, your repertoire for the exams will be much richer. 

Expanding one's sociocultural repertoire is very important for those who wish to achieve the best results in university entrance exams and the ENEM (Brazilian National High School Exam).

If you are preparing for this type of exam, take advantage of our free download. E-book with 10 tips for a perfect essay score..