7.30.2013
MANILA, Philippnes – Thousands of senior high school students from all over the country are set to take the University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT) on August 3 and 4.
Whicever way one views the UPCAT, passing a college entrance exam can be a nerve-racking experience. Knowing what to expect and preparing yourself mentally and physically are the keys to passing any exam.
Breakdown
The UPCAT is composed of four subtests in Language Proficiency, Reading Comprehension, Mathematics and Science.
The exam usually takes 5 hours to finish.
On average, only 10,000 students pass the exam out of an estimated 60,000 UPCAT takers annually. It's a fairly competitive exam that challenges even the most hell-bent on making the cut off.
The UPCAT results are just a part of the overall individual assessment score of a UP applicant--although a high UPCAT score certainly does help.
#TipsForUPCAT
While there aren’t any hard and fast rules to winning that prized acceptance letter from UP, there are certainly some helpful tips to prepare yourself for a less-stressful and hassle-free UPCAT:
1. Be there early and rested - UP advises that UPCAT takers come at 6:30am for the morning session and 12:30pm for the afternoon session. Make sure to get enough sleep the night before.
2. Carry a light bag - Bring only the following necessities: your test permit, two good quality pencils, rubber erasers, a sharpener, water and light snacks.
3. Do not leave any item blank - The test uses a correct-minus-wrong grading system. Instead, make an educated guess when you are unsure of your answer.
4. Manage your time - Try not to linger on a single question. All items in the test are graded equally.
5. Wear comfortable clothes - The last thing you want to be is uncomfortable during the exam. Bring a light jacket in case your testing room is air-conditioned.
Do you have other tips for this year’s UPCAT takers? Post them in the comments section below!
You can also send them to @Rapplerdotcom via Twitter and Facebook. Use the hashtags #MovePH and#TipsForUPCAT. – Rappler.com
