Study Smart: College Entrance Exam Preparation

Dun dun dun... college entrance exams!!

The dreaded college entrance exam is in three weeks and I don’t know about you but I’m already freaking out. The last thing I remember from review class is my review mate who finished a giant burger from Zarks. As if that would help…

My older sister is now a proud upcoming UP Diliman freshie and she was nice enough to give me study tips for the college entrance exams. Her way of studying might seem a bit too harsh but it was all worth it in the end. Heck, she passed every exam she took!

I hope this guide will be useful to you. I won’t post that frequently anymore since I’m preparing for college entrance exams myself.

God’s bless you on the UPCAT, ACET, DCET, and USTET =))

1. Allot 1 hour of review every day. After doing your homework, go through your old notebooks or review materials. Don’t allow yourself to go to sleep without reviewing for at least an hour. But if you’re too busy with afterschool activities…

2. Use the whole weekend as review day. Try to study for a good 12 hours, preferably 7 AM to 7 PM. After waking up, take a bath immediately, do some exercises for 10 minutes, then hit the books. If you really want to pass UP then you have to sacrifice your weekend plans. One of my teachers in MSA Katipunan suggested that we finish at least one of the seven modules each day.

3. Review with your friends. This is great if you and your friends went to different review centers. You will be able to share techniques and information that the other might not know.

4. Add a bit more importance to your course’s highlight subject. If you chose engineering (like me), brush up on your math skills and try to learn new techniques. If you chose pre-med, go through your science books and notebooks especially general science. If you chose business course, work on your history skills and read about current events (ehem DAP ehem). You get the picture.

5. Studying for 50 minutes then taking a 10 minute break is the most efficient way of studying. However don’t lie down on your bed or couch since you might fall asleep.

6. Snack smart. I recommend eating almonds or nuts since it’s a very light snack. Chewing actually boots your brainpower. Avoid sweets since the energy it gives you is temporary end you will feel lethargic after.

7. Don’t study the day before. Studying the day before will make you anxious and forget about everything that you studied.

8. Have a positive mindset. Before going to bed or after studying, imagine yourself in your first day in your dream school, walking in the hallway to your first class. Whatever we imagine sooner or later externalizes in our affair (The Game of Life)

“You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.” Psalm 128:2