DURING EXAM:

1. Believe in yourself. If underpreparation is the enemy, fear is its

sneering sidekick – and it’s up to you not to let either bring you down.
Avoid talking about the exam or reviewing with fellow examinees. You
already probably know everything you need to know about the subjects
by this time.
2. Bring the necessary accessories and requirements. Set your watch
15-20 minutes in advance. Use a pencil case to keep all supplies in one
place.
3. Leave the house early. Exam days notoriously cause traffic jams that
go on 'till kingdom come. Note the travel time from your house to the
test venue, and leave one to two hours before. Prepare to walk or run to
your test center to avoid the build-up of vehicles within the school.
4. Plan your pre-test meal ahead. Eat within the area or just bring your
own meal. There are too many things that could go wrong if you gamble
to commute from a restaurant to your testing center.
5. Bring fuss-free snacks. Many test-takers become so preoccupied
answering that forget to eat snacks. But if you do bring food, the last
thing you’d want to worry about is dusting off junk food bits from your
test paper or ignoring the smell of adobong pusit in your snack bag.
6. Take that restroom break. You may not think you need it at the start of
the test, but your bladder might change its mind just when you’re
struggling to convert grams to moles.
7. Use scratch paper wisely. Write down important formulas. List down
the letters of the alphabet and their corresponding number equivalents
(i.e., A = 1, B = 2, C = 3 and so on) for faster analysis in abstract
reasoning subtests.
8. Manage your time well. For each subtest, divide the number of
questions by the number of minutes allotted, and estimate how much
time you should spend per item. If you’re stuck, just proceed to the next
and return later.
9. Shade circles lightly or partially, then fill them in only after you’ve
answered all questions. The idea behind this is to finish all the
questions and answers in less time. This is crucial because after the
proctor instructs everyone to proceed to the next subtest, examines are
forbidden from returning to unanswered or unread pages.
10. Narrow down your choices. Unsure about a certain number?
Partially mark the two closest choices. Scribble important details and
possible answers on scratch paper, then refer to these notes before
finalizing.
 11. For reading comprehension tests, begin with the end in mind.
Read the test questions first then skim through the passages for the
answers.
12. For essay tests, keep answers straight to the point and
grammatically correct. Clarify whether the essay writing part has its
own time limit, or if it is included within the time limit of a subtest. Read
all essay questions first to anticipate the time it takes to answer each.
Stick to 2-3 important issues or arguments per topic, and make a
graphic or linear outline (not a written one!) before you write down your
final answer.
13. Leave no blanks.When in doubt or when you’ve ran out of time,
take a guess even if the test has a right-minus-wrong policy. You have
0% chance of earning a point if you leave an item blank. But if you take
a guess, you have a 25% fighting chance of being right – and
sometimes a little chance is better than none.

After the exam:

1. Ask the proctor all your questions regarding the release of results.
Confirm the school’s official information channels (i.e., hotlines, website,
social media) with the proctor. Ask for the month and week when results
are usually released.
2. Check your belongings. Make sure to bring your review materials,
especially if you have other forthcoming tests or if you know someone from
younger batches who may need them.
3. Unwind and treat yourself! Pat yourself on the back – there goes a
milestone in your academic life! No need to spend or leave the house to
celebrate, though. Something as simple as eating your favorite home-
cooked meal, reading a book you’ve set aside during review or binge-
watching your favorite series will do the trick.
4. You win some, you learn some. If the universe conspired to get the
outcome you wanted and needed, congratulations! You’ve just earned an
excuse to burn all those review materials (no, not really).

Celebrate the passing of the hurdle, but don’t be complacent. After all, it’s one thing to
be admitted into a school – but graduating from it is another ordeal entirely. Ditto for
passing a board exam and for the long, often bumpy road to being an excellent and
responsible practitioner.

“Whatever the outcome of the exam may be, all that you are and all that
you know is so much more than an exam score.”
Don’t lose heart if the results were not as favorable. Apply to other schools if you’re an
incoming high school or college student. Hit the books again for your second run of
review if you’re a graduate seeking licensure. You’re human and it’s perfectly natural to
be hurt, hysterical, disappointed and embarrassed – even angry – when things don’t go
our way.

Key tip: Once you receive the scratch paper, write down all the formulas
you think you might need (don't forget the quadratic formula!).

1. When preparing, mind the basics.

Review your high school subjects' notes, especially the formulas. Read up on current
events to help you provide substantial answers for the essay parts. Reading in general
also expands your vocabulary, and allows you to review the rules on spelling and
grammar, which would aid in giving clarity and coherence in writing your essay.”

2. Mind the circumstances around your test

“Get a good night's sleep,” Pat from DLSU advises. “Eat a filling meal before the test. Go to the
testing site early so that you don't stress your brain cells over the inevitable traffic. Consider the
weather and dress accordingly.”

Key tip: Brush up where you're challenged. If logical reasoning isn't your
thing, as a friend who's adept at it beforehand to share his tips and tricks.