We’re living in times when the internet is already an essential part of our everyday lives.

That’s why your UPCAT and CETs preparation should be available online as well. Gone are the times wherein your preparation is limited to books and a physical classroom setting.

Plus, with the current issue of safety and health, preparing for the UPCAT using the internet has become essential.

A lot of physical review centers have started offering online reviews to catch up with the changing times. Furthermore, they were forced to offer online reviews because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

But is their program enough?

We at Review Masters have been offering the online UPCAT review program for 12 long years already. Because of this experience, we found out what an online program should have for it to be fully effective. (Just look at the thousands of passers we have year after year).

1. Must have an Online Review Portal

A winning online review program should have a review portal where you can log in and access reviewers. This gives you a hub where you can access all your preparation needs.

If a review center does not have one, you could hardly call it an online review program.

(The Review Masters Online Review Portal is a members-only site wherein you can access reviewers, video lectures quizzes and a whole lot more. You can create your free account here.)

2. Live Online Classes

Just like a physical classroom review, live classes are important for digital learners to have an opportunity to consult with teachers and interact with other students in real-time. A personal touch goes a long way, especially in learning and motivation and live online classes do the job well in the absence of physical interaction.

Look for review centers that also offer refresher courses on auxiliary topics like math techniques, test-taking tips, career guidance, essay writing, and abstract reasoning. Reviewing for the major subjects is important but the supporting topics should not be overlooked.

(The Review Masters Virtual Classes are live online classes conducted by Big 4 subject matter experts. These classes are highly interactive and very engaging.)

3. Recordings of the Live Classes

It would also be best if the live classes were recorded and can be viewed at a later time. With this feature, students who missed a class or would want to go back to a certain topic can watch the recording.

It would also be nice if the chat conversations of instructors and students are available in the recording so that the student who watches can follow the discourse and relate more to the topic being discussed.

(You can watch some of our Jumpstart Virtual Classes recording on our YouTube channel.)

4. Reliable Reviewers

For an online review program to be effective, materials and reviewers should be reliable. That means they should be created by competent authors and updated regularly. You do not want to use materials that are already old and stale for your preparation.

5. Mentors and Instructors who are experts in their fields

Instructors are an essential part of the review program. Their competency and expertise will dictate the quality of the review class.

It is very important that an online review center has instructors who are experts in their respective fields so that they can address the questions of students fully and the information they provide is reliable.

Be wary of some centers who get undergraduates as instructors. Yes they may be able to teach but they are not yet experts on the field. In my opinion, instructors should be at least college graduates before they teach in review classes.

6. Community and support group

Self-study is ok. But being surrounded by individuals who are also preparing for their entrance exams is better. A peer study group can ease a reviewing student from a lot of stress.

Having peer-to-peer support offers a sense of belongingness which can be very helpful when dealing with something as serious as an admissions test. Word of encouragement from friends, even just online, can help boost your morale and keep you going.

Moreover, reviewing is always more fun if you have your friends doing it with you!

7. Easily accessible across devices

Your online UPCAT review should be available across devices. With today’s flexibility of students to use different devices, a good online review program should not be limited by what screen size he or she has. The online review program should be able to adapt to the learner, whether he or she is using a smartphone, a tablet or a laptop.

8. Available 24/7

Because the learning setting is not limited to the classroom lectures where a strict schedule is set and followed, online review portals give students better access to their materials any time of the day, wherever they want to review.

This is a big advantage for those who prefer to learn in their own time, so enrollees can freely tweak their schedule depending on when they are most productive. They can answer practice tests, watch video lectures and access live class recordings

9. Start-to-finish review program

Aside from being available 24/7, a successful online review program should be end-to-end. The online review should not stop after the live classes. It should be able to support the student in his/her assessment, self-study, peer-to-peer interaction, live review classes, pre-exam conditioning, college entrance application and even up to wait listing and reconsideration.

10. Value for Money

The benefits that you get from an online review should be proportional to the fee you pay. You should be able to get a full stack review program at a reasonable price.

There are review centers who charge exorbitant fees for a subpar service. After the live classes, you get no further assistance from them in terms of self-study support, college application assistance and other auxiliary services.

(Review Masters offers the Online Review Platinum package. It includes live online classes, review books, review portal access and a lot of other exclusive content to fully prepare you for your UPCAT and other CETs at a fraction of the cost of other available programs out there. Check it out here.)

11. Designed for digital learners

The youth of today have grown up with the internet and devices. Thus, it doesn’t come as surprising that many of you learn better when presented with digital materials like practice tests, modules, and videos.

Online review materials should be specifically designed to cater to those who find themselves more productive in tinkering with digital options, so they don’t find the process of reviewing dull and boring.

In conclusion, be sure to choose an online review center that would fully help you prepare for the CETs, available wherever, whenever you need it at a fraction of the cost.

The post 11 Essential Elements of a Winning Online UPCAT Review Program appeared first on Review Masters.

We hope this finds you well and safe amid the COVID-19 outbreak. This  pandemic has affected all our lives in unexpected ways. 

Review Masters is one with the government in putting everyone’s health and safety of utmost importance. Hence, we have decided to postpone all classroom review schedules that are supposed to be held from May to July.

However, we believe preparing for the future should not take a step back despite the circumstances. It is our mission to help students prepare for their dream university, with or without pandemic.

Here are the steps that we’re taking to continue on this mission:

• Classroom Reviews. We are looking at the possibility of opening weekend classes this August. This is inline with the opening of classes on August 24 as advised by the Department of Education. Rest assured that we will observe proper health safety measures in our classroom reviews to ensure the safety of our students and mentors. We shall be sending an FAQ to our enrolled students in the following days. 

• 37 Tips Workshop. Plenty of our current and former students are also looking forward to the 37 Tips Workshop for its 15th year run. Sadly, we will not be holding the workshop at the SMX Convention Center and provincial venues this year. We will instead hold the first-ever 37 Tips Workshop Online. We’d love for you to be part of this milestone!

• FREE Online UPCAT Review. For the past 12 years, our Online UPCAT Review Programs have helped  thousands of students prepare for their CETs. We hope to extend this help to as many students especially during this time. Our FREE Access is still available to everyone and on top of this, we will also hold  FREE Virtual Classes starting this Saturday, May 9, 2020. Watch out for our announcements and share with your friends.

• PREMIUM & PLATINUM Online UPCAT Review.  You can already access our Review Portal and start your RM review journey. The first round of Virtual Classes will begin on May 18. See you then and join the new normal of review classes.

Should you have any questions, feel free to comment or send us a message anytime. We would love to hear from you.

The post Review Masters’ Official Statement on the COVID-19 Situation appeared first on Review Masters.

The COVID-19 crisis has affected our day-to-day lives and disrupted the way we do things dramatically. Staying at home for the moment is the safest way to avoid getting infected.

However, we will eventually recover and move on with our lives. And one thing is certain – there will be college entrance tests (CETs) in a few months from now. The UPCAT, ACET, DCAT and USTET are just around the corner.

The question is, “Are you prepared for them?”

At this moment you should have already started your preparation and review for CETs. Starting early is the key to your CET success. However, due to the current situation, the traditional way of preparation such as classroom reviews is not possible.

Here are 11 ways on how you can prepare for the UPCAT and other CETs without the need to leave the comfort and safety of your home.

Going Online

The internet is probably the best thing that happened to us humans, especially in these times that we need to stay at home. It has enabled us to do a lot of things such as shop, socialize, talk to friends and get updated with current events without leaving our spot. Being online enabled us to learn and study without going to a physical school of learning center. Thus we can use the internet to review and study for our CETs.

The first set of tips uses the internet to aid your CET preparation.

1. Download reviewers and use them

There are tons of reviewers available in the internet nowadays. Just one Google search and you’ll stumble on a plethora of online reviewers which you can download.

Aside from search, you can also get reviewers from the following sources:

• Facebook groups
• Reddit discussions
• Online friends

Review Masters has a set of free UPCAT reviewers available for download. You may get them here.

IMPORTANT: Did you notice the second part of the title of this tip? It says, “USE THEM”. Yes, you have to use the reviewers (obvious ba?).

I have seen students who just downloaded reviewers here and there and not use them for review and practice. They just collected and downloaded and kept it in their devices.   Sayang.

So I urge you to answer the reviewers you have downloaded. Please.

A word of caution about reviewers: Be sure to obtain your reviewers from legitimate sources. Most of these materials are still copyrighted. Authors can go after you for unauthorized distribution and reproduction.

2. Sign up to an online review portal/e-learning site

An online review portal or e-learning platform will greatly help you prepare for the test. E-learning sites such as these will provide you with the following:

• review questions and explanations
• video tutorials
• tips & strategies
• guides, cheat sheets, notes and other resource materials

The great thing about review portals is that the things you need on college entrance test preparation is all in one place. It’s a one-stop-shop for your preparation.

One example of this is the Review Masters Online Review Portal. You may sign up for a free account and you may also upgrade to unlock exclusive features.

3. Watch CET-related videos

Video is a great tool to refresh what you have learned in school and learn new things about the UPCAT and other CETs. Multiple studies have shown that video, specifically, can be a highly effective educational tool for learning.

There are tons of content about your high school lessons on YouTube. You may search for the specific topic you want to learn about and view it on-demand.

Review Masters has a YouTube channel with videos on CET tips and strategies. I invite you to subscribe to our YouTube channel here.

4. Attend live online classes

Videos are great. But what’s better for your CET preparation are live online classes.

With a live class, you can interact with your online instructor and classmates. You can ask a question and receive a reply right away.

Live online classes lets you experience hands-on teaching at the comfort of your home. You have your instructor, classmates and the lesson at hand. It’s just like your regular review classes: without physical contact (and with the given situation, you don’t want anyway, right?).

The Review Masters Online Review Platinum Program has the Virtual Classes. These are live online classes which let teachers and students learn and interact together through a virtual classroom. Read more about the Platinum program on this page.

5. Join online groups and communities

Wouldn’t it be great to prepare for your entrance exams with friends and other test-takers? Online groups and communities are great avenues for these.

By joining online group discussions, you can ask your peers about their course choices, review methods, application issues and whole lot of other concerns.

Also in these groups, some professors and experts chime in to assist students. Take advantage of these opportunities.

I invite you to join the Ka-TOURs (Tropang Online UPCAT Review) community on Facebook. Get to talk about CETs and learn with your peers and friends.

6. Consult with tutors, professors and experts

Being at home should not stop you from getting expert help on your CETs. You should use this time to catch up with your high school teachers and probably consult them about your college entrance plans.

If you have a personal tutor, it would be great to contact them, too. Ask them for tips and about their CET experience.

Aside from your high school teachers and tutors, you can also get help from experts specifically on college entrance exams. This is probably the best source of info that you should look for if you want to increase your chance of passing your CETs. These are professors and instructors who have experience directly with college entrance exams.

The Review Masters team is one such group of experts. We have been helping students prepare for CETs for the past 18 years. Personally, I have spoken to thousands of test takers and given them tips and gotten feedback from them.

Get to connect with the Review Masters through our online review program.

No internet? No problem!

Yes, we have the internet and all but that is not just the way to prepare for CETs at home. You can also go with the traditional offline review methods.

7. Review your high school notes

The UPCAT and other CETs are, of course, based on your high school topics and lessons. What better resource to use are your good ol’ high school notes.

According to scientific research, writing notes improves your memory recall. Since you are the ones who wrote the notes of your lessons, it would be easier for you to recall the things you studied in school and apply them in your CET preparation.

You can read your notes, answer again the given examples by your teachers and organize these notes into bitesize pieces by using index cards (we will discuss this in the tip #10).

8. Answer review books

There are books and reviewers available for sale in bookstores and online sellers. It would be best if you can secure your copies of these reviewers and use them for your practice.

You can buy the books from bookstores if you want a fresh copy of the reviewer. You can also order online.  I know of some groups who sell online and ship their reviewers to students.

If you want to save some cash though, you can just borrow available copies from your friends and upper classmen. Advantage and disadvantage though is that most probably, it has already been answered and there are already marks on the reviewer.

The Review Masters Platinum membership include physical review books aside from the online review. You can go to this page to see all the details.

9. Print and answer downloaded reviewers

Remember the reviewers you downloaded from the internet in tip #1? Now is the time to print them and answer them the traditional way.

Yes, you can answer these reviewer on-screen, however, you will get better practice if you answer them on paper. The act of writing down the answers and doing computations by hand will improve your performance during the test.  In the actual exam, you will use a scratch sheet and shade the answer sheet by hand anyway so it would be best to use your time at home to practice writing on paper.

10. Create cheat sheets, flash cards and index cards

Organizing your notes is a great way to improve your study habit and use of review time. Creating index cards helps you locate lessons more efficiently thus helping you maximize your review time. Plus writing your notes on index cards will help you recall those lessons, as we have discussed in the previous tip.

In tip #7, I told to review your high school notes. Writing them down on index cards will help you organize those notes and help you recall your high school lessons easier. Hitting two birds with one stone, right?

11. Pray, reflect and meditate

Your time at home is the best opportunity to get to know yourself more and think about your plans for CETs and college life in general.

Spend a few minutes each day meditating and reflecting on the choices you’ll make and the preparation that you will do.

Asking the Almighty for enlightenment and guidance will surely work wonders on your test results and life in general.

As we help flatten the curve while staying at home, I hope you do these tips for your UPCAT and CETs preparation. Yes, we can’t go outside like before, but we can still improve ourselves and do something positive for our college entrance test readiness.

The post 11 Ways to Prepare for the UPCAT and other College Entrance Tests Without Leaving Your Home appeared first on Review Masters.

The post Reconsideration, Waitlisting, Pending Case and Cut-offs for UPCAT 2018: How to Go About Them appeared first on Review Masters.

1. Procrastinate no more.

Wasting so much time doing trivial things, then cramming for your school assignments or projects during the last minute might just be too bad a habit to break. But hey, it’s about time you change your old ways of doing things. If you’re going to start the transition from high school to college, then it should be RIGHT NOW! A conscious effort of doing things ahead of time requires a lot of will power. But we’re pretty sure that it’s going to make things a lot easier and a lot better for you. Always invest the time to do your best!

2. Make having good grades a commitment.

It’s not about your parents being proud of you. Nor is it about proving to your friends (or enemies) that you can be an academically good student. It’s about doing the right and the best thing. This is why you are called a student – you attend classes to learn; and if you’ve truly learned, it translates to good (and sometimes, excellent) grades. Grades are not everything, but committing yourself to achieve better grades is an achievement in itself.

3. Refrain from doing everything.

We know that high school students are damn busy in a lot of extra-curricular activities: intrams, JS Prom, science projects, club committees, etc. Since the school year is about to end in three months, make it a point to know your priorities and choose to focus on just a few things so that you would excel in; instead of diluting your energy and time to doing a lot of things and produce only mediocre outputs. Come June 2012, as a senior high, you’ll no longer be “Jack of all trades and master of nothing,” but is instead a focused student who’s willing to stick to something and make the most of it.

4. Create a To-Be-List and a To-Do-List.

Start to think of your future career and of your future college course. If you want to be somebody – a lawyer, an engineer, or a doctor – then your actions must be in accordance to your dream profession. That is why aside from making a to-do-list, you must make a to-be-list, first and foremost. It will guide and inspire you in your daily actions as reflected in your planner or diary.

5. Review for college entrance tests early.

Since you’re already thinking of your future, you must prepare at the soonest time possible. Wait too long and you won’t get the necessary advantage over the other hopefuls who plan to take the same course that you want to. We must warn you that in the Philippines, admission to prestigious universities is a fierce competition. Kaya daig ng maagap ang masipag.

6. Research, research, research.

Google is your best friend here. Since you are about to take college admission tests in the early part of your senior year, you better start surfing the net to know the what, the where, the how, and the whys of taking the tough tests. From this site alone (www.upcatreview.com), you’re going to learn tons of helpful information about the entrance tests. So browse, click, read and enjoy!

7. Face new challenges with open arms.

Ending the Junior year and welcoming your Senior status means plenty of new experiences. Welcome those opportunities and believe that those new things will teach you and make you a better student. It will also be your chance to discover exactly what you want to do and to start narrowing down your interests. It’s high time to spread your wings!

8. Be excited about the transition.

You’re about to reach the pinnacle of your high school life. Aren’t you excited? You must consistently and constantly motivate yourself to be driven to do your best as you: learn new things, accept new responsibilities and think of your future. Have a great time in doing all these and enjoy the transition!

9. Listen to the experts.

If you’re still confused or uncertain about your plans regarding your future, please don’t just go with the flow. You shouldn’t just heed advice from your peers as they are likely as unsure as you are. The school’s guidance personnel are trained to assess your strengths and weaknesses and they can tell you your best career path to take. You may also ask certain organizations about the best schools and the best courses fitted for you. Review Masters offer free online career guidance for students like you.

10. Stop doubting yourself.

If you doubt your own God-given talent and your own skills and abilities, you will only hold back the possibility of achieving the things you want to achieve. Start believing in yourself and in your potential to shine. 2012 is going to be a very fruitful year for you – just erase all of your doubts.

HAPPY 2012!

The post 10 New Year Resolutions for Third Year High School Students appeared first on Review Masters.

What is the ACET?

The ACET, or the Ateneo College Entrance Test, is a test requirement for admission to the undergraduate program of the Loyola Schools of the Ateneo de Manila University.

Is it hard?

Yes. You really have to prepare well for it.

But they say it’s the hardest college entrance test in the Philippines…

The questions for the ACET are skewed for above-average students, and the test is conducted under time pressure.

Above-average? But I think I’m just an average student..

Don’t get me wrong. When I say above average, I do not mean you need an IQ of 200 to pass. If you prepare well, and take the test well, you’ll do well.

Time pressure! I’ve heard about that. Is it true that the ACET isn’t designed to be finished?

It isn’t designed to be finished. That’s true. However, the ACET CAN BE FINISHED.

How much does the ACET figure in deciding my Ateneo application?

Quite a lot. Of course, the Ateneo also looks at your high school grades, recommendations and your essay. A high ACET score helps your case a lot, though.

What about my essay?

Your Ateneo application form has an essay question.

Be truthful and candid. Make yourself known. Shine.

What sort of questions does the ACET have?

The ACET has multiple-choice questions only. They ask you to bring pencils so you can shade little circles. The test is fed into a scantron-thing as far as I know.

Is there an essay portion?

There is an essay part to test your writing ability and coherence of thought.

How many questions are there in total?

This varies from year to year. Besides, you will not need to keep track of how many questions there are.

Are the items right-minus-wrong?

No.

Is there a section in Filipino?

None.

How do I prepare for the ACET?

You mean you haven’t prepared yet? Then what were all those years in lower, middle, and high school for? Seriously speaking, taking a college review seminar or buying one of those tester books won’t really mean anything unless you have a decent background already. In my opinion, preparation for the ACET is predicated on sufficient preparation PRIOR TO APPLYING TO THE ATENEO (meaning, before you even get your application form).

Are we allowed to bring scratch paper and calculators to the ACET?

Scratch paper will be provided. Calculators and other electronic devices are not allowed.

What will I need to bring?

You’re usually told what to bring to the testing date (pencils, ballpens). Please read the exam permit given to you upon registration.

Can I bring snacks?

You may, but you can take them only during the break. I recommend food which keeps you awake (since the ACET is pretty tiring to take) or relaxes you. I remember bringing Oreos and a bottle of mineral water. Some friends brought chocnut or chocolate or peanuts. I don’t recommend bringing soda, since it can make your stomach go bad, which is something you will not want to happen during the ACET.

Who can I bring with me?

Aside from yourself? Anyone. Of course, you’ll have to leave them once you enter the testing area.

What do I do before the ACET?

• Relax. CEASE STUDYING at least 24 hours before your testing day. Any brushing up you may do within that time frame may interfere with your long term memory (which is what I hope you’ll rely on when you take your test).
• Eat a bit. It’s hard to take the test on an empty stomach. Don’t eat too much, though.
• Go do your business (read: visit the bathroom). Enough said.
• Get well-rested. This means no late night partying, hanky-panky, strenuous activities before testing day. You’ll need the energy.
• Pray. This helps, honestly.
• If it’s entirely possible, drop by the Ateneo de Manila’s Loyola Heights campus and take a tour. Use this image as motivation.
• Come on time. Traffic is terrible! You don’t want to give extra stress on yourself by coming in late.

What do I do during the ACET?

• Do not go to sleep while taking the test. Do not go to sleep while taking the test. Do not go to sleep while taking the test. (Ad infinitum)
• Do not get stuck on one question. Skip it, move on, and then come back for it. You’ll be pressed for time. But be careful in answering. Make sure you are shading the right number.
• Pause from time to time to review your answers.
• Keep track of the time using a watch IF AND ONLY IF you will not scare yourself out of your wits once you see how fast time can fly, otherwise look at the board for time remaining.
• Follow your proctor and whatever instructions there are in the booklet, especially those that tell you to stop at the end of a section. Going on ahead to the next section is unfair, and you just might get sent home for doing that (this will of course render your application forfeited).
• You will be given a bathroom break. Therefore, resist any irrational, most probably-psychologically-induced urge to urinate, etc. During your bathroom break, relax. If you smoke, sorry, smoking isn’t going to be allowed.
• Do your best to do well.

What do I do after the ACET?

• Resist the urge to scream. You can do that once you leave the testing area (and will be met with more screaming test takers).
• Try going around the Ateneo campus. This place might be your home for the next four years!
• If you want to find a place to eat, the Katipunan area’s got a whole slough of places, ranging from Filipino to Japanese to Italian food. There are also several fast food places. Cafes are also in the area.
• Shopping and recreation centers are pretty near. The Ateneo campus is around 15 minutes from Eastwood in Libis, 20 minutes from Ortigas, and maybe 30 minutes from Makati. It’s also just a train ride away from Cubao’s Gateway Mall and Araneta Coliseum (where the Ateneo Blue Eagles may be winning a UAAP basketball game!)
• I really recommend heading for a Church and saying thanks to God for getting through the ACET without too many emotional or psychological scars.
• Finish the rest of your senior year in high school trying to learn, and trying to finish well. Your final marks will be needed later.

Source: http://www.admu.edu.ph

The post The Ateneo College Entrance Test FAQ’s appeared first on Review Masters.

If you’re taking this year’s UPCAT, what should you do and not do the day right before the exam?

One day before the UPAT, you should NOT DO ANYTHING RADICALLY DIFFERENT than you’ve done in the prior days.

Cramming is particularly ineffective for an exam such as the UPCAT, which requires that you be comfortable in and assured with the techniques that you’re using to answer each UPCAT question.  Losing sleep, trying to introduce new things, adding too much to your schedule and other common errors are more likely to decrease your confidence going into the UPCAT and increase your susceptibility to distraction during it than they are to have the desired result.

If you’ve followed a consistent and well-conceived UPCAT review program over the last 8-12 weeks, you’re as ready as you can be.  Whatever score you attain is one you should be proud of.  If you haven’t followed a solid program, there’s not much you can do in the last day to correct that. The most you should have to do in the day prior to the exam is fine-tune some content- or focus-techniques.  You should not overhaul any area of your preparation.

You should do just enough to keep your head in the game for the next day.

Football teams don’t have full-contact practices the day before the football game.  Similarly, you shouldn’t shift into high gear for the UPCAT at this stage; indeed, the opposite is better.  You understand what you understand, you have the techniques you have, and an extra day isn’t going to matter.  In fact, hard preparation the day before the test is usually counterproductive; it can induce panic, uncertainty in your techniques, and just generally wear you out so you’ll be less rather than more fresh on the one day that actually matters.

You should, in other words, follow the schedule for the day before the exam that you established weeks ago; seldom do adjustments to a well-conceived plan help.  Review no more!

If there’s not much content work that will be productive, there are still a few UPCAT-related activities that can help lock you in to do the best work you can do (aside from the obvious getting enough sleep, having sensible meals, etc.).  Hopefully, there’s nothing here that you haven’t been doing regularly during your UPCAT preparation, but it’s useful to remind yourself of them now (and on exam day).

There’s a simple fact and two general rules.  The fact: most UPCAT takers fail in the UPCAT.  That can’t be content-related, which is why Review Masters’ UPCAT preparation programs are structured to maximize exam-day test-taking from the start, so that content and exam day execution (which differs from non-exam day execution) are always integrally related.

The two rules that follow from that fact: first, no surprises; second, the only thing that matters to you while taking the UPCAT is the question in front of you.

To help minimize surprises, you should review UPCAT rules carefully the day before the exam (if you haven’t already).  They’re available here.  You should have your UPCAT materials ready at least 24 hours before you’re leaving for the UPCAT.

The second rule, focusing only on the question in front of you, has a lot of UPCAT exam day implications, a few of which follow.

Before the exam, it’s helpful to be thinking about one or two types of questions that have given you trouble and drill yourself on how you’re going to approach them (here, the “question in front of you” is the first question on the exam).  If you’ve had issues in certain parts of certain sections (for example, you’ve tended to lose focus in the last half of sections, had trouble getting started in sections, or had difficulty recovering concentration after a difficult question), focus on those.

There’s often a lot of milling around and yakking before the exam, and you should not participate.  Find a quiet corner and occupy it.  There’s plenty of time to catch up with people after the exam is over.  But in fallow times on exam day, all the chatter is a distraction from what you’re there for, which is getting your highest UPCAT score.

There’s also a registration gap, including filling in your demographic and test information.  All the time you’re doing that, or waiting for others to finish, you should be thinking about approaches to certain types of questions on the exam.

During the exam, there will be distractions.  Simple as that.  The person next to you may be irritating, there are people who try to depress other takers, the proctors may be loud or walk around, their time cues may be inconsistent, etc.  You need to tune those distractions out and focus on the question in front of you.  You should have developed and refined specific techniques to do that during your UPCAT review, so just remember to use them.

You’ll also need to avoid self-distractions.  One of the most common is constantly reminding yourself of whatever you believe the significance of your UPCAT score is.  It won’t help you to keep thinking, I’ve got to do well, I’ve got to do well, my future’s on the line, etc.  That will prevent you from getting your highest UPCAT score.  To do your best on UPCAT exam day, concentrate on the question in front of you.

Still, you will lose focus at various times during the UPCAT, and you’ll need to recover that focus.  I’ve talked in the past about some rituals to do that. But here’s the point: not only does nothing around you matter, but the last question and the last section don’t matter either.  You’ve done what you can do, and there’s no percentage in missing the question in front of you because you’re still thinking about a prior question.

A special note on time cues: during UPCAT, when the proctor notes time, there’s generally a mad shuffle of papers.

That indicates a loss of focus among many takers. You should understand the significance of those cues (and your own cues when occasionally you check your analog watch) and use them to refocus.  If the proctor gives a 10-minute cue, you still have ton of time to do great work.  Often, it helps to think, ok, just focus for the next 10 minutes. Then, the cue isn’t a distraction but a refocusing opportunity. Even a minute left, even 30 seconds, is enough time to do some accurate work.  At 10 or 15 seconds, well, maybe not, and you should fill in the remaining ovals on questions you’re not going to get to.  And then forget about it as you turn to the next section.

Above all else, keep it simple and don’t panic—every bit of energy not focused on the question in front of you not only wastes energy that you’ll need for hard questions but decreases both your speed and your accuracy.  If your preparation has been effective, you should be able to obtain an UPCAT score at your top practice range—it’s not luck, nor is it (beyond a certain minimal level) “intelligence” that will get you your best UPCAT score.  It’s always knowing what the next step is and calmly and efficiently executing it.

So, be calm and be efficient!  Not as inspiring as “Good luck!” perhaps, but it is what you actually need to do.

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The post Some Final UPCAT Reminders for the Day before the UPCAT (and Best Wishes to this year appeared first on Review Masters.

Well, here are a number of different reasons why reviewing 2 days before the UPCAT stinks:

1) The UPCAT is not the same as your long test or periodical exam in school.

Yes, you can cram for your school tests because you’re only studying a month’s worth of lessons. In the UPCAT, you need to consider three years worth of high school lessons, topics, concepts, formulas, and the list goes on.

2) You can’t be smarter in a matter of 2 days or one night.

So avoid information overload. You’ve studied high school in the past three years, right? If you failed to prepare for the UPCAT in the past months, consider your three years in high school as your best preparation for the UPCAT.

3)  If ever you’ve prepared long enough (say, starting last summer vacation), then there’s really no need to have a last-minute review.

It would just be so unfortunate if you’ll lose all those hard work and effort to prepare for the UPCAT just because you’ve forced yourself to gain a little more. That little gain may translate to big loss and you might turn out to be the UPCAT’s biggest loser!

4) There is real danger when you try to study more.

Your confidence that you’ve built may just erode in a snap especially when you encounter hard questions during your last-minute cramming. Those difficult questions (which is only 20% of the UPCAT) will increase your test anxiety – which is the number one killer in college entrance tests, especially the UPCAT.

5) I couldn’t have said it any more simpler. It doesn’t work, no matter how good you can absorb information, it simply doesn’t work!

A recent study by Jeffrey Ellenbogen of Harvard Medical showed that students who were given rest the night before could recall 76% of the test material while those who had gone without shut-eye only remembered 32%. Statistics are very powerful and convincing.

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The post 5 Reasons Why Reviewing Two Days Before The UPCAT Is Bad appeared first on Review Masters.

Test Permit. Whether you register for the UPCAT online, in person, or  through snail mail or the faster delivery service, you should have received your UPCAT Test Permit, and you must take the Test Permit with you to the test center. Your Test Permit contains the following pertinent information: identification number, place, date and time of your UPCAT, PIN, your full name, high school name and address. It also contains your 2 x 2 photograph that you submitted when you filed your UPCAT Forms.

Make sure to affix your signature and indicate your date of birth in your Test Permit.The place in your Test Permit is a reporting address. UPCAT takers are responsible for obtaining directions and arriving at the test center at the reporting time. At centers where multiple rooms or buildings are used, the address will be a centralized location. You will be directed from there to a specific testing room or building.

For the morning administrations of the UPCAT, examinees are required to be at the test center no later than 6:30 am. For the afternoon UPCAT, examinees are required to be at the test center no later than 12:30 pm. Refer to your UPCAT Test Permit for the exact test date and reporting time.

NOTE: Examinees should expect the test day to cover up to five hours.

Identification. All examinees must have one current, valid school ID containing a recognizable photo and your signature. Your first and last name on your ID must match exactly the name on your UPCAT Test Permit. If your school hasn’t yet issued your ID for the current school year, an old ID will do. Acceptable forms of ID include passport book and student driver's license.

Pencils. Bring to the test center three or four sharpened No. 2 or HB wooden pencils—with good erasers. Mechanical pencils, ball-point pens, and sign pens are prohibited. All answers must be recorded on your UPCAT answer sheet in pencil. Pencils or sharpeners will not be supplied at the test center.

Items Allowed in the Test Room

UPCAT takers may bring into the test room only the following items: UPCAT Test Permit; valid ID; wallet; keys; analog (nondigital) wristwatch; medical or hygiene products; #2 or HB wooden pencils, erasers, pencil sharpener (no mechanical pencils); tissues; and beverage and snack.

Items Allowed on the Desktop

UPCAT takers may only have tissues, ID, wooden pencils, erasers, a pencil sharpener,  and an analog (nondigital) wristwatch. No electronic devices are permitted. Neither are timers of any kind except analog wristwatches.

Items Prohibited at the Test Center

You may not bring into the testing center any of the following:

• electronic timers of any kind
• digital watches, alarm watches, beeping watches, calculator watches
• cell phones, pay phones, beepers, pagers, personal digital assistants (PDAs)
• personal computers
• calculators
• photographic or recording devices
• listening devices
• headsets, iPods, or other media players
• books, dictionaries, papers of any kind
• rulers, slide rules, compasses
• mechanical pencils
• earplugs
• weapons or firearms

IMPORTANT: Electronic devices, including cell phones, are not permitted in the test center, and the use of any electronic device is strictly prohibited. Any UPCAT taker, during the UPCAT discovered using an electronic device, including but not limited to cell phones, pay phones, pagers, iPods™ or other media players, or personal computers, will be disqualified from continuing the test. UPCAT and test center staff assume no responsibility for personal items.

TEST CENTER REGULATIONS

No latecomers. Ordinarily, examiners shall not admit anyone after testing begins. So please come on time.

Seating. The examiner will assign each examinee a seat. Examinees are not permitted to choose their own seats, rooms, or building.

Test administration. The examiner will tell you when to start and stop work on each separately timed section. Blackening of answer spaces on your answer sheet must be done before time is called for any given section.

Time. Examiners will keep the official time. You may take an analog (nondigital) wristwatch to the test center. No other timers—including electronic and countdown timers—are allowed.

Proctors. Proctor(s) will circulate throughout the testing room to ensure that examinees are marking their answer sheets correctly and are working in the appropriate section. The Examiner will write on the board a ten-minutes-remaining warning for each section.

Recording answers. All answers must be recorded on your answer sheet using a No. 2 or HB pencil. Answers recorded in the test booklet will not be scored (In fact, you are not allowed to write anything on the test booklet). Do not make stray marks on your answer sheet or record answers in your test booklet. You will not be permitted time after the test to clean up your answer sheet or transfer answers from your scratch sheet to your answer sheet.

Scratch paper. Scratch paper is not permitted. (Scratch paper will be provided at the test center.)

Food and drink. You may eat your snacks anytime during the test.

No Rest break. There will be no snack or rest break. All test materials will be collected by the Proctor before an examinee is allowed to go to the comfort room. Only one examinee at a time can leave the room.

Leaving the room. If you find it necessary to leave the room during the test, raise your hand and obtain permission from the Proctor. Your test materials will be collected and held until your return. You will not be permitted to make up the time.

Misconduct/Irregularities. Examiners will report to UP Admissions any misconduct/irregularity that occurs during the administration.

Testing materials. All testing materials, including test booklets, answer sheets, and UPCAT answer sheets are the property of the UP Admissions and must be returned to the test center Examiner before dismissal from the test center. Under no circumstances may test content or any part of the test be removed or reproduced.

Left-handedness. UPCAT Examiners attempt to accommodate left-handed test takers. However, UP Admissions cannot guarantee special desks or tables for you.

Creating a disturbance. Disruptive behavior in any form will not be tolerated. The UPCAT Examiner has sole discretion in determining what constitutes disruptive behavior. The UPCAT Examiner is authorized to dismiss from the test center any UPCAT taker who creates a disturbance.

RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF TEST TAKERS

When you take the UPCAT, it is your responsibility to report all instances of suspected cheating on the part of any test takers and any other inappropriate behavior that becomes known to you. In addition, you should respect the ownership of and intellectual property rights of UP Admissions in all test items and test materials, and understand that any violations of UP Admissions’ intellectual property rights could lead to cancellation of your score, prosecution in accordance with applicable law, or the pursuit of other remedies by UP Admissions.

You are an important part of protecting the UPCAT and ensuring a fair test environment. Cheating impacts everyone. If you believe that you have information about actual or potential test security violations, please contact UP Admissions immediately.

MISCONDUCT AND IRREGULARITIES

If you engage in any misconduct or irregularity during the UPCAT—such as creating a disturbance; giving or receiving help; working on or reading the test during a time not authorized by the Examiner; removing test materials or notes from the testing room; taking part in an act of impersonation or other forms of cheating; failing to follow the directions of test center staff; or using books, ear plugs, rulers, papers of any kind, or other aids—you may receive a warning, or be dismissed from the center, or have your test score canceled by UP Admissions and may be subject to other penalties for misconduct or irregularity.

WARNINGS

UPCAT takers who violate UPCAT test center regulations, including but not limited to those listed below, will also be subject to a warning, dismissal from the test center, and/or cancellation of their test score by UP Admissions.

Possible Test Center Violations

• Attempting to take the UPCAT for someone else or having someone else take the UPCAT for you.
• Failing to provide acceptable identification.
• Obtaining or attempting to obtain improper access to the UPCAT, a part of the UPCAT, or information about the UPCAT.
• Creating a disturbance. (Disruptive behavior in any form will not be tolerated; the UPCAT Examiner has sole discretion in determining what constitutes disruptive behavior.)
• Removing or attempting to remove test content from the test center.
• Bringing a weapon or firearm into the test center.
• Leaving the test center vicinity during the test session. UPCAT takers may not leave the building or the floor where the test room is located.
• Leaving the test room without permission.
• Using any Electronic Device during the test

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The post Day of the UPCAT appeared first on Review Masters.

1) Reducing silly mistakes.

Here you CAN really improve because you want your common mistakes to be top of mind on August 6 or 7.

Do take a practice test this weekend (e.g. Review Masters Simulated UPCAT), but don't study anymore from August 1 to 5.

Take time to determine which questions trapped you and WHY they did. Any silly mistakes that you tend to make or systematic mistakes (assuming something about a variable; answering the wrong question; etc.) you can probably eliminate by just noting those on your notebook. Make sure that during UPCAT, you avoid those "common mistakes".

2) Reminding yourself of the best test-taking strategies.

Think of the thought processes that lead to success for you and drill those into your mind. "In Math, I can find the solution faster by working backwards"; "for Reading Comprehension I need to read the questions first before reading the passage"; etc. Focus on the thought process and that will be your guide on the UPCAT.

3) Sustaining confidence.

The above strategy helps because you're reminding yourself that you do most things well. And please stay away from new practice sets the day or two before the BIG day so that you don't accidentally hit that rough patch of monster questions that makes you doubt everything you ever knew.

4) Resting and relaxing.

The UPCAT is an endurance test – you'll spend over 4 hours at the test center. Don't do any heavy lifting the day before. Relax your mind, get some sleep, and remind yourself that you've worked hard for this…UPCAT day is the victory lap!

Don’t underestimate the power of a clear mind. “Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose”.  

Being mentally prepared for a task and ‘clear eyed” with a rested, relaxed mind will provide you your best chance for success on the UPCAT.  In the final 48 hours before you take the UPCAT, you’re not going to learn anything new that revolutionizes your score (unless, of course, you’ve only reviewed for a week, in which case thanks for using a few minutes of that precious-little-time you spent reviewing to read this note!). 

You can do yourself some severe damage if you’re cramming in another practice test or pulling an all-nighter with your “10,000 vocabulary words” list (boy, I hope that doesn’t exist, but I fear that it does…) and blowing your chance to rest and build confidence.  In that last day before the  UPCAT, rest assured that you won’t “give back” to the UPCAT any of the points you’ve earned through hard review – you won’t succumb to silly mistakes or poor pacing.

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