Every year for the past 13 years, I have been speaking to parents to help them understand what their children go through in preparation for the UPCAT and other entrance exams, giving them advice on what they can do to help kids perform well.

The college entrance exam may be the most important test a person will take. The bar or board exams may be taken again if one fails, but UPCAT or the entrance tests of the other top universities can only be taken once.

Some parents think that a child who studied in a top school from pre-school to high school will automatically be admitted to its college. Wrong. Sometimes, only 60 percent of a school’s graduating class get into the college.

Top schools accept only the best in the whole country regardless of which high school they come from. The selection is based in large part on the entrance exam.

Parents who prioritize education provide ample guidance to their children in preparing for the entrance exams. The results of these exams will more or less determine the road their children will take.

Family support is very important. Show your child that the exam is important to the entire family so it will become important to him/her as well.

What can parents do?

The power of prayer is truly amazing so lead the family in a prayer for patience, concentration, and determination.

Prioritize college entrance tests over other activities. The college entrance exam can only be taken once.

Visit the venue with your child before the exam. Determine the best route to the building, but find alternate routes as well. Locate the comfort room nearest your child’s exam room.

On the eve of the exam:

• Make sure your child is well-rested and gets eight hours of sleep. Avoid activities that will tire him/her. Do not let the child sleep too early or too late. Lack of sleep ruins concentration while too much sleep can make him/her groggy.
• Let the child prepare his/her things—shoes, clothes, bag—for the next day. Girls with long hair should tie their hair during the exam. Long, flowing sleeves may get in the way. Dangling earrings, bulky bracelets and long nails may pose a problem during the test.
• Do not let the child study some more at least 24 hours before the exam. It is a mistake to push children to study until the very last minute before the exam.
• Watch out for weather bulletins, especially typhoon announcements; floods, transport strikes, political unrest and other unforeseen events. The UPCAT will not be cancelled even for storm signal No. 3, so you must have a back-up plan for getting the child to the exam venue.
• Make your child eat and drink wisely before and on the day of the exam. Do not give anything that might cause allergy or indigestion.

On the day of the exam:

• A quick shower will refresh your child’s mind and make him/her feel energized.
• Make sure the child has a good breakfast.
• Make sure he/she has at least six pencils with erasers, a small ruler, the test permit, ID, jacket, fan, snacks and drinks (if allowed), and an analog wristwatch.

The extra pencils are to make sure he/she has a spare when one breaks or when his/her best friend needs one.

The ruler will ensure that the child is answering the correct number. Halfway into the exam, his/her eyes may be too tired that he/she may overlook some questions.

Without the test permit and ID the child will not be able to take the exam.

The jacket will come in handy if the room is too cold. Make sure the jacket opens at the front so it can easily be taken on and off as needed. The fan may be useful if the room is hot.

Snacks and drinks must be easy to handle—nothing sticky, wet, big or noisy. Heavy stuff is also not advisable. Sandwich and juice may be sufficient though water and gum should be best.

Make sure the child wears an analog wristwatch to keep track of time. A digital watch may have a calculator function and will not be allowed.

• Advise your child to wear his/her most comfortable outfit. New clothes or shoes that have not been “broken in” should be avoided. The child may not be able to move freely in new clothes or shoes, thus affecting his/her test-taking.
• Make sure the child is at the venue 30 minutes before the exam. Being too early might cause anxiety while less time might make him/her panicky.
• Psyche the child up! Tell him/her to do the best that he/she can. But assure him/her that you will always support and love him/her no matter what the results of the exams are.
• Try to be with your child on the day of the exam. Many parents will be there waiting. It may affect your child psychologically if he/she thinks he/she is the only one whose parents are not there.

(The author is a recipient of the Working Mom Award and other honors from local and international organizations. She was recently named one of the Philippines’ 75 most admired persons. These tips are part of the three-to four-hour seminar Ahead Tutorial & Review conducts for parents.)