Tips in Taking College Entrance Exams

Before the exam. . .

Inquire about the coverage of the exam and review the subject matters to be covered.

Practice taking examinations under pressure.

Look for a review center that offers patterned reviews. This means that the review program is designed specifically for the exam of a certain school. This is important because every school gives a different type of exam in terms of coverage, level of difficulty and format.

Remember that in your review, it is not how long you review that counts. What really matters is that you review the right things, meaning those which will most likely appear in the exam.

Read and do practice exercises. Certainly, bits of information will be retained in your memory. These may come in handy during the exam.

Visit the venue of the examination. Familiarize yourself with the place so you will feel more relaxed during the actual examination. Remember to look for the comfort room nearest to the room assigned to you.

Pray. It really works!


The night before the exam. . .

Prepare your bag. It must contain at least six sharpened Mongol™ pencils with erasers, a pen, a sharpener, a small ruler, your test permit, and your ID. You may bring light snacks that you may eat during the exam.

Prepare an easy-to-read wristwatch (without a calculator function) that you will use to budget your time in answering the exam questions.

Prepare your clothes and shoes. Choose your most comfortable outfit.

Do not eat anything that you are allergic to or anything that can give you indigestion.

Do not sleep too late or too early.

Do not study 24 hours before the exam except to glance occasionally at your notes. You have to psyche yourself up, or prepare yourself physically and mentally.


On the day of the exam. . .

Before going to the exam venue, check if you have everything you need for the exam.

Be at the venue at least 30 minutes before the exam. This will allow you to relax so that you won’t feel tense and anxious during the exam.

Just before the exam starts, go to the comfort room so that you need not go while the exam is in progress.

Make yourself comfortable during the exam—sit properly and relax.

Read and follow the exam instructions carefully. Listen to the proctor well as he gives instructions. Turn off your cellular phone or pager as you enter the testing room.

Budget your time. Be conscious of the time limit but do not become too preoccupied with keeping track of the time. Work fast but carefully. Do not stay too long on one item. Skip items you find difficult. If you have time left, go back to them and review your answers.