This is it! After months of weighing the pros and cons, the strain of deciding which school to call home for the next couple of years is nearing its end. All you have to do is to pass the UA&P Entrance Exam. Below are simple tips and tricks on how to best prepare for it.

Know your weakness and work on it.

UA&P’s entrance exam focuses on three aspects: English, Math, and Abstract Reasoning. Review the subjects several weeks before your scheduled exam day. Reviewing early means you get to refresh your high school lessons calmly (Say no to cramming!) and work on your weaknesses longer. Practice answering questions under time pressure. Aside from giving you a feel of how it would be during the exam day, this will also help you understand which section(s) of the exam you are most challenged.

Ready your things a day early.

Might break your pencils? No need to worry, you have brought lots to spare. Room too cold? You have your jacket with you. Running low on energy? You have packed your sugar stash to the rescue.

You do not need the stress of forgetting something looming over you hours, or even minutes, before your exam starts. Prepare everything the day before: pencils, pens, snacks, jacket, what to wear. If you are not familiar with the area, it might be a good idea to check and familiarize yourself with the testing venue a few days before the exam day.

Be early.

Head for the testing venue as early as possible to avoid the stress of being stuck in traffic, unpredictable downpour, or not finding your testing room on time. The testing venues, PLDT and Telengtan Halls, are found at the 4th and 5th floors of the APEC Communications Building (ACB), respectively.

Arriving early also gives you the extra time to get comfortable in your seat. Gauge the room temperature and maybe pull out your jacket. Place your pens where they would be most accessible for you.

Snack is life.

Eat like a king. A filling breakfast will help you focus more on your test. The exam will take about four hours to finish, and the intense brainwork may exhaust you. Bring chocolate bars and candies. These will help you gain some extra energy and keep you alert until the last item of your exam. Also, do not forget your water.

Manage your time.

Skim through the questions and skip the difficult ones. Do not spend too much time on one item. Answer the easy questions then go back to the more difficult ones. The goal is to answer as many questions as possible within the allotted time for each subject. Bring a watch to keep track of time and manage it better.

Get some rest.

Get a good night’s sleep. There is no use stressing over the test the night before the entrance exam. You have been preparing and studying for weeks. So, just relax, get some rest, and wake up refreshed ready for the day ahead.

The UA&P Entrance Exam for A.Y. 2020-2021 is scheduled on September 1, 2019 (Sunday). We wish all test-takers the best!