Tips for UPCAT takers

Raisa Serafica

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Taking the UP College Admission Test (UPCAT) can be a nerve-racking experience. Here are some tips that can help.

MANILA, Philippnes – Thousands of senior high school students from all over the country are set to take the University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT) on August 3 and 4.

For many, the UPCAT is a rite of passage of their final year in high school. For some, it is just one of the many college entrance exams they will take in the coming months. 

Whichever way one views the UPCAT, passing a college entrance exam can be a nerve-racking experience. Knowing what to expect and preparing yourself mentally and physically are the keys to passing any exam.

Breakdown 

The UPCAT is composed of four subtests in Language Proficiency, Reading Comprehension, Mathematics and Science.

The exam usually takes 5 hours to finish.

On average, only 10,000 students pass the exam out of an estimated 60,000 UPCAT takers annually. It’s a fairly competitive exam that challenges even the most hell-bent on making the cut off.   

The UPCAT results are just a part of the overall individual assessment score of a UP applicant–although a high UPCAT score certainly does help. 

#TipsForUPCAT

While there aren’t any hard and fast rules to winning that prized acceptance letter from UP, there are certainly some helpful tips to prepare yourself for a less stressful and hassle free UPCAT: 

1.   Wear comfortable clothes – The last thing you want to be is uncomfortable during the exam. Bring a light jacket in case your testing room is air-conditioned. 

2.   Try to visit your testing center prior to the exam. Find out where your building assignment is and which route will get you there the fastest.  

3.   Be there early and rested – UP advises that UPCAT takers come at 6:30 am for the morning session and 12:30 pm for the afternoon session. Make sure to get enough sleep the night before. 

4.  Carry a light bag – Bring only the following necessities: your test permit, two good quality pencils, rubber erasers, a sharpener, water and light snacks.

5.  Carefully weigh your guesses – The test uses a correct-minus-wrong grading system. You will get one point deduction for every 4 wrong items.  

6.  Manage your time – Try not to linger on a single question. All items in the test are graded equally.

Do you have other tips for this year’s UPCAT takers? Post them in the comments section below!

You can also send them to @Rapplerdotcom via Twitter and Facebook. Use the hashtags #MovePH and #TipsForUPCAT– Rappler.com

(Editor’s note: We rearranged the order of the tips. Thanks for all the other tips. Keep them coming!)


Exam taker image from Shutterstock.  

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Raisa Serafica

Raisa Serafica is the Unit Head of Civic Engagement of Rappler. As the head of MovePH, Raisa leads the on ground engagements of Rappler aimed at building a strong community of action in the Philippines. Through her current and previous roles at Rappler, she has worked with different government agencies, collaborated with non-governmental organizations, and trained individuals mostly on using digital technologies for social good.