The MSU-SASE is fast- approaching. Are you ready to slay your way into the Dakilang Pamantasan?
Entrance exams might be the next most stressful thing before college itself. Aspiring students spent ample time reviewing and preparing to shade the right circles to guarantee a ticket to the gates of their chosen university. In fact, examination day is often a scene filled with hopeful yet anxious faces, heads tilted to the ceiling, and pencils nervously tapping on desks.
As the MSU-System Admissions and Scholarship Examination (MSU-SASE) returns for this year’s edition, The Silahis Publication has prepared for you: a big bag of helpful tips and tricks on how to ace the MSU-SASE.
American cartoonist and illustrator, George Evans, believed that “Every student can learn – just not on the same day or in the same way.” We all have our own ways of preparing for the college entrance exams. These tips merely offer words of advice to help you navigate your way through the expected things to happen during the MSU-SASE, but ultimately, it is your will, determination, and your hard work that will define your fate in moving forward to ace the exam.
𝗧𝗶𝗽 #𝟭: 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁, 𝗱𝗼 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀.
Reviewing ahead of time is already a classic exam tip to follow, but what about last-minute reviews? A BBC article featured a study which suggested that 72% of its participants thought reviewing near the examination day has been beneficial, although it was largely attributed to familiarization and not actual learning. Nonetheless, it would still help you refresh your memory, especially on those topics you reviewed a while ago. As long as you do it not in the guise of cramming and a replacement to a comprehensive review, then surely it will supplement your extensive learnings.
𝗧𝗶𝗽 #𝟮: 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗠𝗦𝗨-𝗦𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀.
It is always a good idea to ask those who preceded you in taking the MSU-SASE for some advice that helped them pass the exam. These people have firsthand MSU-SASE experiences and stories to share with you, young and aspiring MSU students. Take their advice as blessings that would guide you as you create your own MSU-SASE stories and that would eventually lead you closer to being an MSUan.
𝗧𝗶𝗽 #𝟯: 𝗕𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗼𝗻.
Prepare your things a day before the examination day. One mistake that college examinees could make is to show up at the testing site lacking some important examination materials such as pencils, erasers, and exam permits. To avoid this mishap, you can take extra precautionary measures by preparing your things a day before the exam in a secured backpack and putting them somewhere you can easily see. Stock up valuable supplies like pencils, erasers, and sharpeners, as you will likely need them along the way. Especially for examinees from distant areas, the last thing you want to happen on exam day is to leave your most important things behind.
𝗧𝗶𝗽 #𝟰: 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.
Filipinos are very superstitious, especially young students. Almost everyone has their own superstitions and beliefs that they want to follow during examinations to attract good luck—wearing red underwear, kicking chairs after finishing the exam, and knocking on wood are some of the most common practices. Whether these superstitions work or are just products of the so-called placebo effect in psychology, these practices can be your coping mechanisms during a stressful time that provide you with a sense of security and ease, allowing you to focus on answering the exam well. Do what makes you feel comfortable and confident.
𝗧𝗶𝗽 #𝟱: 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗯𝘆 𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱.
Standardized exams usually consist of multiple choice questions, but do not underestimate them as they can still be quite confusing. The only way out is to not fret and trust the process of the elimination technique as it will help you narrow down your choices. This technique is simple— just eliminate as many of the obviously wrong choices as possible using your common sense and stock knowledge. It can also help you validate your understanding of the question and, hopefully, arrive at a more likely correct answer.
𝗧𝗶𝗽 #𝟲: 𝗗𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻’𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀.
As you take the exam, your head will start to hurt by the time you get to the middle and last parts of your question booklet. Lucky for you, scientific studies have shown that eating dark chocolate significantly helps your brain as it comprehends, preventing it from getting tired and mentally exhausted. A study conducted by Prof. David Kennedy of the Performance and Nutrition Research Centre at Northumbria University concluded that chocolates, especially those with higher cocoa concentration, can help in doing mentally challenging tasks. Speaking of food, try to bring ones that are not messy to eat. Hydration is also a must for examinees, but do not drink too much or you might need to go number one.
𝗧𝗶𝗽 #𝟳: 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.
Time is always scarce during examinations, but never rush your answers. Carefully read the questions, comprehend what is asked, and consider each option in your choices. Remember, the examination is not a race, and time is properly allotted for you to answer all of the questions. With that in mind, also be mindful of each second— don’t waste your time on questions that you feel are too difficult for you to answer. As most people quote, “Time management is the key.”
Best of luck, everyone!
Report by Duane Japeth Binas and Rodel Remolana
Graphics by Daffnea Marticio
Silahis Publication
