ARE you excited to use your sharpened pencils and feel the buzz of adrenaline in the air? Are you expecting to feel some jitters when you enter the University of the Philippines campus? If you are, then it means you’re ready for the comeback of the UP College Application Test. 

Finally, the UPCAT will be back this 2023. This means hello once again to review centers, review centers, and cramming galore. 

I’m sure a lot of the would-be UPCAT takers feel overwhelmed–like you don’t know where you should even start. I know that’s how I felt. No matter how much studying I did, I thought it wasn’t enough; I could’ve taken every prep class and read every book on the test’s subject matter and I still would’ve entered that test center feeling unprepared.

When I took the UPCAT, I didn’t have any friends to guide me about what I should expect, or how I should prepare, and that’s something I wish I had. So to help people like me and future freshies to feel less anxious about the exam to come, I interviewed a few UP students to find out how they managed to make it through the UPCAT.

Prep for the exam

Sure, review centers can help you feel more prepared, but 3rd Year student Mark Noble said they didn’t really give him anything except a few nifty testing tips. 

“What I suggest aspiring UPCAT takers do is to review as early as you can,” Noble said. “Do not review everything in one go; do one topic at a time, then space it out. For example, topic one on Tuesday, topic two on Monday, and so on. Then after some time has passed, revisit what you reviewed before.”

He said this strategy will not overwhelm you with information, and the intervals on revisiting topics would ensure maximum retention.

3rd Year student Kristine Malonzo, on the other hand, said that going to a review center helped her immensely. 

“Review centers can help you answer the questions in the most efficient way possible considering the limited amount of time you’re given,” she said.

She also recommended the application “Zookal,” which is meant to help students when they review. 

“In my free time, I would just answer possible [college entrance test] questions on it, and it would explain why I got certain answers wrong,” she said.  

3rd Year Student Angel De Vera highly recommended the MSA reviewer books if you don’t know where to start studying, or if you don’t have the budget for a review center. Handwritten reviewers were also a must for her.

And of course, always remember that in times like this, the internet is your best friend. 

“I gathered resources from the internet where other students share their notes or Google Drive links,” said 2nd Year Student Andrea Kristin Ebina. “It’s also helpful to always do practice tests.”

And on the day before the exam, Ebina recommended that you take some time to relax. 

“Prepare your mind and body by resting. Eat and sleep well. Lastly, believe in yourself!” she said. 

On the day itself: don’t panic!

D-day’s finally arrived! What should you do? Should you stay up late and cram everything the night before? Freak out before the test? Not go at all!?

The answer is none of the above. Anxiety is normal, and it’s okay to panic, but you can’t let that consume you before you even manage to take the test. 

De Vera recalled feeling panicked during her time taking the UPCAT. 

“Na-overwhelm ako upon seeing the first questions, and wala akong masagot. So I went out sa CR to breathe and remind myself na kaya ko ‘to, tapos I went back calmer, and answered what I could,” she said. 

Malonzo said she didn’t study on test day and instead focused on calming herself. 

“On the day itself, I made sure that I had all my requirements with me. UP is really strict when it comes to these so it’s best to be safe. I went to the venue early and waited in line for about two hours before I got in my venue. The test is long so I brought food that was easy to eat and didn’t make too much noise,” she said. 

Noble advised students to trust themselves and the effort they put into reviewing for the test. 

“It doesn’t help if you’re panicky. Calm down. Think of it as just another quiz in high school,” he said.  

With regard to what they brought for their exam, Noble and Ebina say they were required to have their ID, pencils (no. 2), sharpeners, and erasers with them at all times. Ebina also said exam takers should bring water and a jacket. 

Noble said the applicants should answer everything in the exam. 

“Kahit right minus wrong ang scoring, mas advantageous pa din to answer everything than leaving what you don’t know blank,” he said. 

After the exam, don’t forget to treat yourself

“There’s not much you can do na,” Noble said. “Since usually bakasyon na din ‘to, or maluwag na sched, do something you love or are passionate about.”

Ebina said she immediately went out with her friends after her exam. 

“UPCAT anxieties are more bearable to deal with if you have a friend that empathizes,” she said. 

Malonzo said the UPCAT was the last test she took, and after that, she pushed the thought of college out of her mind. 

But it was not always easy to stay calm because there were fake UP pages claiming the results were about to be released. She felt nervous every night until she learned to ignore the unverified information. 

“I just eventually learned to block everything else and just listen to official announcements. Around that time, I also started looking into my backup schools in case I didn’t get in,” she said. 

Failing isn’t the end of the world

When your UPCAT results do come, remember that a failing grade doesn’t define you.

“Passing the UPCAT isn’t the end all be all,” Noble said. “Also take exams from other universities, kasi every institution naman provides a good education.” 

During the exam, Ebina remembered telling herself: “Whatever path the results may take me [on], whether I pass or not, I am still the captain of my soul–the master of my fate.”

Even if you do find that you’ve failed the UPCAT, the world is full of options. You can re-apply again, or shift colleges, or find another institution that may even be better suited for you. After everything, don’t forget to remind yourself that this is just another exam.