The best (and funniest) #UPCATTips
Every August, thousands of graduating high school students take the University of the Philippines Admission Test (UPCAT), which has a reputation of being the most difficult college entrance exam.
Also every year, social networking sites become rife with tips on how to best take the entrance exam to the country's premiere state university, from those who have taken the UPCAT themselves.
#UPCATTips was a trending topic on Twitter in Metro Manila Friday, the eve of UPCAT weekend, with netizens posting friendly and sometimes funny advice for “iskolar ng bayan” wannabes.
Many of the tips reminded examinees to bring the following on UPCAT day: examination slips; sharpened pencils; food and water; faith; and, most importantly, presence of mind.
#UPCATTips Paalala. Huwag kalimutan ang permit. :)
— Junmar Gentuya (@jggentuya) August 15, 2014
#UPCATTIPS Wag na wag magpapalate! As much as possible be in the university 30 minutes before the scheduled time. Expect traffic na din.
— Cess [FA] (@GoddessCess) August 1, 2013
Don't leave home without this one thing - your common sense. Sometimes, the most obvious choice is the right answer. #UPCATTips #UPCAT
— Faith Salazar (@P0yt) August 15, 2014
#UPCATTips Brieng 5 pencels ol sharpend up, 1 onli 4 u..d oder 4 is 2 stab ur sitmeyts in da nort sawt ist n west (u wil pas UP now, riet??)
— Sent Sko Westgroev (@westgroevpls) July 31, 2013
#UPCATtips 6 pencils, a ruler, an eraser, jacket, quarter pounder, orange juice & analog watch. #whatyouwillwanttobring
— Batch Legacy (@BatchLegacy) August 3, 2012
#UPCATTips. Don't forget to bring your favorite chocolate bar and eat it before the exam. It helps you relax and feel good. :-bd
— JP Dacanay (@J_Dacanay) August 2, 2012
Listen to the proctor for instructions to keep you guided (lol guided) + pray my children, pray. #UPCATtips
— Cathy (@CathyraBanks) August 4, 2012
But some have warned against eating too much, bringing a lot of food, or taking in too much liquid before and during the exam, saying it may only distract the examinees.
#UPCATtips Constantly look at the board for the time, don't pee during the exam, and don't focus on the tastiness of your sandwich. #regrets
— John (@BeeJaywalking) August 14, 2014
No time for eating that much. Bring really comfy clothes perfect for any temperature! #upcattips
— Pacem Legua (@paachyyy) August 4, 2012
#UPCATTips don't drink 2 much water or coffee,tea to avoid going to the restroom during the exam.
— Dennis Jimenez (@kuriparot) August 15, 2014
Others chose to highlight exam techniques, including how a quarter of your total incorrect answers will be deducted from your total score, and how elimination could be your saving grace.
Remember! UPCAT Scoring System is Right Minus 1/4 Wrong! Therefore, Guess is not advisable. #UPCATTips #UPCAT
— Vocabularian (@SeptoneSirius) August 15, 2014
Never leave an item blank. 😊 kahit pa right minus 1/4 wrong. Mas mabuti parin yung nag try kesa sa wala. 👍 #UPCATTips
— Trian Rangel ★ (@zirtyyy_) August 15, 2014
#UPCATtips When asked to arrange sentences/words, choose from the choices rather than reading entirely and arranging it yourself
— SHS Seniors Batch 13 (@13atchULT13ATE) August 2, 2012
“once you have eliminated the impossible, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truth." - Sherlock Holmes #lamnadis #UPCATTips
— Dane Garcia (@danexgarcia) August 10, 2014
#UPCATtips 10 minutes before the time, ishade mo na lahat ng hindi mo pa nasagutan! Don't leave any number unanswered. Sayang ang chance.
— Neil Ivan (@NeilIvanGT) August 2, 2012
Funnier tips include the classic advice during multiple-choice type exams: “When in doubt, go for A—or B, C, or D.”
#UPCATTips A for Allah, B for Bathala, C for Christ, D for Diyos
— Renee Agnes. (@reneepyon) August 14, 2014
Usually, the answers to the easy questions are found in either letter C or D. Try to skim the choices from D to A. #UPCATtips #timepressure
— King Reinier Palmea (@KRPP04) August 12, 2014
#UPCATTips If you cant still know the answer... C is the KEY! :))
— Hans Castro (@HANSDowwwwwwn) August 2, 2013
#UPCATTips if you don't know the answer let it be C or B. Examiners hide the answers somewhere in the middle.
— BJ Mercado (@OhCooLbryan) August 2, 2013
There is a 30% chance that the answer is B. #UPCATtips
— Simeon Miguel Abrera (@sirabreraaa) August 3, 2012
Some netizens said the UPCAT is not really about how much you know, but how you reach for that knowledge to answer the exam. The more profound advise leaving everything up to fate.
Testmanship. It's not just about what you know. #UPCATTips
— Raquel Fortun (@Doc4Dead) August 15, 2014
#UPCATTips it's not what you know, it's how you know. Brush up on your critical thinking
— Dano Tingcungco (@danotingcungco) August 2, 2013
It's not you who chooses UP. It's UP who chooses you. #UPCATtips
— Niño Parreño (@ninoreophael) August 14, 2014
Just shake all the tension in your body. Take a deep breath and relax. #UPCATtips
— Mich. (@astronomitch) August 3, 2012
Stare at the question until you start crying blood. #UPCATtips
— Yanni Javier ⚡️ (@yannihabyer) August 11, 2014
Most of the people I know who passed theUPCAT didnt study for it. Kasama ako dyan. #UPCATtips ba to??
— Kyle Atega (@TheWALSHstreet) August 11, 2014
“Iskolar ng bayan” hopefuls have also been reminded that no matter how hard they all try, some of them will not pass the UPCAT, and that UP is not the only school for them, should they fail the test.
#UPCATTips Most of the people posting UPCAT tips failed the exam
— Billy Alano (@hashtag_BILLYve) August 14, 2014
#UPCATtips Sulitin nyo time nyo mag-exam. Thats the only time you'll EVER be within the classroom walls of UP
— justin aliman (@youjuzztin) August 14, 2014
#UPCATTips It's not "UP or nothing", there are other great universities in the Philippines. Be open minded.
— Ryan C (@SJRyan947) August 15, 2014
#UPCATtips wag magexpect masyado na papasa ka ksi face it, only a very small percentage of UPCAT takers can be accepted. #realitybites
— Astroboy (@astroboyisgay) August 15, 2014
#UPCATTips wag kang mayabang at overconfident; make sure to take other college entrance exams!
— Astroboy (@astroboyisgay) August 15, 2014
#UPCATTips manalig ka! Out of 80k takers, halos 10k-13k lang pumapasa every year :)
— Frances Melgar (@francesdiannemx) August 15, 2014
But perhaps the most important pieces of advice were about enjoying the UPCAT and for UPCAT takers to get offline on the eve of the exam and just relax.
#UPCATtips stop reviewing na. Seriously. Just, chill, or something.
— Miguel Ventura (@VenturRage) August 14, 2014
#UPCATtips don't over stress yourself. It's a big deal, yes, but trust me when I say that God will put you in the place where you belong.
— Stephanie Escuadro (@SteffinStones) August 14, 2014
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord and not for man." Colossians 3:23 #UPCATtips
— Triz Mondonedo (@BeatrizMondo) August 4, 2012
Be nice to the student next to you. You'll not only be calming your nerves, but his/hers as well. So smile. #upcat #upcattips @interaksyon
— jenina joy chavez (@jeninajoy) August 2, 2012
#UPCATTips Eat CHICARON while taking the exam. It will surely distract the others. Less competition, more chances of passing.
— DAFUQ MEHN (@DafuqMehn) August 14, 2014
Huwag ubusin ang oras sa paghanap at pagbasa ng #UPCATTips dito sa Twitter. Magpahinga na lang kayo. Good luck.
— Eloi Hernandez (@badassprof) July 31, 2012
#UPCATTips it's hard to get in UP. Once you're in, it's hard to get out. So give it your best shot.
— Dano Tingcungco (@danotingcungco) August 2, 2013
#UPCATTips passing UPCAT is not the best feeling in the world. Graduating is.
— Reen (@AmeezyKeeen) August 15, 2014
