An Instructional Essay
“A Letter to My Niece – How to Prepare for a
Major Exam”
To all my fellow Uncles,
and to all the Parents, Grandparents, Aunts, and Guardians out
there,
please know that I also wrote this for your Children
– on behalf of You.
My
Dearest Mariz,
First of all, let me greet you a very Happy
21st Birthday, may God always bless, guide, and protect you!
Congratulations as well on your recent
graduation from the esteemed University of Perpetual Help, with the degree of Bachelor of
Science in Pharmacy. I am very proud of you, and I praise and thank God for
your achievements.
Now that you are preparing for the board exam,
I decided to re-write this article which I previously wrote for your Kuya Miguel,
and to post this updated version here -- especially for you. [ When Luiz is old enough to take his own board
and/or bar exam, please encourage him the way I am encouraging you now. (My
Dearest Luiz, This is of course
also for you.) ]
Your Mama, Papa, Kuya Miguel, Baby Brother
(Luiz), Grandma (“Mommy”), and I love you very much. We pray for your success
as regards your forthcoming board exam, and we will always pray for you as
regards everything else in life.
God
bless you always,
Tito Jun
Manila,
November 16, 2013
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW TO
PREPARE FOR A MAJOR EXAM
Rule
No. 1 – Study one page at a time, solve exercises one paper at a time.
That is really all that you can do.
· There
is no point in worrying about how well you will do with the exam. Worrying
about it will not accomplish anything.
· All
you can do now is to perform the simplest nature of your work, which is to read
your review materials one page at a time, and to solve practice tests or solve
exercises one paper at a time. Think of it this way, if you were a runner, then
all you should be focusing on is “just putting one foot in front of the other.”
Similarly therefore, "just study one page at a
time, and solve exercises one paper at a time." That’s all, no need to think about anything else.
· And
remember that quality matters more than quantity. There is no point in having
lots of books or review materials (to give yourself a false sense of security)
if you cannot actually review all of them. Just choose the right amount of
books and review materials that will really help you, and stick to them.
Rule No.
2 – Just focus on what you are doing, do not look around too much.
Do not worry about things beyond your control,
and ignore the things around you that are not relevant to your review.
· If
you have family, friends, or even former classmates who have already taken and
passed the board exam, don’t let their achievements intimidate and pressure
you.
· If
you are attending a review school where you have classmates who came from other
colleges or universities, and if these classmates seem brighter, faster, and
better prepared, and the colleges or universities they came from seem more
prestigious than your own, then just tell yourself,
- “Okay, fine, they seem brighter, and they come
from schools that are apparently more prestigious, but they have absolutely
nothing to do with me and my own performance. Therefore I will just ignore them
and I will keep doing what I am doing, focusing on my own review, according to
my own style, according to my own pace, and according to my own personal best.”
· Don’t
keep looking around to see where you “stand in the race.” Don’t keep checking
whether you are ahead, at par, or behind. (And this doesn’t only apply to the
work of studying and preparing for a major exam, it also applies to life and
career in general.)
Rule
No. 3 – Study according to your own learning style.
Do what works for you, and be prepared to
accept partial understanding while in the classroom.
· If
you are reviewing for a board or bar exam, it means that you already have a
level of intelligence and a style of learning that is adequate, simply because
it was enough to enable you to finish college (or medical school or law
school). Therefore it is best that you continue to remain confident about your
capabilities.
· If
for some reasons the teaching style at your review school is something that you
are not used to, or is something that is not working entirely for you, then
while you are in class be prepared to accept partial understanding. Just review
by yourself at home, it’s as simple as that.
Rule
no. 4 – Do plenty of seatworks and homeworks, and take plenty of practice
tests.
The exercise of taking tests is a skill by
itself. It is not enough to possess knowledge, you must also be conditioned to
take tests.
· Therefore
apart from reading books and reviewing materials, you must also practice taking
tests by frequently solving problems and exercises, preferably under time
pressure. Remember, “Practice makes perfect.”
· There
will be good days and there will be bad days. Good days are the days you feel
sharp and energetic, and you get good results from your practice tests. Bad
days are the days that you feel dull and tired, and the results of your
practice tests are not so great. It’s okay to have bad days, that’s normal. If
you are the kind of person who has finished college, then most likely you are
the kind of person whose good days significantly outnumber the bad, therefore
you will be fine and you have nothing to worry about.
Rule
No. 5 – Keep in mind, this is a marathon, not a sprint.
Therefore you need to sustain your energy,
enthusiasm, and performance for a long period – which in your case is five
months, because that is the length of your review.
· Eat
properly, try to get some exercise, and enjoy your family and friends.
· Try
not to overwork yourself from the very beginning. Just like in running a
marathon, you don’t run too fast at the start, because you will immediately get
exhausted and not anymore have any energy towards the end.
· I’m
not saying that you should relax and take it too easy for the first two months
of your review and then work hard only during the last one or two months. You
should do your best from the very start and all throughout. But be careful not
to burn out and lose energy towards the end of your review up to the days of
the board exam themselves, because that is when your performance will matter
the most.
Rule
No. 6 – In case you also happen to be working, then believe that it can still
work out.
Someday, you might take another major exam, and
by then you may already be working. Pertinently, if you happen to be working
while you are also reviewing for a board or a bar exam, don’t think of it as a
hindrance.
· Keep
in mind that a lot of people finish college (as well as medical school or law
school or graduate school), and they eventually pass their respective board
exams (or their bar exams or comprehensive exams) by attending school only in
the evening because they have to work and make a living during the day.
Therefore, if they can do it, then you can do it. It is not impossible.
· Accept
the fact that you need to work to make a living, in fact be glad that you have
work and are able to make a living. Then just do your best with your review.
It’s really as simple as that.
Rule
No. 7 – On the last couple of days before the exam, just relax.
Try to get some rest the last couple of days
before the exam.
· It
may be difficult to stay away from your books and completely stop reviewing,
but at least try to be more relaxed. Three or four months of review, the last
eight weeks being more intensive, will be adequate. On the last couple of days
right before the day of the exam itself, try to relax. Get some rest, watch a
movie, eat well.
· The
day before the exam, be sure to prepare your exam permits, be ready with your
pens and calculators or whatever other materials you will need, be ready with
money and/or food you will have to bring, and be sure to know where you will be
taking your test and how you will get there (n.b., indeed it is better if you
visit the place several days in advance).
· You
may hear about tips or leaks about the exam. Ignore them. They will only cause
anxiety and confusion. If you have responsibly done your best during the
several months of review, then that is already more than enough and you’ll be
fine.
Rule No. 8 – On the day of the
exam itself, again, just relax, and focus.
When the day of the exam finally arrives, just
try to relax.
· If
you get a bit nervous, that’s okay, it’s normal.
- Mariz,
You can talk to you Papa or Mama or Grandma or me in case any concern bothers
you. And on the days of your board exam, you can count on us to pray for you,
even offer Holy Mass at church and light candles at home for you. And if you
want, your Papa or I can even accompany you to the place where you will take
your exam, and we will standby there the whole day, so that we are there any
time you need us. Okay?
· Inside
the classroom where you will actually finally take the exam, don’t be surprised
if you see some bizarre behavior on the part of your fellow examinees. Some of
them may talk too much, some will be too optimistic, some will be pessimistic,
and some will do something simply unusual (like doing yoga in the middle of the
classroom in order to reduce their anxiety). Just accept and respect them for
who they are, be friendly and civil, but remain personally detached (let’s face
it, you hardly know these people and you may never meet them again after the
board exam), and most importantly just focus on doing your best with your exam.
· If
you finish ahead of time, stay and review your work. There is no point in being
the first to stand up and hand in your paper for all to see, just to show how
much faster and smarter you are. That’s just silly, and in fact is not a smart
move at all. Stay in your seat and review your work. More often than not, you
will find a mistake among your answers and you will therefore have the chance
to correct it.
Rule
No. 9 – Do not worry about the results of the exam.
I pray that you pass your board exam, and I
believe that you will. With the kind of abilities, self-discipline, academic
training, and upbringing that you have had, I am confident that you will pass
any major exam that you take.
· However,
if for some reasons, you do not pass a particular major exam, then no problem,
just rest a while and then take it again. (Or if you never want to take it
again because you would rather do something else, then that is fine too). Don’t
let it discourage you, don’t let it cause you to believe less in yourself and
make you doubt your potential. It’s just an exam, and one single exam cannot
define you.
· Notice
that I entitled this article “How to Prepare for a Major Exam” and not “How to
Pass a Major Exam.” Sometimes things happen that are beyond your control, for
instance you may unexpectedly get sick on the day of the exam, therefore
despite months of diligent preparation you may end up performing not as well as
you hoped to (i.e., still passing the exam but not attaining that high grade
you aimed for), or perhaps end up actually failing the exam. If that happens it
would be natural to feel sad, but you shouldn’t let that leave a permanent scar
on your self esteem. You as a person are still far more important than any
exam.
- Most
of all, your Mama, Papa, Kuya, Baby Brother, Grandma, and I will always love
you very much no matter how you perform in any exam, whether it pertains to
this forthcoming board exam, or to any other exam or challenge that you may
have to hurdle in the course of your life.
Rule
No. 10 – Pray
Most of all, pray. Always pray.
· Pray
often, to seek and receive help from God. Meditate, to remain calm and focused.
- I
suggest praying the Holy Rosary. Mariz, Do you remember the Rosary I gave you
last November 2010 as one of my pasalubongs (presents) for you after Mommy and
I returned from the Holy Land? Why don’t you start using it now? Up to this
day, whenever I pray the Rosary, I use the Rosary that Mommy gave me more than
twenty years ago (after I finished college). You might want to start doing the
same with the Rosary I gave you.”
· The
saying goes, “Do your best, and let God do the rest.” This saying holds true. And
it will always hold true, not only with regard to your board exam, but also
with regard to everything else in your life.
· On
a final note, rest assured that your Grandma and I are very fervently praying
for your every single day, with regard to your preparation for your forthcoming
board exam, and with regard to your entire future and everything else in
life. Please remember that we love you
very very much. May God bless you
always.
For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord,
plans for your welfare, not for woe!
plans to give you a future full of hope.
When you call me, when you go to pray to me, I will listen to you.
Yes, when you seek me with all your heart,
you will find me with you, says the Lord.
Jeremiah 29 : 11-14
Take delight in the Lord,
and He will grant you your heart’s requests.
Psalm 37: 4
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REFERENCES:
· RECOMMENDED VIDEOS
Mariz, Please view these videos if you can spare the time.
- Identity and Stereotype Threat, Lecture at Columbia University by Dr. Claude
M. Steele, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1fzIuuXlkk
This
video is relevant to my advice on not letting the abilities and backgrounds of
other people affect or intimidate you (see Rule No. 2).
- Anxious Students Gain on Tests by Writing About
Fears, ( Based on Dr. Sian
Beilock’s research on “Choking,” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjyC2m7k4MI
This
video teaches you the anxiety-reducing technique of writing about your worries,
so that you don’t choke or under-perform on the day of your board exam (see
Rule No. 8).
· BOOKS
Mariz, You don’t have to read
these books (someday perhaps, but not now). I have already read them myself,
and everything I wrote in “How to Prepare for a Major Exam” is based on what I
learned from them, apart from what I have learned from my own experience.
- Study Smart (The Princeton Review) by Theodore Silver, M.D., J.D.
- The Psychology of Learning Mathematics by Richard R. Skemp, PhD
- Overachievement: The New Model for Exceptional
Performance by John Eliot,
Ph.D.
- Choke: What the Secrets of the Brain Reveal
About Getting It Right When You Have To by Sian Beilock, Ph.D.
- Overcoming Procrastination: Or How To Think And
Act Rationally In Spite of Life’s Inevitable Hassles by Albert Ellis, Ph.D., and William J. Knaus,
Ed.D.
- Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy by David D. Burns, M.D.
- Stress/Unstress: How You Can Control Stress At
Home And On The Job by
Keith W. Sehnert, M.D.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
