Tips on Taking UPCAT

Posted by Mikko at 29 July 2008

Category: Life Hacks

Tags:

Looking for UPCAT Tips? Here’s a compilation of UPCAT tips around the Internet.

Hey you, yes you reading this post. If you reached this post by Googling or Yahooing UPCAT tips, then you are on the rightest page on the Universe. If not, then you’re probably one of my loyal readers. :D

UPCAT or the University of the Philippines College Admission Test is the entrance examination to the Philippine’s one and only national university, the University of the Philippines. It is taken by thousands of graduating high school students who aspire to study in the prestigious University.

This year’s examination will be on August 2 and 3, 2008 — on different testing centers scattered around the country.

I know I am not the perfect person authority to write tips on taking UPCAT, but at least I passed the exam last year. Here are some simple yet useful tips on taking it:

  • For students from science high schools (like me), don’t review superadvanced lessons. Those topics are least probable to come out.
  • Don’t answer questions the way they are ordered. Try answering in random order. Some easy questions are scattered on the end part, especially in the Math part.
  • There are rumors that it is right minus (1/4) wrong. Try answering every question, if you get it wrong you get a 1/4 point deduction — meanwhile if you get it right you get a full point.
  • Read the stories in the reading comprehension as fast as you can. But remember, you should be able to understand them. The reading comprehension is one of the most time-consuming part.
  • Don’t bring too little or too many snacks. Chances are you’re gonna have a throbbing growling stomach or unexpected trips to the bathroom.
  • Have a great sleep! Be at your best shape and condition during the exam. This helps a lot.
  • Don’t overreview the night before the exams!
  • Take your time, but remember that it’s time bound. Don’t mind your seatmates. Most of my seatmates (those strangers) finished the different parts faster than I did — sadly I didn’t spot any of them here at UPD. Honestly, I averaged 10 unanswered question by the end of each part.
  • Familiarize the testing area in your Exam Slip. Do it at least a day before your examination. If not possible, try to go with someone who’s familiar with the place. This minimizes chances of getting lost.

Here are some of the topics (as far as I can remember) on last year’s exam:

  1. Basic Functions of Different Cell Organelles
  2. Simple algebra
  3. Some polynomial factoring
  4. Simple trigonometry
  5. Simple Electricity (V = IR; P = IV)
  6. Some rectilinear motion (free fall motion, a little projectile)
  7. Simple grammar and error spotting
  8. Triangles. Given two sides, identify the length of the third
  9. Some Earth Science

I hope it helps!

Good luck.

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Related posts:

  1. Compilation of Tips on Taking UPCAT Articles
  2. Davao City tops UPCAT keyword
  3. On UPCAT 2008 Results
  4. UPCAT Results 2009, released
  5. I Passed the UPCAT

32 Comments

  1. Another takeover post says

    [...] everyone taking UPCAT, considering checking out my (Conrad Miguel E. Gozalo, not Gerwin) tips on UPCAT. I hope it [...]

    Reply
    • johndel l. cueto says

      sna mkapasa aq dhil pangarap qong mkapasa sa Upcat at mkapag aral

      Reply
  2. Rommel says

    Hmm. Hey. :-) You beat me to it.
    Anyway, I’ll still post something about the UPCAT on my blog.
    Maybe tomorrow. :-)

    Rommel’s last blog post..PINOY IDOL: Kid Camaya

    Reply
  3. nica says

    thanks for the tips! :) my upcat sched is on saturday, 6:30 am.good luck to those who will take the exam. [:

    Reply
  4. Rommel says

    Here are some added tips you might wanna look at :)

    Reply
  5. Daniel says

    In addition to Mikko’s tips, also do the following:

    1. Relax before the exam. Skim your notes, play cards, play computer’s for all I care.

    2. Teka… tapos na ang exam, diba? o_O

    3. UPCAT is one of the most challenging exams in the Philippines, and you won’t have to study superadvanced lessons. But for other exams (international), superadvanced lessons help. ^_^

    Reply
  6. jessa mae says

    tnx a lot 4 the tips ..

    god bless..

    Reply
  7. jessa mae says

    hope u can post more tips .. Ü

    Reply
  8. claire says

    thanks…^^,

    Reply
  9. [...] their experiences (or the experiences of people they know) with the UPCAT—Dine Racoma’s and Conrad Miguel’s blogs are two fine examples of [...]

    Reply
  10. roxanne says

    tenks for the tips..
    it’ll help a lot..
    ^^,

    Reply
  11. jeffrey manio says

    HOOOOOOOOOH!!!malapit na exam kakaasar naman madali lang ba mga question.. i hope so..dream ko kasi makasama ang UP family….sana give naman kau ng other tips.. para makapasa naman ako

    Reply
  12. Mariega De Guzman says

    Thank you! I’m sure your awesome tips will help! :D

    Reply
  13. feliamille says

    thankz for the tips!!!

    God Bless us all:’)

    Reply
  14. cHin2x says

    tHank’z
    a..
    Lot
    fOr tHe tips!

    Reply
  15. goldegg says

    pareparehas ba ang msa exam nung ibang year hangang ngayun!!! hehe

    Reply
  16. markcadz says

    ang ganda ! la kaming trigo ngaung 4th yir ..

    Reply
  17. Violet says

    I think this will really help!

    Reply
  18. oca says

    Sabi ng tatay ko hindi kailangang mag-aral ng todo-todo kung magaling ka nung highschool. Noong 80s pa kasi siya nag-upcat…ewan ko na lang kung pwede pa rin yun ngayon.

    Reply
  19. klogix says

    reading comprehension in a misnomer. you don’t have to waste time reading the selections. RC is a test of your scanning/skimming skills ;)

    read the questions first in any RC test.

    Reply
  20. russell says

    sana makapasa ku sa UPLB…now i’m a third year student..at gusto ko mag take ng animal science at vetmed sa UPLB……mahirap ba talaga?sana makapasa ko,,khit next year pa.hahaha

    Reply
  21. Gilbert Orgovan says

    hello I believe the information published on your website is most valuable, I have bookmarked you =D

    Reply
  22. jane manuel says

    hindi ako kuntento sa tips. sori lng talaga ha. pwo tnx sa topics, hahaha! ayoko na kasing mag-review ng matagal.

    Reply
  23. jane manuel says

    kukuha aq ng upcat this 2010. hope i pass. tnx ulit

    Reply
  24. Julie Anne says

    thanks for the tips…it will really help a lot.

    Reply
  25. faithS. says

    thanks sa tips! may trigonometry po pla? tan cos at sin? nklgay po kc dun sa form bwal ang sci cal..

    Reply
  26. Mikko says

    Meron ata as far as I can remember. Di kailangan ng scical kasi special angles ata yung mga nasa exam such as cos(60 degrees) = 0.5. Mga ganun lang.

    Reply
  27. Karen Felisilda says

    hi,thank you po sa tips kasi hindi ko po talaga alam ang gagawin ko pag hindi ko to nabasa…..thanks ulit sana makapasa ako…. hindi lang dahil sa prestigious ang school na UP kundi para rin hindi mahirapan ang parents ko..Pray nalang talaga ako>>>>

    Reply
  28. acadclinic says

    Here are the UPCAT tips we have compiled in our academic site: http://academic-clinic.com/category/upcat-exam-tips/

    we already have more than 50 articles about UPCAT, hope this helps.^^

    Reply
  29. Samantha Soto says

    Interesting thoughts here. I appreciate you taking the time to share them with us all. It’s people like you that make my day :)

    Reply
  30. [...] Tips on Taking UPCAT by The Geek Brewery [...]

    Reply
  31. [...] Tips on Taking UPCATby The Geek Brewery [...]

    Reply

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