“I feel afraid. I have a poor chance at passing. Is there a way to increase my chance of passing the board exam?” Do you see yourself muttering this? Don’t fret! There is a secret way to 3X boost the chances! The 3 Board Exam Pillars will increase your chances of passing!
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Board Exam Preparation = Mountain Climbing
I want you to think of your board exam preparation as climbing a mountain. Madali lang kasi i-visualize kung ganito.
The more topics you study, the higher you climb the mountain.
The higher you climb, the higher your chances of passing.
💡Throughout this guide, I will use a study technique known as visualization. Simply explained, you can vividly remember ideas when presented visually and through stories.
💡Related: Know how many days remain before your board exam using the Board Exam Countdown Tool.
3X Increase my Chance of Passing the Board Exam: The 3 Pillars of Preparation
To reach the peak of Mount Preparation, you must secure three fundamental pillars.
I call these the 3 Pillars of Passing the Board Exam.
These are:
- Board Exam Pillar 1: Guidance
- Board Exam Pillar 2: Materials
- Board Exam Pillar 3: Strategy
Board Exam Pillar #1: Having a Reliable Guide
Wag kang aakyat na mag-isa.
Why? Energy conservation.
Instead of unnecessarily reinventing the wheel, just follow what works. Andami na nakaakyat na nauna. Let people qualified guide you so that you’ll conserve your energy for the climb.
A review center acts as your specialized mountain guide, keeping you updated on the latest exam trends and syllabus changes. Let them guide you.
A common mistake board exam takers make is doing pure self-review. This is to start from scratch, to study the trends, find the sources of questions, to figure out the topics that might come out in the exam.
This is the process that review centers are doing. They have researchers. They have the manpower.
Don’t do it alone. Let them do the research.
What if I don’t have funds to enroll in a review center?
If you have no funds to enroll in a review center, I suggest that you get the latest review materials or handouts from review centers. Gawin mo itong basis ng review mo.
Board Exam Pillar #2: High-Quality Review Materials
You have limited time for review. You need materials that are up-to-date to reflect the current trends.
Relying on outdated materials will cause you to study the wrong things entirely.
Dapat wais ka para mabilis ang progress.
Organize your Materials
Gather everything in one place. Collect all your textbooks, reviewers, handouts, e-books, and digital notes from college. Arrange them neatly per subject so that everything is easy to access once review starts.
Kapag organized, mas madali. Organizing early prevents wasted time searching for files and materials that should have been within reach.
Essential Review Materials: Compile the following
- College Notes
- Textbooks: Deep explanation of concepts. Builds strong foundations. Teaches you why things work.
- Reviewers: Board exam oriented. Lots of practice questions and problems. Highly compressed and selected lessons.
- Review Center Handouts: If you are a retaker, you will have these from your past review.
Other Study Materials
- Pens and pencils
- Bond papers
- Highlighters
- Large notebooks (you will need this for the Notebook Summary Technique discussed in Outsmart the Board Exam)
- Whiteboard and marker
- Calculator (optional)
- Printer (very handy and useful for online reviewees)
- Other tools: eraser, sharpener, calendar, sticky notes, paper clips, stapler, staples, etc
Board Exam Pillar 3: Strategy
Strategy matters. It determines how fast your climb will be.
You can pay for the most expensive review center (Pillar 1) and stack your desk with the thickest textbooks (Pillar 2) and latest gadgets, but without a solid strategy, you run the risk of ruining your review.
I like you to imagine yourself again as a hiker. Who do you think will climb faster?
- Student A (The Unprepared Hiker): Basic gear lang. Naka-tsinelas. Walang dalang pagkain at tubig. Simpleng t-shirt at shorts ang gamit, kinagat na ng limatik sa daan. Similarly, sila yung reviewee na subsob sa pagbabasa gabi-gabi pero walang proper study habits. Mabagal magbasa, madaling makalimot, madaling mawalan ng motivation.
- Student B (The Smart Hiker): May proper hiking gear. Naka-hiking shoes. May fleece pants at jacket. May baon na pagkain at tubig. Sila yung reviewees na mabilis mag-aral, may solid study habits, marunong gumamit ng learning and memory techniques.
Outsmart the Board Exam is your proper hiking gear.
