Passing the Board Exam by Malditang Librarian, RL

"The Secret" of Topping the Board

Many people ask me the 'secret' of topping the board exam as if there was a top-secret magical formula. There is no one 'secret', and it would be too long anyway if I try to say it, but I will try to tell you. I graduated last April 2014, so I had a year to review before the board exam in April 2015. My mother advised me that I focus on the review first. She has experienced the Bar Exams, probably the most difficult exam in the country. She knew that I have to really prepare for an exam like this.

For me, the most important thing if you want to pass the board is to understand the basic things well while in school. When I was researching board exam tips, they always say that the review starts in school, not after graduation. If you understand the basics now, you will not find the review difficult. Also, learn all you can during your practicum or OJT. It's important to have some experience in the library - this is not only for the board exam but your future work.

Remember the acronym WTF if you want to pass the board. WTF, which stands for Willpower, Test-taking skills, and of course, F which stands for Faith.

First, willpower. If you are going to take the board, be determined! Claim that you will pass and work hard for that goal. As they say, "The prepared beats the intelligent." But its best if you're already smart, and you're also prepared, there's no chance you'll fail. Make the most of your God-given talents. In the exam, it's not only your preparedness or intelligence that counts but also 'lakas ng loob' (inner strength/conviction). My mother did not say 'Good luck' or 'God bless' but what she said was 'Be strong' - have determination, to make the most of your time, and not give in to stress, pressure, and all your negative thoughts.

Second, test-taking skills. Remember, there are 6 subjects for the board exam and each has 100 items of multiple-choice questions. The correct answer is already there, you just have to choose. So, the most effective strategy would be to train yourself on how to answer multiple-choice questions. In the exam, you cannot know what exact questions will come out... and here what will help you is reading comprehension and logic - use elimination. I answered hundreds of mock exams and focused on studying my mistakes. Also, according to research, the best way of learning is taking tests. In taking mock exams you are imitating the environment of the exam and will be ready and prepared when the time comes. In my review, I balanced practice exams and reading notes.

Of course, you must work hard, but find time to rest and relax. It's not that I didn't sleep anymore or I had tremendous discipline because that's not true, the challenge was to fight my laziness. If you feel tired after studying, then give yourself a break. Just think of the exam as another final exam to pass. Our minds also need rest. In my review, I set a day, every Monday, to not think about the exam, to just walk around UP Diliman, visit coffee shops and treat myself to a 'brain break'. In this way, you are also saving up energy for your next study session.

Last, and the most important, is faith. In your review, there will be days when you will not be motivated and sometimes you may even hate it. That happened to me. I almost gave up. But in these moments of trial, it's your faith that will get you through. Remember that God has good plans for you and he will not withhold blessings if you also do your part. These hardships are temporary. The license, once you pass, is for life. And when I prayed, I dared to ask God for the top spot. I prayed every day. There's nothing wrong with dreaming and praying, right? And it came true!

The second question that I always get asked about, "Where did you review?". To answer that, we had our informal review here with our teachers and I attended the regular review in UP Diliman. But in my opinion, all review is self-review. Review classes, even here with our teachers, even in UP, does not guarantee you passing the exam, it still depends on you. What you get out of the review will depend on the effort and dedication you put into it. The review that counts more is the studying and discipline that you exercise daily, by yourself. You don't have to work hard for hours, sometimes you just have to meet the few goals for the day, little by little. It's better to study a little every day than to cram near the exam.

However, review classes also have a lot of advantages. Different lecturers have other ways of explaining things and I learned a lot from them too. You can ask them about things you do not understand. The advice is if you are going to enroll, study before you do. They should help you familiarize the concepts and strengthen your memory. Don't go to the review center shocked because you just learned the subjects there. And staying in Quezon City with only the studying materials and no other distractions made me focus better than when I just stayed at home.

In your review, think like a librarian. Exercise your information searching skills to look for the best sources. Use the library, search the net. Because I had time, I read books in the Reserve section in our university library. If you have time to do this, I suggest reading the most basic books, don't pick up something so advanced at first. Try to look for a basic but comprehensive book. Basic knowledge is important because this is your 'foundation' in understanding the more complex parts of the subjects. I did not rely only on the handouts and the reviewers but also looked for more reliable sources - they are there if you know how to look for them.

Reading different perspectives and different explanations will help for better retention in your memory. Every one of us has different learning styles, I'm not saying you should follow what I say, but this one worked for me and there's no harm in trying.

Again, it is good to seek out and listen to advice, but it's still you who will decide what's best. I did not follow every suggestion because I knew myself and how I learn best.

Think of the exam as a war, and you are going to a battle. Don't let the pressure or nervousness control you. You can't prevent them, but you must learn to manage them.

I always thought of the board exam as something like boxing. Your review is your training before the big day of the fight. Look at Manny Pacquiao who trains for months for a fight that will last for minutes. Trust me, the board exam will hurt your brain and you will need to recover. Rest before and after the exam. All your review classes and teachers are only the guides to your training, and in boxing language, it is still you who will go up the ring to fight and you will not know how the entire bout will go, you cannot exactly predict your enemy's moves. The exam is selected from a database by computer, and even the BFL cannot say what questions will come out. But do not be afraid, because God is with you. I can say that without God and the wisdom he gave me when I prayed for it, I would not pass the exam.

I hope that those who will take the exam will be professional librarians who will do their best to improve our libraries and education in the country.