NMAT
National Medical Admission Test
If you're an aspiring doctor this examination is very important because it determines what medical schools you can enter. Blog posts really helped me in the exam, so here are some practical tips from an average learner who ranked 95...:)8 GENERAL TIPS:
"Kung sa tingin n'yo babagsak kayo, ako na nagsasabi, wag na kayo mag-exam." This is from one of our instructors in the university. Quite harsh, face it, IT IS REALITY. Why do you think you are afraid to take the exam? You lack preparation? Well, how many months or weeks will be the exam? You can still use that time, just stop procrastinating. You're in college, you must have developed your sense of reasoning by now and for sure will answer questions in that exam. Try remembering the things you are hearing in class. You cannot remember anything? Maybe you forgot to learn (we're not aiming for just passing, aren't we? ). Positive thinking will reduce anxiety and attract positive vibes. Proof? one of my blockmates thought that he will ace the exam, he posted it in every social networking site he has and he did it! He got 97!
2) Knowing the battle you're going to
Well before taking the exam you must know:
-What the test is all about?
-How many parts does it have?
-How much time you have each test area?
-How do you get your percentile rank?
-What percentile score does your dream medical school accepts?
-When and where will be the NMAT?
-How to apply? What is you room assignment?
Still have no answers for these? Take time reading my post and see http://www.cem-inc.org.ph/nmat/ for further info.
3) Answer the material given by CEM
The questions given through email or CEM's website pretty sums up the coverage of the exam. To tell you honestly, I found the material given more difficult than the actual exam. Mainly this is because whenever a question confuse me or it is really outside my scope, I research on them. By the time I took the exam, I have an idea of the answer. (Take note: idea, I did not remember all of the things I studied, I do not have an eidetic memory, but at least I have a sense of what is right or wrong:D)
4) Time is gold!
This is cliche but time is really your enemy in NMAT. You should schedule when will you:
a) Study the material given by CEM,
b) Read through your supplemental lessons,( The PICS reviewer is really useful for me.:)*borrowed from my schoolmate)
c)Take timed exams, and finally
d) Review what you just learned.
Schedule by area and follow that.
For an average learner like me, two weeks is not enough to finish all these.
5) Don't forget to PRAY.
Prayer is really powerful and it really changes things. Ask God's grace while reviewing to retain the information in your memory. Also, ask for His intercession before taking the exam. After all the brain-cells-busting exam, thank God for guiding you, plus pray for good results and do not forget to thank Him when the moment of truth comes.
6) Answer the EASY ONES FIRST.
For two reasons: to speed you up and boost your confidence.
7) A GOOD NIGHT SLEEP!
(Trust me, day before the exam just relax)
8) Examine the reality of the given choices. Make an intelligent guess!
Yes, you will really have items you do not know. Don't just eeny-meeny-moh, examine the reality of the choices if this will be the answer to the question. This is making an intelligent guess.
EXAM DAY ITSELF...
*You will be seated alphabetically. Prepare your pencils, erasers, ID, forms and drinks (food is not allowed) with you because your bags will be placed in front of the room.* There is a prepared time scheme by CEM you can follow it.
I did not follow the given schedule instead,
for PART 1 I tried: Verbal, Perceptual acuity, Quantitative then Inductive Reasoning
and PART 2: Biology (Since I'm a Bio major), Social Science, Chemistry then Physics
--> The KEY here is to answer MANY ITEMS AS YOU CAN ACCURATELY. Again, don't forget to time yourself.
Must haves:
-pencils (2 or HB)( 2-3 may do, I do not recommend just having one and sharpening it, it is time consuming,just ask your little sister/ brother to let you borrow theirs or start saving now for 2 to 3 pencils),
-eraser
-sweater
-water
-coins (you'll know later why)
-candy (because eating biscuits is prohibited)
-rosary, if you're a Catholic
-yourself with your well-trained brain:)
PART 1: Can your brain handle medical school?
Believe me, your IQ changes under time pressure.
Verbal
Word analogy: Most of the words is encountered in your high school and college lessons. Just be familiar with the relationship of the words. This is really a good start: http://www.mhhe.com/socscience/engl
Reading comprehension: Before reading the selection, scan through the questions so you have an idea on what you're looking for. The selections are surprisingly fun to read! Well I think that's the key, enjoy reading the selections and put yourself in them to answer questions. Here are some of the questions I encountered:
* What is the author saying about the line/phrase/paragraph...
* What do you think cannot be concluded...
*What is the meaning of the word....
Perceptual Acuity
I chose to answer Section 3. Identical Information first simply because the answers in that test is just in front of me!No need to think deeply!
I used coins to cover up the wrong choices. (It is way easier than straining your brain remembering what you've already crossed out.)
Why are some of the choices nonidentical with the given?
1) spelling(going to mess with homonyms)
2) comma, period
3) mixed up numbers
4) lots of NJ instead of NY. :)
Mirror Images: Spot the difference to lessen your brain load. Then, lay both of your hands as if playing a piano: your pinky fingers in both hands should point to the same object in the given and in the choice you're looking at (This is from my professor in college).
Hidden figure: Eliminate the lines. This is one of the hard parts(esp when you do not have a 20-20 vision like me) don't consume much time on this.
Quantitative
Computations are usually fractions, exponents and radicals.
Memorize what is the decimal equivalents of fractions: 1/2=0.5 1/3=0.33 1/4=0.25 to 1/15 :)
*Review Algebra 2's word problems, the past exam included very simple geometry problems familiarize yourself with areas and perimeters of the basic shapes. Review on work problems.
*Data interpretation: Understand the data given first, then read the questions.
Learn how to compute percentages and comparison of those.
Letter patterns, write A-Z and watch how the lines go. (Easy as that, I wish it was all figure and letter patterms -_-)
Number patterns (not really my forte). I suggest that you familiarize with patterns in this area. (which I failed to do.HAHA) Someone told me that the at times the first and second numbers have no relation at all, it is the first and the third; the second and the fourth.. (woo numbers, I wish I made sense here.)
*Review Algebra 2's word problems, the past exam included very simple geometry problems familiarize yourself with areas and perimeters of the basic shapes. Review on work problems.
*Data interpretation: Understand the data given first, then read the questions.
Learn how to compute percentages and comparison of those.
Inductive Reasoning
I am used to figure patterns so I answered this section first. Don't overwhelm yourself from the choices. Just observe a single figure, observe what happens in the given pattern and eliminate the choices using your lucky coins.:)Letter patterns, write A-Z and watch how the lines go. (Easy as that, I wish it was all figure and letter patterms -_-)
Number patterns (not really my forte). I suggest that you familiarize with patterns in this area. (which I failed to do.HAHA) Someone told me that the at times the first and second numbers have no relation at all, it is the first and the third; the second and the fourth.. (woo numbers, I wish I made sense here.)
Part 2: Remember what you have learned.
Do you have enough knowledge to keep up with your future lessons?
Biology
Most of the biology questions that appeared in our exam are from histology and cell biology applications (more of physiology) classes. The application of the concepts (enzymes, neurotransmitters, hormones) are commonly the contents of the questions. Few questions on genetics mainly on pedigree analysis. In botany be sure to cover the lessons on plant hormones and their functions.
Social science ( Sociology and Psychology )
CEM's review material is "most" helpful in this area. Familiarize yourselves with the coverage of the questions and focus on those.Understand the concepts and keep in mind keywords instead of memorizing whole definitions.
Chemistry reviewer given by Sir Legaspi
Sociology reviewers given by an instructor
Santrock Psychology notes
Histology and cell biology notes
UPCAT reviewer for english, word problems and data interpretation
Chemistry
Surprisingly in our exam it was filled with verbose (analyzation) questions and choices.Some computations are also included (on the mole concept). Even if the exam is theoretical it helped me to study the computations in order to analyze the questions. Take note: the reactants and reagents in organic chemistry was also included! I also found some biology questions in this part, mainly applications of the concepts.
Physics
I was so anxious about the idea of physics that I focused on reviewing this, luckily my efforts paid off (yay!). In my opinion the questions are 50% analyzation and 50% computation. Don't waste your time re-studying projectile motion computation just understand the concept. Most of the computations I remember dealt with the Ohm's law, my easy way of remembering it is V=IR (although books will say this is wrong because of proportional blabla...sorry books, I need shortcuts for NMAT:P) and P=IV (Power=IV). Just play with the given numbers and check the reality of the choices.
During lunch break, if you have company with you ask them to stay inside a food chain and order lunch for the both of you already. Food chains really get crowded! You can also stay inside your car if have on. Staying in hot places drains me out so I didn't stay in nipa huts(in the university itself) during lunch.
Helpful reviewers for me:
PICS reviewer (that I borrowed from ate Lyza)
MSA reviewer (esp in part 2 and identical information, basic operations in math is complex in this reviewer)Chemistry reviewer given by Sir Legaspi
Sociology reviewers given by an instructor
Santrock Psychology notes
Histology and cell biology notes
UPCAT reviewer for english, word problems and data interpretation
Do you think you are now ready?
Well, if your reading this, Congratulations! you are making ways on how to get your dream NMAT score. Goodluck and Godbless on your NMAT exams! May the odds be ever in your favor. :)
