What they did to pass the ACET

Students share what they did to get through the difficult Ateneo college entrance test. By Bianca Consuji (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

“I took a bunch of review courses so I knew most of the test except for the really complicated math parts.”
Jonathan Lansang, 25, BS Computer Science, 02-04

“The first time I took the ACET was in junior year as part of the qualifier for the AJSS, which I didn’t get accepted in because I didn’t know that the pressure is a killer! Then a person from Ateneo Math Society at Math Camp during senior year told me the most important bubble test tip I’ve got: use dots first while reading/answering and when you have time in easier sections, that’s when you shade. And when you guess, choose the same letter consistently – there’s a statistical basis for this. I passed to enter the Economics-Honors program with that advice, but of course, opted to go to the ‘school across the street,’ the University of the Philippines.”
Celeni Kristine Guinto, 23

“I just reviewed using review books. Luckily I got in, especially when all my course choices were honors courses.”
Camille Antonio, 24, BS ChemCE 02-06

“I didn’t follow directions, so I missed a whole problem set… Well, I still got in the top percent.”
Ian Villar, 25, BS Management Engineering, 02-07

“I did some SAT review. I had about two review sessions prior to the ACET and was actually reading Teen Vogue right before. When I got my results, I got into Business Management Honors! That was sheer luck, I think.”
Ange dela Cruz, 19, BS Comtech Management 08-09

“I took the ACET in 2000, but went to UP. Aside from a few week-ends of review school that summer, the only things I did to prepare for the ACET was to get a full night’s sleep, bring my lucky pen to the exam, and be all sen during the exam! Wu-sah!”
Charmian Lim, 23

“I took the ACET in 2002, got accepted into Management Economics. i did review courses.books (not intensive though) and lots of intelligent (or so I’d like to think) guesses during the exanm itself.”
Julienne Yee, 24

“I did self-review a few weeks before the test and good rest the night before! Started the day right by waking up early and eating good breakfast.”
Mickee Gimarino, 25

“I guessed every single question!”
Erica Paredes, 30, Interdisciplinary Studies, 98-02

“Basically, what I did for the UPCAT, I toned down for the ACET – self-study, reviewing my English vocabulary, and taking those tests in the reviewer books. I remember we didn’t have any more special classes as a batch like we did for the UPCAT because not everybody wanted to go to the Ateneo anyway. That, and this was nearing hell week time, so people didn’t really want to think about the ACET until it was too late to run away. I studied for the UPCAT more, but ended up with egg on my face since I found the ACET much, much harder. Where I found myself conveniently over-prepared for the UPCAT, I had to sweat out the graphs and the “speed 60 items in 16 minutes” English part for the ACET. I didn’t even finish the Math test by some 20 items! (Despite this, I still made it to BS Math in Ateneo!)”
Ralph Doval-Santos 25, BFA-Creative Writing 2002-2006

“Unlike others, I opted not to enroll in those review classes along Katipunan. Instead, I drafted my own reviewers based in my Ateneo high school notes. I just focused on math since I was weakest in that domain.  Before the actual test, I had a dose of sugar rush to stimulate my brain. Fortunately, I was able to pass the ACET to qualify for AB Psychology in 2002. However, I chose to go to UP to take up Sociology.”
Jeff Crisostomo, 24

Mostly self-review with high school notes, and various reviewers. Summer programs and review classes helped, but it all came down to focus, a regular sleeping schedule, and a healthy dose of Counterstrike in between to relieve stress.
Erwin Armovit AB-IS batch ’06 (took the ACET in 2002 and miraculously passed)

“First and foremost, I harassed God to make me pass an entrance exam to a school I wouldn’t even be enrolling in, as I went to UP. I passed and got accepted into my first choice, AB Comm. Aside from enrolling in a summer review program at LSC Katipunan, the mandatory intensive review classes in our high school, and mastering speed answering – it was marking B or C when I didn’t know the answer that got me through this harder-than-UPCAT entrance exam.”
Stephanie Santos, 25