DLSUCET stands for De La Salle University College Entrance Test.  This is the test you’ll need to sit (and pass) in order to become part of the elite body of LaSallites.  Therefore, if you are planning on studying at De La Salle, prepare yourself for the DLSUCET.

It seems that different people have different perceptions about the DLSUCET.  Some say it’s easy, others say it’s difficult, still others say it’s somewhere in between.

So which is it?  It depends upon a variety of factors – what’s good for the goose isn’t necessarily good for the gander.  Regardless of what the DLSUCET’s real or perceived difficulty level is, there are still certain things that you need to watch out for.

Of Essays, Formulas and Weirdness

Like the entrance exam of its arch-rival, the Ateneo de Manila University (Ateneo de Manila University’s entrance exam is known as the Ateneo College Entrance Test or ACET), expect the college entrance test of the De La Salle University to throw a couple of essay questions at you – one in English and one in Filipino.  Brush up on your bilingual skills or you may just find your nose bleeding during the exam.

You may also come across a host of spatial reasoning and trigonometry questions, so be prepared.  Don’t worry if the seemingly random ordering of the questions seems weird in a frustrating sort of way.  In all likelihood, you’re not the only one who’ll be thinking that come test time.

For the science and math portions, the trick is not to rely on stock knowledge alone.  This is what your DLSUCET exam review sessions are for.  If there was ever a time to re-familiarize your brain with formulas new and old, it is months or even years before you take the DLSUCET.

Extraneous Variables

In another article, I wrote about the need to bring a jacket, a sweater or anything that can help keep you warm.  There’s actually a good reason for this.

If the Fates have decreed that your exam be held in the Miguel room, the temperature of the place will stop you cold.  Let’s put it this way:  are you familiar with those brain freeze drinks?  Imagine them on steroids and you’ll get the picture.

As with any entrance exam, you will encounter a deluge of vehicular and human traffic en route to the testing site.  Cultivating the habit of being an early bird early on will not only get you the worm but the peace of mind that will help you do well in the DLSUCET.

The Bottom Line

How easy or how difficult is the DLSUCET, really?  Ask anyone and chances are you’ll get a variety of answers.  The test’s perceived difficulty level will change depending on a person’s background, academic training, talents, skills, etc.

If there’s more or less a general consensus about the DLSUCET, it’s that the test is not as much a time pressure cooker as the ACET is.  This doesn’t mean that you should rest on your laurels, though.  You will still need to confront a plethora of test questions – and answer a majority of them correctly in order to pass.

In closing, allow me to leave you with this piece of advice:  some people who lamented their “poor” performance in the DLSUCET actually made it.  Worrying about the difficulty of the exam is not your concern.  Breaking it down into something more manageable is.  Prepare for the DLSUCET as best as you can, and then go out there and give it your all.

Related posts:

1. The DLSUCET and DLSU Application Process
2. DLSUCET Application: Frequently Asked Questions
3. DLSUCET Results for AY 2011-2012 Freshmen
4. DLSUCET 2010 (AY 2011-2012) Application Ongoing
5. DLSUCET Review Guide
6. DLSUCET Schedule and Important Dates 2010: SY 2011-2012
7. DLSUCET Results Are Out!
8. DLSUCET Coverage
9. DLSUCET Tips
10. DLSUCET Schedule Changes
11. DLSUCET Schedule and Important Dates
12. Increasing your Chances of Passing the DLSUCET
13. What to Expect from the UPCAT
14. UPCAT, DLSUCET, ACET & USTET Application
15. DLSUCET Reconsideration Process