Have you ever felt as if life was just one big test?  Whether you’re a student or a member of the workforce (or both) any vocation comes with certain requirements that need to be met in order to get to the so-called “next level”

Being admitted to a Science High School is no different.  One of these major requirements involves the taking and passing of admission exams.  Fortunately, you don’t have to remain in the dark about them.  This article will help shed a little light on the entrance tests for some of the science high schools available in the country.

The Admission Exams:  Then and Now

The exam to pass for Philippine Science (PSHS) is known as the National Competitive Examination (NCE).  It’s aptly named—you’ll be competing with around seventeen thousand other students for a highly-coveted slot in the school.

Prior to 2008, the NCE consisted of a two-step process.  The first phase involved a Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) while the second phase involved a Science Math Aptitude Test (SMAT).

PSHS has recently streamlined the testing process, though.  As of 2008, the NCE now consists of one and only one exam:  the SAT.  This exam measures four different areas of academic competency:  Verbal Aptitude, Quantitative Ability, Abstract Reasoning and Scientific Ability.  To learn about the application schedule of Philippine Science Highschool, click here.

On the other hand, Manila Science (MaSci) and Quezon City Science (QueSci) both feature exams designed along the same lines.  Their aptitude or achievement tests contain sections in English, Mathematics and Science.  To know the application schedule for Manila Science Highschool and Quezon City Science Highschool, click on the links provided.

The passing grade for the latter stands at seventy-five percent, and that’s only for the first screening.  Student hopefuls must be among the top two hundred fifty examinees in the second screening, and must also pass the interview portion in order to quality.

Beating the Odds

The Science High School entrance exams may seem intimidating at first glance, but just like any entrance exam, there are ways of evening the odds in your favor.  Allow me to share some tips with you based on my own experience with them.

If you’ve been paying attention to your grade school classes in Science, Math and English up to this point, then you have a really good chance of doing well.  It’s even better if your grade school has let you take an SAT at some point, as the science high school exams are similar in construction.

If you think you need to sign up for review classes or courses, then by all means, do so.  There’s no harm in asking for help if you really need it.  Having “mock exams” can be a big confidence booster.  Just make sure not study on the day before the exam—cramming won’t help you at all.

The other preparations mostly involve common sense.  If you believe in God, make it a point to pray and ask for His help.  Sleep early the night before the big day.  Eat a good breakfast on the morning of the exam.  You’ll be given a break in the middle of the testing session, so pack some healthy snacks and water to feed your mind.

Be sure to bring some sharpened pencils, a sharpener and an eraser.  The examiners will likely provide you with writing instruments, but it helps to have some of your own.  More importantly, keep your exam permit where you can easily find it.  Not having it on hand will get you into trouble.

Plan your travel time so that to arrive at the test venue some thirty minutes before the exam.  That will help you relax and psyche yourself up for it.  During my time, the volume of traffic was terrible.  Learn from my mistake and leave your house early enough.

Proper Perspective

In closing, I leave you with a bit of perspective:  this will be good training for your college entrance exams and for your college days as well.  Graduates of these science high schools all agree that their time in Pisay, MaSci or QueSci served them well when they got to the universities.  It may be difficult now, but it will all pay off someday.

Now go out there and knock those exams dead!

Suggested Reading:

1.  Science High School Entrance Exam: Abstract Reasoning Portion Tips and Coverage
2.  Science High School Entrance Exam: English Portion Tips and Coverage
3.  Science High School Entrance Exam: Science Portion Tips and Coverage
4.  Science High School Entrance Exam: Math Portion Tips and Coverage
5.  Increasing Your Chances of Passing the Philippine Science High School Entrance Test
6.  The Science of Applying for a Spot in a Science High School
7.  Philippine Science High Schools’ Culture and Campus Life
8.  What to Expect When Studying in a Science High School
9.  Financing Your Studies in Philippine Science High Schools
10. The Advantages of Studying in a Science High School

Eyeing a particular science high school for your secondary education?  Good for you.  As with any academic institution, though, science high schools have certain yardsticks with which to measure enrollees.  These can be fairly demanding as well.

All things considered, the application requirements in Philippine Science High School (PS), Manila Science High School (MaSci’s) and Quezon City Science High School (QueSci’s) are somewhat similar, albeit with some minor variations thrown in.  To help you prepare, here’s a summary of what they will, generally speaking, ask of you.

The Incoming Science High School Students’ Screening Process

The screening process for all three schools typically has three different phases.  The first phase involves meeting or exceeding the seventy-five percent cut-off score for that science high school’s entrance test.  The second phase involves being among the top examinees in that same entrance test.  The third and last phase involves passing the institution’s interview.

Before we proceed, do note that note that Philippine Science people have modified things with regard to the NCE or the National Competitive Examination-the prerequisite test for the said institution.  The NCE has been simplified down to a single Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT).

When you really think about it, the screening actually begins way before you meet with the science high school administration-that is, the last year of your grade school life.  You need to be part of the crème de la crème in your school in order to catch the eye of your target science high school’s administrators.

For example, Pisay looks for students in the upper ten percent of their class.  This is based on grade 5 rankings, as confirmed by the students’ school principal.  MaSci and QueSci require that you have a grade of at least eighty-five percent in Science and Math (plus English for QueSci), and grades of at least eighty-three percent in all other subjects.

Applying in a Science High School:  When You Don’t Fit the Bill

You may be thinking, “May I still apply even if I am not exactly an intellectual elite in my class?”  The answer is yes.

There’s a catch, however:  you’ll need to pass school recommendation letters from people with clout in your grade school (teachers, guidance counselors or the principal).  Also, your report card must reveal a certain aptitude for the hard sciences.  Still, it’s highly recommended that you go for that upper ten percent if you can, as it makes for a pretty good advantage come science high school application time.

Here’s even more intriguing stuff:  you’ll automatically be eligible for admission if you are among the Top Two or Three students (of if you are the top student) in your school.  The criteria of the science high school will ultimately depend on the size of the school you’ll be coming from.  Nevertheless, top students will still need to take a diagnostic exam.

Science High Schools’ Paperwork Galore

Passing the exam is just one part of the sci-high application phase; filling out the correct forms is another.  Besides completely filling up the forms, set aside a couple of identical mug shots-ID pictures of size 1×1 (complete with name tags) and a true copy of your official report card (must have your grade school’s seal) for the science high school’s authorities.

You’ll also need to shell out one hundred pesos for the processing fee.  Here’s the bummer:  aside from the fact that it’s non-refundable, the fee will only be charged to applicants from private schools-public school students are exempt from this fee.  It’s shrewd, but it’s par for the course.

Once you’ve sent in all the documents, the school will mail your science high school test permit to either you or your school principal.

Cutting It in Science High Schools:  The Non-Quantifiable Stuff

With the science high school exam and the paperwork to keep you occupied, you’d think that’d be enough, right?  Not quite.  The science high schools will also conduct physical examinations and interviews to make sure that you’re of sound mind and body.

For one thing, you must be fit enough to handle the academic training that the science high school will throw at you.  Passing out in the middle of an experiment won’t be of any benefit to you, after all.

It also helps if you can prove your “good moral character” as people like to call it.  There’s a fine line between genius and madness, and the science high schools won’t appreciate it if their students go on to become evil geniuses someday.

Besides these things, there are other factors that science high schools often consider.  One of the most important is that you be a native Filipino citizen with no immediate intention to migrate.  You must also not be older than fifteen by the time the school year you’re applying for rolls around.

Prepare for Your Science High School Application ASAP!

And there you have the gist of the general requirements for entry into a science high school.  It’s a tall order, but what else can you expect from the premiere institutions of secondary learning in the country?  The sooner you can start preparing for these, the better.  The application processes for science high schools can be very competitive, so any advantage you can give yourself, however small, will go a long way.