Just came back from the ASEAN Scholarship's 2 day Selection Test, or should I say, 2-day thorough 'screwing'. Tired and exhausted, not to mention feeling pissed at myself for not performing in the Maths paper. Ah well, life's like that, we all have our off days.
From what I observed, there were about 200 over students taking the test, about 70% of those taking the pre-u test. All of us were tested on the very same subjects, which are English, Maths and a general ability test which I'll elaborate later. Maths was pretty tough and I totally underestimated the standards of the Singaporean Maths. And now, it has come back with vengence and totally bit off my a**. For starters, I couldn't finish the 25 questions on time, and with 2 freaking chapters not yet taught but tested, I guess my scores for this test would surely absymal.
English was, as expected, a level above ours. Vocabulary was not madly difficult, though the summary was not what I was accustomed to doing. Essay on the other hand was a rush against time. Why? You know how long they gave us to write the 350-word essay? Half an hour. There was totally no time for any planning, let alone and draft work. It was full speed ahead from the very moment we got our papers. And the topic? Let's see, there was something about 'Elders have their role to play in society' and the other was 'Computers have benefited mankind in every aspect. Do you agree?' Yes, factual essays and only HALF-AN-HOUR to write. Practically broke my hand trying to finish the darn essay.
That was yesterday. Today we had what was known as the general ability test. In actual fact, it was more like an IQ test or some sort of logical test. But the truth is, it's actually almost the same, if not the exact paper given by MENSA for their admission test, or at least one of the question sets available. I suppose those who recently took the MENSA test and passed would have found it strangely familiar and probably managed to ace through the questions without much hiccups. Then again, I couldn't really see from the faces of those who walked out of the room today whether or not they were confident of their two-day performance. Then again, this being a highly competitive scholarship, I suppose most had their poker face on.
Ah well, I suppose in life all we can do is work hard and pray that god takes care of the rest. May the best get the scholarship.
From what I observed, there were about 200 over students taking the test, about 70% of those taking the pre-u test. All of us were tested on the very same subjects, which are English, Maths and a general ability test which I'll elaborate later. Maths was pretty tough and I totally underestimated the standards of the Singaporean Maths. And now, it has come back with vengence and totally bit off my a**. For starters, I couldn't finish the 25 questions on time, and with 2 freaking chapters not yet taught but tested, I guess my scores for this test would surely absymal.
English was, as expected, a level above ours. Vocabulary was not madly difficult, though the summary was not what I was accustomed to doing. Essay on the other hand was a rush against time. Why? You know how long they gave us to write the 350-word essay? Half an hour. There was totally no time for any planning, let alone and draft work. It was full speed ahead from the very moment we got our papers. And the topic? Let's see, there was something about 'Elders have their role to play in society' and the other was 'Computers have benefited mankind in every aspect. Do you agree?' Yes, factual essays and only HALF-AN-HOUR to write. Practically broke my hand trying to finish the darn essay.
That was yesterday. Today we had what was known as the general ability test. In actual fact, it was more like an IQ test or some sort of logical test. But the truth is, it's actually almost the same, if not the exact paper given by MENSA for their admission test, or at least one of the question sets available. I suppose those who recently took the MENSA test and passed would have found it strangely familiar and probably managed to ace through the questions without much hiccups. Then again, I couldn't really see from the faces of those who walked out of the room today whether or not they were confident of their two-day performance. Then again, this being a highly competitive scholarship, I suppose most had their poker face on.
Ah well, I suppose in life all we can do is work hard and pray that god takes care of the rest. May the best get the scholarship.
7 comments:
If you can get the scholarship, it is good. Even if you get it, I still advise you not to go. Malaysia may not have the best schools, but you don't have to go there for the torture.
no stress dude :D it'll be fine, I'm sure you did as well as everyone else ;) all the best!
to mun: ic, and i suppose you based this statement based on personal experience? or from ur friends?
to xacrest" LOL...oh well..thx anyways
To Mun:
I am a recipient of the scholarship and I don't think it's a torture here. It's all a matter of getting used to the change from malay to english. Judging from Hobart's blog, I can tell that his grasp of the english language is really good (much better than mine), and he shouldn't have too much of a problem in Singapore if he does get and accept the scholarship.
:D just my personal opinion.
Anyway, I think that Singapore is overrated. Life here gets mundane after awhile. This country is too systematic in my opinion.
To Hobart
If you think you aced the IQ test, then you shouldn't have any worries, because the main main thing to get the scholarship is a high score in the IQ test. Of course you can't fail the math and english test though. Actually, a few years back, the scholarship board did give out the actual Ravens test booklet for the IQ test. A old old yellow faded booklet. But now, the got their own psychologists to tweak the test and made it their own. It's pretty much the same though. Just different symbols.
A CL alumni here and agree with what "passerby" said above.
I did not study A-levels in Singapore, but I came here after my STPM to study in NUS. It's been 5 years since, and I am doing fine.
My own two cents is to go for it! See my posting here:
http://tempinis.wordpress.com/2007/10/28/studying-in-singapore/
to passerby:
thx for your comments...i think the IQ test is quite similar to the MENSA Test I did last year
to all: I suppose everyone has idea of singapore being a pressure cooker...but judging from the comments of a few here i suppose there's still a lot more to that...and i guess the only way i'll be able to find out is by going there and finding it out myself..
to tempinis:
sure thing
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