One week ago, I finally received the NMAT reviewer that I purchased from e-bay, which deducted more or less 400 pesos from my pocket (including delivery charge). I considered that as a better and more convenient option than to enroll in any one of the capitalistic review centers for NMAT (National Medical Admission Test). Also, sparing myself a thousand bucks by doing an arduous yet economical self-review instead of attending an expensive review class will save my mother from financial anxiety and will further give myself an opportunity to learn the basics of self-discipline. I ordered the first set of NMAT reviewer (200-pages reviewer/handouts)from an e-bayer who happened to be a third year medical student from Antipolo. Upon receiving the package, I purchased a ring-binder on our local bookstore to make the documents more organized and well-prepared for the three months that I will spend reviewing for that career-defining exam. Although the online registration for the April NMAT is not ready yet (usually, registration starts one month before the actual exam), I've already been reading the contents of the reviewer just to make some essence out of my long period of hibernation. Resources wise, I already compiled all the necessary information that will be of great help to me for the exam, including tips in acing the NMAT. For the record, NMAT consists of two parts:
Part I:
Verbal. This subtest consists of two types of test items, namely, word analogies and reading comprehension, which measure verbal ability in English. Items in reading comprehension are based on the content of portions of published materials covering a wide range of topics, e.g., social, scientific, medical,
philosophical, literary.
Inductive Reasoning. This subtest consists of number, letter, and figural series and figure grouping items. These items are known to measure induction which is the ability to form and test a hypothesis directed at finding a principle with which to identify an element fitting a given relationship.
Quantitative. This subtest consists of three types of items, namely, fundamental operations, problem solving, and data interpretation. These items are intended to measure general reasoning which is defined as the ability to organize and apply knowledge of basic mathematics and reasoning to find solutions for them.
Perceptual Acuity. This subtest consists of three types of items, namely, hidden figure, mirror image, and identical information. Solutions to these items involve accuracy in visual perception, an ability linked to extensiveness of scanning, a cognitive style associated with meticulousness, concern with detail, and
sharp, yet wide-ranging focus of attention.
Part II:
The four subtests that compose Part II are Biology, Physics, Social Science, and Chemistry. Social Science includes items in psychology, sociology, and anthropology. The items in the four subtests are limited to the content coverage of the areas that are common and basic to the curricula of the degree programs considered as premedical
courses. On the whole, these four subtests measure complex mental abilities because solution to the items require the use of the different cognitive skills of knowledge, comprehension, application (process), analysis, synthesis, and
evaluation.
Source: NMAT Online
The reviewer that I have in hand covers almost all the subjects included in Part 2 (Social Sciences, Biology, and Chemistry) and some from Part 1 (English and Mathematics). For a while, I have considered self-review as a better choice for it will bring out more the best in me but at this point in time, I'm still struggling to set aside at least 3 hours of daily review in preparation for the NMAT because of my busy daily schedule. I think my success for the NMAT lies on the strategy that I will apply in apportioning my time and practicing self-discipline. The subjects are purely basic and because I really want to ace the NMAT, I began my review 2 months ahead of time, not taking for granted all the information that I have learned from my past classes and from the reviewer itself. I also ordered the MSA NMAT Reviewer by Allan Carreon from the MSA website, but after almost one month of waiting, I have a strong feeling that I will never get the book either because of fraudulence or technical problems in the website itself. It will be better if you just purchase the book directly from bookstores. Nonetheless, it's really not of a great loss for me if I will base it on the reviews made by past NMAT takers for that specific book. Most of them said that the reviewer is far more difficult than the actual NMAT exam. Doing a comprehensive self-study and practice (upon registration, CEM will provide 2 sets of practice tests which according to past NMAT takers, are of a great help as far as having a good grasp of the actual exam is concerned) are still the best way to prepare. I'm still not halfway from finishing my self-review but with the grace from God and a sprinkling of perseverance and discipline, I know I can surpass the Herculean task of absorbing a major load of information that I badly need to get a good grade. And if you're going to take the same path this April, let's just hope and pray that God will give us the desires of our hearts. Good luck April 2010 NMAT takers!
My 'personalized' NMAT reviewer:
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