FIRST YEAR AND SECOND YEAR STUDENTS PREPARE FOR DEPARTMENTAL EXAMINATION

First and Second year students of UCC are now in preparation to pass the departmental examination and be qualified to continue their study in the university in June. 

The First year and Second year students of University of Caloocan City are required to take departmental examinations at the end of every semester. The examination will cover all the courses they took along the semester and will serve as the students’ requirement to become qualified and enroll for the next academic year. 

The departmental examinations are one of the requirements inclusive for first year and second year students. The computation for the grades that the students must acquire for their retention grade is equivalent to GWA 60% + Departmental Exam Average 40%. The exam will be divided into three different parts: General Education, Professional Education, and Specialization. The university gives two sets of examinations, the set A and the set B. The students who can pass their first take of the exam or the set A exam will be retained to their program, while students who failed in the set A can still have the chance to take the set B exams. In addition, the university offers a waiver for the students who might have failed in both set A and set B of exams. This waiver consists of terms and conditions that failed students must follow. However, this waiver can only be available for first year students and second year students in the first semester. This will only mean that second year students who are taking their departmental examination for the second semester can no longer avail the waiver once they failed both set A and set B of exams. Now, these students need to shift to other courses that do not require taking board exams after graduation.

During the day of the exam, the university has been requiring the students to be at school at their scheduled date and time, prepare their materials such as 2 pieces of  Mongol Pencil #2, sharpener, scratch paper, extra face mask, scientific calculator and alcohol. A proper attire must also be observed by the students taking the exam. These reminders were posted by the university in their Facebook page every departmental examination 

Students know that these kinds of examinations will prepare them for their board exams once they graduate. Although it puts a lot of pressure on them, students must make sure to have their reviewers ready and maintain a positive attitude towards their preparations. Last December 2022, a lot of students accomplished the departmental examination for the first semester, and they became qualified to enter the second semester. They must have prepared well, and become fully aware of how they are going to prepare once again for the following exams.

A student from the BSE English-Chinese program, Ms. Rona Jane Gula, has stated some tips to help examinees improve strategies in preparation for examinations. “Don’t procrastinate and create an organized reviewer”, she explains that procrastinating can add stress and pressure to students and affect their focus in reviewing. Also, messy and disorganized reviewers can lead the students to have a hard time understanding concepts. In addition, another student has said that bad health conditions and too much pressure are factors why they fail in exams. Indeed, not only the materials but also the health and a good mindset of the students must be in preparation as well. Students must take care of themselves and not be sick, especially during exam week. They must also have hopes and a positive mind that they will all pass these examinations.