NMAT Review

Since I have a penchance for painfully long posts, I decided to make this entry a litte more eye-friendly.

Here are five tips/advice/personal learnings to help you on your NMAT test:

1. You don't really have to enroll in a review center. It all boils down on one thing: if you have the money, go enroll, but if you don't, then you don't have to. If you are like me who still relies on her parents' financial support, do your parents a favor and don't unload 5,000 pesos for a week's worth of review. It doesn't guarantee you anything anyway. A review center cannot feed you everything, studying on your own is still essential.

2. Answer the practice test. When I was reviewing for the NMAT, the one thing I usually asked is if the practice test is any similar with the exam given. And after taking the exam, I realize that it certainly is. The topics covered on the practice tests are the same ones given during the actual exam. Definitely read on the concepts on the practice test.

3. Study High School books. If I could be thankful for anything, that would be my brother's fourth year HS books. Believe me, if anything should cover for the Physics or Chem part, that would be reading HS stuff. You don't have to study mind contorting topics, just the basics.

3. The internet is your friend. One thing that really helped me is reading on forums about how people tackled the exam. I learned techniques which certainly helped me a lot. For the number/letter series, write the alphabet several times on the scratch sheet and draw a skipping line to determine the pattern. It is easier seeing the pattern visually rather than counting manually.

Also, there are numerous sources online to help you study for the exam. Read about it in this post.

4. Interview people who have taken the test before. Nothing beats actually sitting down on the exam venue. Talk to people who have taken the exam before, and have them tell you what is it actually like.

5. Last and most importantly, pray. Surely God is more powerful than any exam you would take.


Related posts:
NMAT Review Resources
Finally, the NMAT exam
My NMAT result

61 comments:

Anonymous said...

thanks for the tips. i'll probably take the NMAT on december. i'm currently studying at FEU-NRMF din to complete required subjects for med. Business Ad grad kasi ako. hahahaha

Anonymous said...

hey tanung lang po: april lang ba offered ang NMAT? im from davao city po kc tlga..

Anonymous said...

Hi the NMAT is offered twice in a year, April and December. If I'm not mistaken, the December NMAT is held in more areas in the Philippines compared to April. CEM will probably post announcements around October. Good luck on that. :)

Jezyrel said...

Thank you for these tips! These will definitely help me prepare for that.

Anonymous said...

I am planning to take the NMAT this DEC 09 and I just wanna ask if I'm too late for the application for SY 2010-2011?

Anonymous said...

The usual application period for med schools is from October to January. Although UP starts around September and ends wraps up by Dec.

angelito said...

Hi Aubrey,
Your blog is very inspiring. I'm also an RN and have been practicing in US since 95. I've always wanted to be a doctor but family influenced me to finish nursing instead.But that dream has always been inside of me after all these years.I thought once I've started reaping the benefits of my RN degree like the " US licensure", that dream would just vanish in an instant.I'm still trying to decide if I have enough time to review for an Oct'09 exam in CA. Is BSN enough as a pre-Med course or do I have to take extra lab course or any science course? Again, thank you for this blog and good luck with your application.

Anonymous said...

I'm planning to apply for UP but I'm going to take my NMAT on Dec 09, can I make it to the application period?

Anonymous said...

Hi Mr. Angelito. Thank you very much for your comment, it really is some sort of enlightenment (I don't know if you have read my other posts, but I'm quite on a forked road right now over my future career).

If you will be taking med here in the Philippines, your BSN degree should be enough. Very rarely does any school require additional units for graduates of Health science courses--attribute it to the declining applicants to med school. Ateneo is the only one I've heard requiring applicants to actually have all the prescribed units. Hope I helped. Thanks for visiting. :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Mr/Ms Anonymous. The UPCM website has been recently updated. According to the admission information, the NMAT results for 2010-2011 applicants should be from Dec 2008 to Dec 2009. So the answer is yes. :)

Unknown said...

Thanks for this!

Anonymous said...

Good job! ..some words of encouragement, being a doctor is not only for those who can afford medical school. If you're determined to be one, don't put your dreams aside. There are means on how to get through if you're really dedicated.

ericson said...

Hi everyone! Does anyone have any idea how much a semester or school year would cost in med school? I'm eying to enter UST FMS and also UPCM but the latter require a high percentage of the NMAT score. Any good books to read for the NMAT?

Aubrey said...

UST I think ranges from 85 to 90 thousand per sem.

Anonymous said...

@ericson - ateneo med school charges 100k per semester and you have to go through 10 semesters.

Anonymous said...

wow....your information is very helpful..
i'm a foreigner who would like to take medicine education in the philippines..
my friend who is a business graduate want 2 take MD in philippines, how can he take prerequisite to enter medschool?
and how can i register 4 taking nmat?

Aubrey said...

Hi Anonymous. Please check CEM's website (cem-inc.org.ph) for the updated info on how to register for the NMAT. They also offer testing outside the country so you might also want to look into that. As for your friend, it would do him well to get in touch with the schools he's interested in. Med schools have different policies so there is no one-size-fits-all course of action. Good luck! :)

Anonymous said...

ei I am just grateful on your post here.. I am just wondering if I still need to take additional subjects since I specialize in educational psychology. Do I still need to take required subjects for me to take NMAT? thanks and hope you can answer this.. Godbless.

Aubrey said...

Hi. Really I'm not sure but the units will matter significantly when you start applying to med schools. They generally require units similar to CEM's.

Anonymous said...

hi...im currently in 4th yr BSN and someone advised me to take NMAT this dec 2010.is that possible even though im still an undergrad?

Aubrey said...

Of course. If you're taking the boards next year, it would be much better if you take the NMAT ahead of time.

Unknown said...

THanks that made me feel alooot better im taking it again this december!

vince said...

hi! I'm also an RN I'm planning to take the NMAT this december. Should I first go to the school or just after the exam? I really have no idea how to start.. please help.. thanks in advance

Aubrey said...

Ideally you take the NMAT first before applying. But since med schools are either strict with their required units or not, it would be worth to research what units your choice schools require. Perhaps you could plan from there.

Anonymous said...

ok lng ba sa medicine ang average lng ang utak? :D thanks :D

Aubrey said...

First off, 'average' is a relative description. And second, Med school is not for the uber duper intelligent but for the uber duper adaptable and perseverant. :)

Anonymous said...

I have a question... Is there a expiration of the NMAT result if i pass?

Anonymous said...

Hi aubrey, I enrolled at Brains and we had our pre-review exam and I only got 5 percentile rank. Im so disappointed.

Anonymous said...

Hi there! I read almost all your entries and I must say, your blog is far from dry.. very informative and witty.. I am nurse also. I graduated back in 2005 and has been involved in clinical researches/trials, public health, NGO work and even as a hospital staff... So newly grad fellow RNs don't despair, there are many sides of our profession (other than the mundane task of understanding the penmanship of MDs). :-) Go into med school for the right reason..
After 5 yrs of practicing, $$ spent for yearly renewal of my US license, Post-deg units of Epidemiology (still pursuing my Masters and hopefully finish next year), I'll be taking NMAT this year and get into med school somehow (while thinking that I'll probably be older than the rest of my batch) haha.. because even after all these years, rewarding experience as RN & discouragement from other MDs (far cry from glitz and glamor like in the "House" and "Scrubs"), my longing to become an MD is still there. I had to ask myself, am I ready to give everything up and get into med school? Unlike in the past, my answer this time is Yes, I am now sure.. So here I am, balancing my masters deg, work and review for the NMAT (self-study)..and if God will permit, enroll in med school next year.
BTW, 1 of my friend left his illustrious career as US-RN and went back to study med (UP-med). He is now on his 3rd year. Another friend of mine will be coming back from US as well to take up medicine next year.. So there, in the end, we shall say, This is the path I have chosen and I have never been more content. :-) (Sorry for the uber long post)

Anonymous said...

Hi, my name is Gracie, I went to bookstores they don't have books that says nmat reviewers, wer cud I get one

Anonymous said...

Hi ate aubrey, I am a 3rd year nursing student. I plan on taking nmat this december. I just want to ask if it is advisable to have a 1 year break before entering med school? :)

Anonymous said...

mhi aubrey, thanks for ll ur blogs, very inspiring. i am actually a nurse too, graduated in 1999 fr UST with honors and came to US in 2002. so , ive been a US RN forever ... but lately, i wake up in the middle of the nite, wandering where i am heading. being a MD has been my lifelong dream but bec of financial reasons, so i settled for nursing. financially speaking, I am making a decent amt of money as a US RN but I am not satisfied at all. i am asking myslef- shld i leave my stable Rn job and take a plunge in the med school which will require a lot of sacrifices on my part but will pay off and make me really satisfied in the long long? So, i decided to get d some info abt NMAT and hope to take it next year. I've been off school for a decade now, and really need a good refresher course.Ur blog has been agreat help and i thank u. so my dear, goodluck to u... ane me and everyone willing to walk another mile just too fulfill their childhood dreams... melanie

desiree said...

hi aubrey, i always drop by on ur page and just like you, being a doctor is my ultimate dream,. i just pass d NLE last july and im planning to take d NMAT ds december, but for some reasons i may not enter med school immediately and my parents wants me to feel the pleasure of working before deciding if i really want to pursue medicine., I already registered for NMAT december so definitely, i will take d exam.. How long will be the validity of the NMAT results if ever i may not enroll med ds coming school year? and i am preasured with regards to the contents of the exam since i already forgot the basic lessons on bio, chem, algebra and physics,. do u think d remaining days would be enough for me to review? i only have less than 1 month., :( whew!tnx and i hope u would help me with this,. ill be looking forward for ur response,.

Anonymous said...

i just received my nmat result and was really surprised to see that i got a 98 percentile..surprised because i havnt had time to study at all since im currently a volunteer nurse(which means, after duty hours,i come home and plop myself in bed and sleep). the practice set was really helpful(even if i only finished the first part adn biology of the 2nd part)it gave me an idea of what the exam consists of. but then, even with this high percentile rank,im woried i wont get into the schools i want. super colorful kasi ng tor q (owing to my bad study habits and bad lifestyle during undergrad yrs). please advice me on skuls i should go for, taking the abovementioned concern into consideration. tnx poh..:)

MAE said...

Thank you Aubrey.. i got the percentage rank i needed to be enrolled in my chosen school.. thank you so much to your blog.. to you ..i wish i can have a chance to thank you personally... i took the exam last december 12,2010

millions ans millions of thanks...

And most of all to our holy mighty GOD..

Kiterunner said...

your blogs are a God send to me, I am in the UK and plan to take the exam in 2011, the CEM website is great but its still not enough.
thank you

Anonymous said...

I took the nmat just this dec 12, 2010, and I got a good score (99 percentile). I'm not sure if they're going to accept this score, though, because I'm only in my third year of my pre med (I will graduate on 2012, but I will be applying for med schools on december 2011). Will they accept it or do I have to be a graduating student on the school year I took the exam?

Anonymous said...

im planning to take NMAT this coming april, i want to enroll in a review center for NMAT but i dont have any idea for good review center:(., can any body help me?

Anonymous said...

Hi Aubrey! I just took the exam a week ago and just got my score earlier today--I got 92! I just want to thank you for writing this blog. I found it very very helpful for me and for others who are planning to pursue a career in medicine. Your advice helped alot!

I was a little hesitant to self-review but after reading your blog and nmat forums, I figured review centers would just be a waste of cash. I also followed your advice about making a study schedule (although I don't really do "schedules") and it really helped me manage my time so I can cover all the topics.

By the way, I noticed that the exam was a bit harder than the practice tests, especially the Biology part.

Well anyway, thanks again. Good luck with school and God bless! Sorry I had to write this long. Just wanted to really thank you and also share my experience.

- B

Anonymous said...

Hi Ms. Audrie =) Do u know the total number of unemployed nurses, doctors, care givers and physical therapists in our country, year 2011? in would help a lot if separately divided into Luzon, Visaya and Mindanao. Could u help me find it?
Thanks a lot! GOD bless =)

Anonymous said...

Hi guys, wondering if there is age limit to be accepted to med school in the phil. Thanks

Anonymous said...

ate aubrey, hi! ^_^
Im jeanine. i was surfing the net and came to read your posts. YOU'RE Sooooooo AMAZING! ^___^

anyway, im a graduating student at OLFU taking BSN degree. I really wanted to proceed in med June next yr if god permits. i was wondering if i can take NMAT this december though i still havent finished my BSN degree. could that be possible?
thank you ^^,

Anonymous said...

hi there...

im so interested in taking the test but i don't know where will i register for the exam...
i need your help... T_T

Anonymous said...

it was very inspiring ma'am! thank you for you're kindness, for sharing this things to us! I hope to have that kind of achievement this coming december! God Bless you.. =p

혜림101 said...

Hi! Can you please tell me where can I find the schedules for registration and the actual exam. I'm planning to take the NMAT this coming 2012 and I have no idea where can I find the dates open for registration thanks.

chum almaquer said...

hey. im chum almaquer from iloilo and im currently studying at WVSU bs bio. thank you for some of your tips! hopefully i can pass this december. and im also considering an nmat review center, but as what you have posted, im having thought about enrolling. haha. God bless!:)

Mariel Tan said...

hi! question? ahmm.. where od you get the practice test?

Anonymous said...

hi can somebody answer please. how many items would be part 1 and part 2 and what's the time allotted for both parts? thanks so much.

maiko estrella said...

hi! im maiko estrella. im still finishing my MS in chem and i decided to try med. at first i was hesitant since im already in my thesis stage, and if in case this med plan works out, id be leaving my thesis which is my last requirement for ms. anyway, i just took the nmat last week. and since im in 3rd year of my MS program, everything else, aside from chem, is i guess pretty rusty. i religiously followed your advice. i read the same materials that you read, i even bought the msa reviewer from sm fairview even if i leave like in caloocan/tondo area cause there's no stock anywhere else. i just want to thank you like alot.^^ good luck and God bless with med :)

Anonymous said...

hello po mis aubrey im redmund ask lang po ako kung pano maka register sa NMAT, via online lang po bah? from cdo kasi sana ako nursing grad po ako gusto ko sanang mag enrol sa manila pero sabi nila don lang daw po pede mag exam... thank you po at hapyy new year..

Anonymous said...

Hello,i'm Kai and I'm planning to took up med. in Iloilo but I don't know where and how to start.. Pls..help me..pls...

Anonymous said...

i would just like to ask if may validity period po ba ang NMAT? for ilang years ba sya valid and if kung magtake ako this march, will it still be honored kung next 2013 pa ako mag-enroll? thanks. God bless! :)

Anonymous said...

hi miss aubrey at sa lahat...tanung ko lang po, im a bsn then i planned to continue sa med.school, ilang years po kaya bago ka maging general practitioner?

Anonymous said...

@redmund and @ Kai - try to check it here: http://www.cem-inc.org.ph/nmat

@aubrey- im planning to take the NMAT exam this march2012 pahinge ng last minute tips po sana :) haha..minute tlga? LOL:)) im scared and nervous to be honest lang po. im rain from Tacloban City and currently pass the DEC. 2011 NLE.

Anonymous said...

Hi. I wud like to ask when will be the next schedule of NMAT for 2012? I know that it's done twice a yr, march and december? if im not mistaken.. or it could be march and october..grr.. i dont know...pls. enlighten me folks... thanks :))

Anonymous said...

valid pa ba ung NMAT ko which i took last december 2012 'coz i'm planning to take up medicine this coming school year? your answers will be highly appreciated.. :)

Anonymous said...

ms aubrey i asked when and where is the next nmat sched for 2012. i'm presently working as medical technologist and been working for more than 9 year but the call inside me is still linger so i said to my self i will give a try. hope to hear from u soon! thank you!

Anonymous said...

Hey!...the info on your blog is pretty helpful:-) Could you please tell me what are the main topics you need to cover for maths and sociology in NMAT...as i am a bio student...i dont know high level maths(like calculus) nor sociology.. would be of gr8 help if u cud give me an idea.

fon said...

Thanks to your blog Ms. Aubrey and to that other blog that gave out the advise na focus rin on Physics and Chem, I got my target grade sa nmat :) Salamat nang marami!:D

Marian said...

Thanks for this. My brother started the NMAT review, he wants to be a doctor and this is the first step to pass the exam. I'll share this blog to him so that he'll have ideas about the exam. Thanks!

Unknown said...

Hi Ms Aubrey. Can I ask where is the venue if you take the exam in visayas when it's scheduled on april.?