Passing the Board Exam is a free eBook by Malditang

Librarian, available on the Malditang Librarian blog.

©2018

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 Table of Contents

Prayer for Test Takers ..................................................4

Introduction.................................................................5
Studying Tips Part 1: Study Smarter .............................6
Studying Tips Part 2: On the Actual Exam ...................11
“The Secret” of Topping the Board .............................18
5 things to Remember in Preparing for the Board ......24
6 Ways to Improve Your Focus ...................................27
Review Center or Self-Review? Pros and Cons ............30
Don’t Overlook your Health .......................................33
Encouragement for the Board Exam (that has nothing
to do with studying) ...................................................34
5 Reasons to strive for the Top Spot or Top 10, and 1
downside when you succeed .....................................36
5 Bible Verses for your Review ...................................39
Congrats, you passed! So, what's next? ......................42
Failure is not the End .................................................45
Tips for the 6 Subjects of the LLE ................................48
Helpful Links ..............................................................50
Recommended Reading .............................................51
About the Author .......................................................53

3
 Prayer for Test Takers
Lord, I pray that You
will give us the
strength, health, and wisdom
that will enable us to
pass this board exam.

We pray for wisdom and understanding

for all the things we must study,
Help us remember
that our work will give honor
and glory to your Name.

Help us understand,
that all Wisdom comes from You alone,
and You give to those who ask.
Help us Remember,
that it is You alone and the
strength you give us can
make us pass any test or trial.

In the name of Jesus Christ,

Amen.

4
 Introduction
This little free eBook contains my posts and some
additional content on board exam tips from my blog,
Malditang Librarian. After passing and topping the
Librarians' board exam last 2015, people often asked me
how I did it. So instead of talking about the same
strategy all over again, I started to write about them on
my blog. Since the posts have become diverse over time,
I decided to compile them into one downloadable
format so I can share it with anyone who asks. These tips
are written not just for future librarians but anyone who
needs encouragement during the review. These are
applicable to other professional board exams as well.

The board exam is a stepping stone to your future and

career. Remember that while it is important, it’s not
everything. Whether we pass or fail the board exam, we
still learn valuable lessons about ourselves. It doesn’t
end in the board exam. We professionals must continue
to learn and educate ourselves.

This book is dedicated to my BLIS and MLIS family

(especially the #LibrarySerye and #TatlongBebe, MLIS
batch 2016 friends) in Central Philippine University, Iloilo
City. I thank my friends, classmates, teachers, students,
and librarians who have inspired me to continue
reaching towards my full potential.

Malditang Librarian
March 2018 / Iloilo City, Philippines
5
 Studying Tips Part 1: Study Smarter
How to be good at studying boils down to this: finding
the method that works best for you and using that. In
my opinion, most successful students don’t work ‘hard’
at studying, they work ’smart’ - they find the style most
efficient for them, thus they don’t have to spend a lot of
time studying. But don’t feel bad or compare your
studying style to others if you are a bit slower - you can
overcome these by effort. Your studying style is unique,
and you must experiment with what works for you.

I learn best by writing, so this studying method served

me well in college: listening to lectures and taking notes,
then reading books and taking notes from them as well.
When there are readings to study, I read it three times:

• The first reading is from beginning to end, to get a

gist of the topic;
• The second reading is highlighting and underlining
the important points, so I know the parts to focus
on when I reread;
• The third reading is rewriting them in my own
words, creating a short ‘reviewer’ and this is the
main thing I reread and review when I study.

These shorter notes are what I use in study sessions.

This method may look intensive and time-consuming but
it actually saves me time. By going over the text many

6
times, I am imprinting them in my memory. When I
write the concepts in my own words, my understanding
and memory are strengthened. The book that I
recommend on studying is How to Study by George
Fillmore Swain, it’s a short read and free on Project
Gutenberg [link].

The board exam is a unique test and presents its own

challenges. I recommend Mila M. Ramos’s pamphlet,
Facing the Librarian’s Licensure Examination Challenge
(2014). According to her, the exam tests basic entry-
level practice for librarianship so it’s enough to
familiarize yourself with the basics. In my review, I spent
time memorizing a lot of laws, LC, and DDC, but to my
surprise, only a few questions got out and they were the
very basics! So, it’s pretty ‘dangerous’ to just memorize,
especially if you memorize things that will not go out of
the exam anyway. Understanding is the key because
there will be many situational items where your
decision-making will be tested. If you understand the
concepts well, you will not find it difficult to answer
these questions.

If you are attending a review class, I suggest that you

listen first and leave the notes for later. Try to
concentrate on the lecture (even if it can be difficult
during the afternoon when you want to sleep). Highlight
the text later, within 24 hours after the lecture. My
method is reading the text, highlighting the important
keywords (I have a personal color coding system: yellow

7
for names, orange for dates or time periods, pink for
book titles, green for general keywords to remember),
then underlining the brief explanation. I do this so when
I review the notes again, I only read the highlighted and
underlined words and phrases. Revisit the notes
frequently, by intervals, to increase your memory and
retention.

If you find it hard to remember names, then associate it

with a person you know. Me and my roommate used
this a lot. For he personages in Management and
Cataloging, we used their names as nicknames for
people we know. For example, there was a person in
Management named Fred Fiedler, who founded
contingency management. There’s a dog named Fred in
our boarding house and we called him by the name of
the theorist and associated qualities of the concept to
Fred the dog. I research the person on the net to find
out more about his life.

There is no such thing as being too early or alert when

preparing your documents for PRC application.
Constantly check schedules and announcements on their
website. Be informed.

Also, while you’re on the internet, don’t just browse

social networking websites. Subscribe to news sites
about librarianship and find out about the latest trends.
Don’t simply rely on your handouts, reviewers, and
practice exams. Some questions were not tackled in the

8
review, but fortunately, I was aware of them because I
read them on the net but never did I imagine they would
go out of the exam. Sometimes all those wasted hours
on the internet have their advantages.

Make use of technology. Most of us now have smart

phones and tablets, so make use of them. I downloaded
useful apps such as flashcards, voice recorders, and
virtual notebooks. I also played a lot of abstract brain
training games such as Memorado and Lumosity, they
help in keeping your mind alert. The apps I found most
useful in my review are Documents for iOS (I didn’t bring
all my papers from Iloilo City but just placed the readings
here to save space and weight in your luggage) and
Evernote (the web clipper is very useful when you’re
browsing the net and you need to save the pages easily.

Also, research review sources on the net. I still read and

viewed free online classes on the subjects I was studying
on.

Last word: in your review, listen to other people’s

suggestions, especially from those who have already
passed the exam. But their style isn’t your style. Thank
them for their good intentions, but do what you know is
best for yourself. During my review, people told me not
to attend the regular review in UP because its expensive,
people asking if I was already going crazy from all the
studying because I didn’t have a job during the longer
part of my review. These comments will eat away at

9
your mind but don’t let them. Focus. Remember, if you
pass the exam no one can say anything anymore
because all your effort paid off. Sometimes these light
mocking of my serious effort can make me feel bad. But
keep going! When your name is on the passers’ list
comes they will rejoice for you and your school anyway!

Remember: the board exam isn’t hard. You just need the
desire to pass and then direct all your effort and
resources to attain that goal. What’s more difficult is the
real exam that comes after in the real world of
librarianship. After the board, I still faced a lot of
challenges and had to learn a lot. Topping or passing the
exam doesn’t mean anything in the long run if you don’t
take the initiative to improve yourself and help the
profession.

10
 Studying Tips Part 2: On the Actual
Exam
FIRST, before all the tips, you need a mental adjustment.
DECLARE that you will work hard and that you will PASS.
There's no space for even a bit of negativity here. I know
someone who kept on saying that 'Boys are smarter
than girls, but girls are just a lot more focused on
studying'. It pissed me off because I did not agree. In my
opinion, boys and girls start with the same brain, it
depends on effort and not gender. She did not pass, I
don't want to blame her exam result on this wrong
belief, but you don't need the baggage of these
assumptions in your head. They will not help you pass
the exam. You need a sharp, single-minded focus, a vow
to yourself that you will do your best.

I talked to someone in CPU handling the board exam

reviews for the different courses such as Engineering,
Accountancy, and Nursing, and she said that the
students who have been in the top 10 for their board
exams already believed and visualized that they would
be successful in the exam. They always imagined their
names of the passers' list, walking among the top 10 in
the oath-taking ceremonies. I myself do this and it was
effective. It isn't being ilusyonada, but filling your mind
with positive images about passing will also boost your
motivation to study hard. But don't expect to pass if you

11
only pray or visualize without proper studying! Passing
entails hard work and not magic.

Correct studying involves understanding and not mere

memorizing. I also know someone who wasn't so
confident in her ability to understand so she memorized
instead. Bad move! If you truly understand, memorizing
will be easier. Understanding takes more effort but it is
more effective.

But also, don't take it too seriously that you will hurt
yourself if you fail! Envision it, but don't get too attached
to that. Pray, but also be realistic about your abilities. If
you know you prepared well and studied hard, you're
halfway to passing. If you don't succeed this time,
there's always another chance and it isn't the end of the
world or your dreams. Lots of people passed the second
time.

If your parents are willing to support you, then I suggest

going to a full-time review, or if you can't, take a leave
from work for at least two weeks for focused study
(depends on your skills, I had a year of focused
reviewing while volunteering in various libraries). If you
are attending a formal review, such as UP-SLIS, make the
most of the materials. But keep in mind that attending a
review class will not guarantee your passing if you don't
have your own effort.

12
The formula for passing is pretty simple: read the basics
of each subject, research on new trends, and the most
important is taking practice exams. Memorizing and
understanding are not enough, you must be adept at
taking tests. You must have good reading
comprehension, a good grasp of context clues, and be
able to pick the right choice among A, B, C, and D.
Sometimes you may not have an idea about the
question, but some detective-work in analyzing the
choices will help you make an intelligent guess on the
right choice.

Don't just read your past lessons, but balance it with

answering practice exams. It isn't only about mastering
the topics but knowing how to take tests. I answered
lots of practice exams until I was scoring about 90-100%
in them.

I suggest that you study and focus, the earlier the better,
so you can relax for the final days leading to the exam. If
you know that you already did your best in studying,
there is no need to cram. Cramming often worsens the
pressure, it doesn't help. As long as you covered and
mastered the basics of the subjects, then you are safe.
But study all subjects with equal dedication. I know
someone who got a grade of 74.85% when the passing
grade is 75%, due to a low score on one subject! Imagine
how frustrating that 0.15% must be! So try your best to
excel in all subjects during the exam.

13
Now, I will write about answering techniques on actual
the exam. I'm not here to tell you about the PRC
requirements, that's your job to find out (and because I
also forgot and I am too lazy to list them down here
because they might change anyway, ask PRC). Check the
location and room assignment, usually posted on the
PRC website a few days before the exam. Make sure you
bring all the requirements and be on the exam site
before 6:30 AM. If you're taking the exam in Manila,
consider the traffic so you must be there a lot earlier.

Things to bring
You need a good pencil (Mongol #2) and a good eraser. I
recommend using a white Staedtler eraser, I suggest
that you buy a new, clean one. This exam is a 'war' and
you need the proper weapons – a good pencil and a
reliable eraser. Though be very careful about shading
answers, be sure that before you shade that it is your
final answer. Only use the eraser sparingly and when it is
really needed. Don't shade the tiny boxes too darkly that
you might pierce the paper, and don't be so energetic in
erasing either because you might erase the print!

Be very careful about handling the answer sheet, if you

handled it wrong and it would be rejected by the
machine checking the answers, then goodbye to all your
effort if you don't pass because of these details!
Remember that this is as important as reviewing.

14
These tips are inspired by Arch. Raison Bassig’s board
exam tips on his blog [link]. I tried his suggestions but
modified them to what works best for me. These worked
for me, and these are only suggestions but it is helpful to
have a systematic way to answer the test, especially for
the multiple-choice type test (which is actually
fortunate, the answer is already there, you just have to
choose wisely!).

On the actual test

Keep your answer sheet clean, I suggest that you answer
the questionnaire first before transferring your final
answers to the answer sheet. In the test, after
answering, checking, and rechecking; I allotted the last
40 minutes of each exam session for final checking and
reviewing and shading my final answers (you may take
longer, depends on the difficulty and your reading
speed).

FIRST, scan the test paper from beginning to end. Speed-

read through the questions. Since you have read and
studied a lot during your review and your brain has loads
of information, reading the whole test ahead prompts
your brain to remember and focus only on the topics of
the questions. Answer all the easy questions that you
already know the answer to.

Use the questionnaire as your thinking and

brainstorming scratch pad. You are not allowed to make
unnecessary marks on the answer sheets but you are

15
free to write on the questionnaires. Write your notes
and whatever mnemonics that can help you remember. I
had a system for classifying answers, according to
whether I was sure or not (you can use other symbols,
depends on your preference)

• Star - answers I was very sure of.

• Square - answers I am 25-50% sure.
• Circle - Questions I didn't know anything about
and I'm only answering using an educated guess.

These help me see the answers that I need get back to. I
spent more time analyzing the questions I marked with a
circle and a square. These can also help me estimate my
grade and have a guess if I have a good chance of
passing the subject or not.

It helps to pray before, during, and after the exam. I

remember that even if I was already shading my final
answers, I kept on praying inside, that Lord, please let
this be correct, help me pass and top this exam!

Final and obvious tip: use all the time you are given.
There are two hours for every subject and use it to the
last second. Don't be intimidated by those who are
passing the papers early. Be thorough in reviewing your
answers before passing the paper.

16
After the exam
Relax. Don't stress over things that you can't do anything
about anymore. Plan a date with yourself, refresh, and
keep the exam out of your mind until the exam results
go out. If you pass, congrats! If you don't, keep going.
But remember, the exam is not everything. It is the
challenge you must pass, but there is still so much work
ahead. Don't stop studying or learning about the
profession you chose.

God bless, and work hard!

17
 “The Secret” of Topping the Board
Many people ask me the ‘secret’ of topping the board
exam as if there was a top-secret magical formula. There
is no one ‘secret’, and it would be too long anyway if I
try to say it, but I will try to tell you. I graduated last
April 2014, so I had a year to review before the board
exam in April 2015. My mother advised me that I focus
on the review first. She has experienced the Bar Exams,
probably the most difficult exam in the country. She
knew that I have to really prepare for an exam like this.

For me, the most important thing if you want to pass the
board is to understand the basic things well while in
school. When I was researching board exam tips, they
always say that the review starts in school, not after
graduation. If you understand the basics now, you will
not find the review difficult. Also, learn all you can
during your practicum or OJT. It’s important to have
some experience in the library - this is not only for the
board exam but your future work.

Remember the acronym WTF if you want to pass the

board. WTF, which stands for Willpower, Test-taking
skills, and of course, F which stands for Faith.

First, willpower. If you are going to take the board, be

determined! Claim that you will pass and work hard for
that goal. As they say, “The prepared beats the
intelligent.” But its best if you’re already smart, and
18
you’re also prepared, there’s no chance you’ll fail. Make
the most of your God-given talents. In the exam, it’s not
only your preparedness or intelligence that counts but
also ‘lakas ng loob’ (inner strength/conviction). My
mother did not say ‘Good luck’ or ‘God bless’ but what
she said was ‘Be strong’ - have determination, to make
the most of your time, and not give in to stress,
pressure, and all your negative thoughts.

Second, test-taking skills. Remember, there are 6

subjects for the board exam and each has 100 items of
multiple-choice questions. The correct answer is already
there, you just have to choose. So, the most effective
strategy would be to train yourself on how to answer
multiple-choice questions. In the exam, you cannot
know what exact questions will come out… and here
what will help you is reading comprehension and logic -
use elimination. I answered hundreds of mock exams
and focused on studying my mistakes. Also, according to
research, the best way of learning is taking tests. In
taking mock exams you are imitating the environment of
the exam and will be ready and prepared when the time
comes. In my review, I balanced practice exams and
reading notes.

Of course, you must work hard, but find time to rest and
relax. It’s not that I didn’t sleep anymore or I had
tremendous discipline because that’s not true, the
challenge was to fight my laziness. If you feel tired after
studying, then give yourself a break. Just think of the

19
exam as another final exam to pass. Our minds also need
rest. In my review, I set a day, every Monday, to not
think about the exam, to just walk around UP Diliman,
visit coffee shops and treat myself to a ‘brain break’. In
this way, you are also saving up energy for your next
study session.

Last, and the most important, is faith. In your review,

there will be days when you will not be motivated and
sometimes you may even hate it. That happened to me.
I almost gave up. But in these moments of trial, it’s your
faith that will get you through. Remember that God has
good plans for you and he will not withhold blessings if
you also do your part. These hardships are temporary.
The license, once you pass, is for life. And when I prayed,
I dared to ask God for the top spot. I prayed every day.
There’s nothing wrong with dreaming and praying,
right? And it came true!

The second question that I always get asked

about, “Where did you review?”. To answer that, we
had our informal review here with our teachers and I
attended the regular review in UP Diliman. But in my
opinion, all review is self-review. Review classes, even
here with our teachers, even in UP, does not guarantee
you passing the exam, it still depends on you. What you
get out of the review will depend on the effort and
dedication you put into it. The review that counts more
is the studying and discipline that you exercise daily, by
yourself. You don’t have to work hard for hours,

20
sometimes you just have to meet the few goals for the
day, little by little. It’s better to study a little every day
than to cram near the exam.

However, review classes also have a lot of advantages.

Different lecturers have other ways of explaining things
and I learned a lot from them too. You can ask them
about things you do not understand. The advice is if you
are going to enroll, study before you do. They should
help you familiarize the concepts and strengthen your
memory. Don’t go to the review center shocked because
you just learned the subjects there. And staying in
Quezon City with only the studying materials and no
other distractions made me focus better than when I
just stayed at home.

In your review, think like a librarian. Exercise your

information searching skills to look for the best sources.
Use the library, search the net. Because I had time, I
read books in the Reserve section in our university
library. If you have time to do this, I suggest reading the
most basic books, don’t pick up something so advanced
at first. Try to look for a basic but comprehensive book.
Basic knowledge is important because this is
your ‘foundation’ in understanding the more complex
parts of the subjects. I did not rely only on the handouts
and the reviewers but also looked for more reliable
sources - they are there if you know how to look for
them.

21
Reading different perspectives and different
explanations will help for better retention in your
memory. Every one of us has different learning styles,
I’m not saying you should follow what I say, but this one
worked for me and there’s no harm in trying.

Again, it is good to seek out and listen to advice, but it’s

still you who will decide what’s best. I did not follow
every suggestion because I knew myself and how I learn
best.

Think of the exam as a war, and you are going to a

battle. Don't let the pressure or nervousness control
you. You can’t prevent them, but you must learn to
manage them.

I always thought of the board exam as something like

boxing. Your review is your training before the big day of
the fight. Look at Manny Pacquiao who trains for
months for a fight that will last for minutes. Trust me,
the board exam will hurt your brain and you will need to
recover. Rest before and after the exam. All your review
classes and teachers are only the guides to your training,
and in boxing language, it is still you who will go up the
ring to fight and you will not know how the entire bout
will go, you cannot exactly predict your enemy’s moves.
The exam is selected from a database by computer, and
even the BFL cannot say what questions will come out.
But do not be afraid, because God is with you. I can say

22
that without God and the wisdom he gave me when I
prayed for it, I would not pass the exam.

I hope that those who will take the exam will be

professional librarians who will do their best to improve
our libraries and education in the country.

23
5 things to Remember in Preparing for
the Board
People always ask for tips on how to pass the board
exam. The truth is, for all passers, it all boils down to
prayer and hard work. Though I know that the
recognition is temporary, I will always treasure the time
I prepared for the board. For three months, I lived in UP
Diliman campus during the review. It was a time that I
was so focused on one thing, and I did achieve it.

I was asked to speak before the reviewees last 2016 to

motivate them in studying for CPU's review classes for
the librarians' licensure exam. 11 out of 13 test-takers
passed from CPU last 2016.

Remember: passing (and even topping) the exam begins

with the MIND. The most important things are
reviewing the basics, answering practice exams (and
analyzing your mistakes), and keeping up with new
trends in the profession.

Don't forget these five things:

1. Faith and Hard work. There’s a saying, "Pray as if

studying can't help you, and study as if praying can't
help you." Believe that God will help you. He will give
you what you ask for when you ask with a sincere heart.

24
But you must do your part. Study everything you can,
answer as much practice exams you can.

2. Visualize the positive. Imagine and feel as if you

already passed. Someone from CPU's Review Center
asked the school's topnotchers what was their 'secret'.
They all visualized success and claimed that they already
have the prize. While I was reviewing, I woke up early
every morning and to write 'affirmations' in my journal -
positive statements of encouragement.

Also, don't keep on saying or thinking that it will be

'difficult'. This may be hard because reviewing is a tough
job. But if you tell yourself, 'The exam will be easy. I am
relaxed. It will not be difficult as long as I do my best.'
Saying positive things to yourself even if you don't really
feel them can lift up your mood, and maybe soon you
will feel it for real! Your thoughts affect how you feel.
There's nothing to lose with thinking of the positive.

3. Rely on yourself and think like a librarian. Or

whatever profession you aspire to be. The point is, be
responsible for your own learning. I didn't just review the
subjects for the exam, but before that, I researched on
the best ways to study and retain information. I tried
different methods and came up with the style I work
best, that makes me study more efficiently.

Please, rely on yourself and not just wait for your

classmates or teachers to hand you the resources. I think

25
it's already a bad sign if you still have to ask others
without first looking for the resources you can get on
your own.

For the librarians' licensure exam, I always recommend

that you study in the library. Get all the resources
available to you. Being in the library is like a good luck
charm to me.

4. Have some time to unwind. Your brain also needs a

break. Set aside time to forget about the pressure. You
need to rest so you can have the energy for the next
study session. Don't cram. You are not a robot, so take
care of yourself, make sure you get enough sleep, water,
and food.

5. Understand, do not memorize. This is the only thing

you need to remember in studying. Of course, you do
need to memorize, but memorizing will be easier if you
first understand.

Other practical tips we often overlook: Be alert on PRC

schedules and deadlines. Prepare your required
documents and apply for the exam as early as possible.

On exam day, keep your answer sheets clean, use the

eraser sparingly, and use the allotted time until the last
second. Review, review, review before passing the
answer sheet, don't hurry up or be affected by those
passing first. Don’t forget to pray.

26
 6 Ways to Improve Your Focus
The date of your upcoming professional board exam is
nearing. Whether it is next year or the next months or
weeks, most of us have trouble focusing on our studies.
Outside pressure from your family and peers often
makes us nervous rather than help us focus. There is the
temptation from your barkada and social media to waste
your time. In your studying, you should have less time
for distractions and we know it, but they can't be
avoided. Here are some tips to minimize them.

1. Deactivate Facebook.
As a board exam topnotcher, you can trust me when I
say that this works. I knew how much time I could waste
while browsing social media sites. It is tempting to post
status updates about our struggles or pictures of us
studying. Some people I knew posted about their
reviews, but ended up failing the board! It’s better if we
don't post anything at all, and just post about our
success when we pass it.

I strongly recommend deactivating Facebook and focus

on studying and rather than posting about it. I
recommend avoiding social media during and after the
board. Sometimes, people we know barrage us with
questions and we can't relax about the results. You can
always activate again after you are sure that you passed.

27
2. Play brain games.
Your brain needs a break. Like your body, it also needs
exercise to work properly. When I was exhausted after
hours of studying, I played abstract game apps, Lumosity
and Memorado. They claim to help you improve your
memory and retention, and they also worked for me. In
my experience, I can focus better on studying after
playing these games.

Though, remember that you should focus more time on

studying than playing games! Just use them for fun
during brain breaks, and trying it won't hurt you.

3. Use the Pomodoro technique during study sessions.

Studying for long hours can be exhausting, and
sometimes we forget what we study instead of
remembering! If you find it hard to focus for hours (and
few of us can), it is recommended that studying for short
periods with short breaks. With the Pomodoro
Technique (named after a kitchen timer), we focus on
the task for 25 minutes and take a break for 5 minutes.
For example, your 1-hour study session could be broken
into: 25 min. study - 5 min. break - 25 min. study - 5 min.
break. You can change the time according to your
preferences.

4. Know yourself and your ideal studying environment.

Through your college life, you might already have an
idea of your best studying environment. Some people
prefer silence, some can study better with background

28
music. Some absorb information best by reading and
writing, some through listening. Some study well during
mornings, some can't study until evening. Find out how
you learn best and use that.

5. Take a break!
The pressure may make you feel that you have to study
24/7. But taking breaks help us process information
better, and make us ready for our next study session.

6. Pray.
Everyday. You don't need the amulets from Quiapo, you
don't need to be blessed with holy water, you don't
need to make offerings to whatever saint in the hope to
grant you favor to pass. But if that helps you or makes
you feel better, then by all means do them, but don’t
just rely on them without working hard. Study hard, and
pray that you will be able to study well in your review
and pass the exam. Don’t forget to also pray for your
professional life after the exam.

29
 Review Center or Self-Review? Pros
and Cons
You're reviewing for the board exam, and now deciding
whether to go to a review center or just do a self-review.
In my opinion, whether you go to a review center or
not, all review is still self-review. Review centers help a
lot, but it will be useless if you don't have your own
effort.

Review centers offer a lot of advantages, though: they

have resources, study materials, questionnaires, and
lecturers. Since you paid, you will be forced to attend.
The discipline of attending review classes and answering
mock exams is helpful for those who are lazy. Listening
to different methods of teaching and different
explanations can help us retain and remember
information.

One disadvantage is the expense since you pay the

Review Center thousands of pesos, and if the review
center is not in your province or city, you have to travel
or stay in another place which requires additional
expenses. For my board exam, I had to live in Manila for
four months to prepare for the board and because there
was no review center at that time in Iloilo for my
profession.

30
If you want to make the most out of your Review Center,
I suggest that you don't just rely on the review center. I
suggest that before you enroll, you must have already
studied and covered the basics of each subject of the
board exam. As the name tells you, the Review center is
there to help you review what you already learned.
Don't just plan to start your review there! Nothing beats
mastering the basics while in school. The review doesn't
start after you graduate but in the college classroom.

In my experience, though, most of what we reviewed in

the Review Center didn't go out of the exam!

Often, lack of cash or a full-time job is the reason why

some don't enroll in a Review Center. But take heart, a
lot of people passed and even entered the top 10 even
while self-reviewing. If you study by yourself, you need a
consistent schedule and discipline to study. You also
need to be resourceful - get all copies of reviewers from
those who have already passed, photocopy the
reviewers of your batch mates in review centers, and
avail of the free resources available in your school or
local library.

As for me, being away from home and focusing all my

energy on reviewing helped a lot. I chose to review in UP
because I also want to experience how they teach things
and UP-SLIS had a lot of topnotchers in the past.
However, one of my friends was the top 3 in the
2014 Licensure Exam even if she didn't review in UP and

31
just did a self-review! Meanwhile, there are people who
may have reviewed in UP but didn't pass the exam.

So whether you enroll in a Review Center or study by

yourself, it still boils down to your own effort. Just make
the most of what you have and be resourceful. Be open
to advise from those who have already passed the exam,
but also listen to your own intuition.

Remember, nothing still beats faith, effort, and proper

preparation. Best of luck and God bless on your review.

32
 Don’t Overlook your Health
Often, for the board exam review, we forget one
important thing: our health and well-being. Even while
we are reviewing, we should take time to exercise and
rest. We should also take care of our diet and make sure
we are eating foods that will help improve our minds.

Don’t neglect adequate rest and sleep. You should still

sleep for at least 6-8 hours a day. We may be tempted to
pull all-nighters, but we need to rest so our minds also
have time to recuperate and process information well.

Find time to move your body. Exercise has been proven

to improve our brains and overall health. It may be half
an hour of walking, or if you want to stay at home, there
are many free exercise videos on Youtube. You can
always choose what works for you and your schedule.

Eat healthy brain food such as peanuts, walnuts, dark

chocolate, fish, fresh fruits, and green vegetables. Drink
enough water. Vitamins and supplements may help.

Ideally, on the week of the exam, you should be resting.

You should have studied all you need to study.
Cramming near the exam often worsens the pressure
and doesn’t help retention. That’s why we should
prepare as early as possible and keep our health in
check.

33
 Encouragement for the Board Exam
(that has nothing to do with studying)
Reviewing for a board exam can be the most stressful
time of your life. During my review, I struggled daily in
trying to discipline myself and dealing with pressures
from family, friends, and teachers. I admit that I even
dealt with (ever-present) depression, self-doubt, and
loads of negative emotions.

The pressure is only natural. You carry the name of your

school, and your professional future relies on that exam.

But think of this as a blessing. I never had a time in my

life that I was so focused on one thing (passing, and
topping). It will never happen again, and after the exam,
you will also miss this single-minded feeling. Treasure
this time, because the important thing about the exam is
you can also learn more about yourself.

Listen to other people's advice, but also learn when

NOT to listen. Before the board, what everyone talks
about IS the exam. This can be very annoying and
sometimes, tends to discourage than help. Do your own
thing and learn to quietly slip out of toxic conversations.

Nothing beats hard work with faith. No matter how

much you study, you can't cover everything. Trust

34
yourself, trust God, and sometimes you need to trust
your intuition during the exam.

Take care of yourself. Just because there is a board

exam doesn't mean you have to study 24/7. Give
yourself a break and also make time for friends and
family.

Accept the results and move on. If you pass,

congratulations! If you don't, you have every right to
mourn and regret, but then you also need to brush
yourself up and try again. There is an advantage to
failure: you can see your mistakes and plan how to
correct them. Lots of people passed their second or even
seventh try. And if you feel like this profession is not for
you, there are other things to do in the world. The board
exam is just a passing thing, it isn't everything.

Best of luck. Keep the faith.

35
5 Reasons to strive for the Top Spot or
Top 10, and 1 downside when you
succeed
If you’re going to take a professional board exam in the
Philippines, I’m sure it is a nerve-wracking experience.
There’s the pressure from yourself, your family, or your
school. If you graduated with honors, there is more
pressure for you to land a spot in the top ten or
even number 1. Topnotchers of board exams are always
applauded for their hard work and schools are always
proud to have them. Most schools reward their
topnotchers with cash or other incentives.

If you have this dream, I encourage you to pursue it and

pray for it. Nothing is impossible for those who have
faith! But I need to also warn you of its danger if you do
happen to land the top spot, and you have to be careful
about it as well. But I am not here to discourage you.
Topping the board is a once-in-a-lifetime moment you
should enjoy but it isn’t everything, you shouldn't get
too attached to it.

Here are 5 reasons to motivate you:

1. It gives you an edge in job searching. If you're the

topnotcher, there's little question about your knowledge
and hard work. In your field, your name will be known
and the potential employer will see it as an advantage.
36
2. The financial and other rewards from your school
and community. Schools often reward their
topnotchers, so that's also a good motivation. Some
schools give away cars, jobs, and cash. Schools do this to
encourage more students to be in the top 10.

3. It also gives you more opportunities in graduate

school. If you apply to graduate schools, the top spot is a
good thing to put on your CV.

4. It gives your alma mater something to be proud of. If

you loved your school, your success is also a good way to
give back. If you landed a spot on the top, your school,
classmates, and teachers are with you!

5. It gives your alma mater an edge over other

schools. Sometimes, performance in the board exams
also affects your school's standing in CHED and other
accrediting institutions. Your results are proof that the
course and the school are performing well.

That's all good, but there's also a dark side to success.

I read this comment by a topnotcher in a blog on board

exam tips:

As a board topnotcher, there is a disadvantage though.

Your company and superior expects so much of you.
Sometimes you are the subject of envy and insecurity of

37
your supervisor and senior coworkers, pulling you down
because they see you as their hindrance. That's why this
new company of mine, I never declared that I was a
topnotcher of Electrical Engineering and everything went
so smoothly compared to my previous job. [link]

Expectations will affect you if you think about them too

much. You need humility - yes, you topped, but the
world of work is different from an exam that you took
once. The exam results only show that you master the
basics, but it’s not a good evidence that you will be an
excellent employee. Your work is not only about how
much you know but also how you deal with people - in
all organizations there will be problems, conflicts, and
politics.

Best of luck in the exam, but God bless you more after.

38
 5 Bible Verses for your Review
Are you reviewing for a professional licensure exam in
the Philippines? Or are you taking a college course that
requires you to pass a state board examination to
practice a profession? If you are, you may be feeling
nervous. You may be uncertain about whether you have
what it takes to pass. There is pressure from your
teachers, school, family, and friends to pass the exam.

You may consider it the most difficult exam of your life.

No wonder Filipinos always try to pray to saints, visit
churches, and even buy lucky charms and trinkets that
we believe may help us pass. We try to study in good
review centers but most of us pray earnestly for passing
and also ask others to pray for us.

I felt the same when I took the board last 2015. I was
just a new Christian then, but my faith was so strong
that I believed it would be possible with God. I was
already confident since I knew my own capacity and
I understood the subjects of my course well. Still, I
needed more effort in studying because it’s easy for me
to be lazy, and even the slightest negative comment is
enough to affect my studying. I was confident in my
abilities, but I knew it wasn't enough. I humbly asked
God for wisdom and guidance.

I realize now that we not only need outstanding faith

during the board exam, but we must also pray after the
39
exam and the new challenges of professional life. I admit
that after the board, my faith weakened and I often
didn't know what to do when faced with challenges.

Now that I myself teach review classes for those who

will take the board, I always keep in mind to pray for the
test-takers. Here are some of the Bible verses that gave
me strength and inspired me to study even if I didn't feel
like it.

James 1:5-9, Ask God for wisdom

"If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who
gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will
be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and
not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of
the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person
should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they
do."

Exodus 14:14, God knows your battles

"The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."

Isaiah 41:10, God is always with us

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed,
for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I
will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

40
Matthew 7:7-8, Ask in faith
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone
who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the
one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Job 28:23-28, True Wisdom

I recommend reading the whole chapter 28 of the book
of Job because I think it is a beautiful description of
God's works and wisdom.

“God alone understands the way to wisdom; he knows

where it can be found, for he looks throughout the
whole earth and sees everything under the heavens. He
decided how hard the winds should blow and how much
rain should fall. He made the laws for the rain and laid
out a path for the lightning. Then he saw wisdom and
evaluated it. He set it in place and examined it
thoroughly. And this is what he says to all humanity:
‘The fear of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is
real understanding.’”

I'm sure there are many more Bible verses in the Word
that can give you strength. I hope you also find time to
read the Bible even if you are busy with studying during
this time.

41
Congrats, you passed! So, what's next?
Did you pass the exam? Congratulations! I know there's
still the euphoria of passing and the warm, good feeling
from all the greetings. Finally, you passed and all your
effort was worth it. But let's not stay there, because the
board exam isn't the end of professional life, it is the
beginning of it. Be ready for another journey with new
challenges! You may be busy right now looking for work
(or returning to your job), but here are some things to
remember:

Don't forget to officially register in the PRC as a new

Registered Professional.
As a new professional, it’s your responsibility to be
informed and updated on the latest news, laws, and
updates regarding your profession and the state of
professions in general. The first step is to know the
schedule of initial registration and start preparing all
requirements for your professional ID and certificates.

Join groups and official organizations related to your

profession.
For librarians in the Philippines, it is a must to be a
member of Philippine Librarians Association, Inc. (PLAI).
It is the Accredited Professional Organization of
librarians in the country. Keep in touch with your local
regional council of librarians and don't forget to sign up
for membership. There is a minimum fee for annual
membership dues, but this will be used to keep the
42
organization going and for important CPD activities. It’s
good to work with other professionals in the field since
they also provide valuable help and support when you
need it. It’s essential to have a network of other
librarians.

Read up on Continuing Professional Development or

CPD Law.
You may not be aware of this, but there is a new law in
the Philippines called the CPD Act or RA 10912. This law
requires all professionals to acquire a number of CPD
points in order to renew our licenses to practice our
profession. Librarians are required to earn 45 CPD units
per renewal period (3 years). You can acquire CPD points
through seminars, workshops, and self-directed
learning. There are also other ways to acquire the
needed points other than seminars, such as publishing
research papers, acquiring a related graduate degree, or
writing books, and other ways. Please read the CPD
FAQs in the PRC website for more information and check
the official PRC website.

Attend Seminars and Conferences.

Join Facebook groups to stay updated on the current
seminars, trainings, and workshops being held by
professional organizations. It’s not only for CPD points,
but it is a good avenue to learn about new trends and
network with other professionals. The learnings and the
people you meet in these events are priceless.

43
Stay Active, Stay Learning.
Your learning and studying doesn't end in passing the
board exam. It’s not a license to be lazy and stop
learning. Don't be content with what you know, but find
time to learn more and update your knowledge and
skills. Read books, pursue another degree if you want,
always be on the lookout for great opportunities. Be the
best professional you can be.

44
 Failure is not the End
The board exam always has a risk. In the results, you
either pass or fail. Some succeed, some don’t. If you
didn't, this may be a difficult time. You have the right to
feel disappointment and regret, but don't stay there.
See this as an opportunity to assess yourself and know
your weaknesses. Give yourself time but don't be
stagnant. Keep moving.

I am a (new) teacher and taught for the review classes,

and before I started I gave a presentation on Board
exam tips. I emphasized that for the review, you must be
realistic about your own abilities. Visualize success, but
always keep in mind that the board exam is a test of
analysis and a game of chance - we can't predict the
questions and there are only two outcomes: you either
pass or fail. You must accept that there will always be
the chance of failing.

We often see failure as something negative, especially

regarding exams and grades but it’s a matter of
perspective - sometimes failure can also teach us
important things. This is a quote I shared with students
from How to Study by George Fillmore Swain (a very
helpful book on studying, you can download it for free at
Project Gutenberg):

“You should delight in discovering difficulties which give

you an opportunity to test and increase your strength
45
and so avoid future errors. In the same way,
examinations should be welcomed, not dreaded. The
teacher does not mark you—you mark yourself; the
teacher merely records the mark. Even if you fail in the
examination, that should indicate to you what you lack,
and so be a benefit. Indeed, it is better to fail than to
scrape through. There must be a line somewhere. The
man just above the line passes, and the man just below
the line fails. The former may not be as capable as the
latter, but, having passed, he does not remedy his faults;
while the man who has failed is required to remedy his.”

Assess yourself and if you want to take the board again,

good! Now, you have more time and know what you
need to focus on the next time you take it. You have
lessons learned and now know the mistakes you need to
correct. Work on understanding the concepts again and
study enough to regain your confidence. Many people
passed the exam the second time and even after many
times of trying and failing.

Though, you should ask yourself too if this is what you

really want. Do you feel as if you were just pushed into
something you actually didn't want to do? If you dread it
and hate it, then maybe it's time to think of other
possible careers. Life is short to do what we don't love to
do anyway.

If you plan to take it again, pray for it. I encourage you to

do so because our country needs more professionals

46
and having a license opens up more opportunities for
you. Some LIS students have told me that they are still
deciding if they want to take the board or not, or
whether to pursue librarianship. My advice for them
always is to take the board and pass it. Even if you think
you don't want this kind of work now, your LIS degree
would be a waste if you don't at least try for the license.
Even if you eventually decide not to be a librarian, at
least you have a professional license and you can still get
a job and have something to "fall back" on in case other
things don't work out. Librarianship is challenging but
never boring. Keep praying, keep going.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens

me. (Philippians 4:13)

47
 Tips for the 6 Subjects of the LLE
I took the exam last 2015 so these tips might not apply
to future exams. One should always be updated about
the exam content and studying the background of the
current Board of Examiners might give a clue on the
subject emphasis of the exam.

These are the subjects covered for the usual 2-day

librarians' licensure exam and their percentages:

Day 1
Management 20%
Cataloging 20%
Indexing & Abstracting 15%

Day 2
Reference 20%
Selection & Acquisition 15%
IT 10%

Total: 100%. Remember that the passing grade for each

exam is 50% but your average for all the subjects should
be 75% or more to PASS.

For Management, Reference, and Selection &

Acquisition: It is important to cover the basic theory
and theorists of each subject. One should be able to
analyze situational questions in the library setting.

48
Information Technology. Study the basics but also try to
be updated in the latest technological trends in
computers, social networks, the internet, and libraries.

Cataloging & Classification. Study the main

classifications of both Dewey Decimal and Library of
Congress cataloging systems. Practical know-how in
cataloging is tested.

Indexing & Abstracting. Study citation styles and

indexing styles for different print and online sources.
Practice analyzing and comprehending abstracts to
determine what kind of abstracts they are and their
main subjects. During my time, this exam looked like a
test of reading comprehension, but recent examinees
have said that their exam was very different.

49
 Helpful Links
http://raisonjohn.blogspot.com/
This blog by Architect Raison Bassig, the Architecture
Topnotcher in June 2006, features two helpful articles
on preparing for the board exam. I read this many times
during review for inspiration and motivation:
11 Tips on How to Answer Board Exam Questions
Tips & Tricks in the Board Examination

Posts from Dr. Von Totanes’s Filipino Librarian blog on

preparing for the Board Exam has also been helpful for
me:
Librarians' Licensure Examination 2005
LLE 2005: Applying in Person
LLE 2005: Studying for the Exam
LLE 2005: Preparing for D-Day
LLE 2005: Taking the Exam

For inspiration, I often read interviews of board exam

topnotchers. Zarah Gagatiga’s blog School Librarian in
Action has some great interviews with previous
topnotchers:
Billy Alejo (2013 LLE Topnotcher)
Apolo Martinez (2017 LLE Topnotcher), part 1
Apolo Martinez, part 2

Tips on how to pass the board exam from

weliveforhim.wordpress.com

50
How to Pass Board Licensure Exam? Tips from PRC
Passers and Examinees from prcboard.com

5 Effective Tips on How to Pass The Board Exam, Tricks,

Prayers from mattscradle.com

Recommended Reading
Reviewers
Bongalos, Florbella Sedillo. (2008). Librarians’ Licensure
Examination reviewier. Quezon City: C&E.
Buenrostro, Juan C. The Complete Reviewer for
Librarian’s Licensure Examination. Volumes 1-5.
Quezon City: Great Books Publishing.
Ramos, Mila M. (2014). Facing the Librarian’s Licensure
Examination Challenge.

Books
Buenronstro, Juan C. (1996). Collection management for
librarians and information centers. Quezon City:
Great Books.
Buenronstro, Juan C. (2004). More than books:
perspectives on the management of information
resources and services in libraries. Quezon City: Great
Books.
Cleveland, Donald B. & Cleveland, Ana. (2013).
Introduction to Indexing and Abstracting. Sta.
Barbara, Calif.: Libraries Unlimited.
Gosling, Mary. (1999). Learn reference work. Bangkok:
Book Promotion & Service Co.
51
Johnson, Peggy. (2009). Fundamentals of Collection
Development and Management. Chicago: ALA
Moran, Barbara B., Stueart, Robert D., & Morner,
Claudia J. (2013). Library and Information Center
management. 8th ed. Englewood: Libraries Unlimited.
Oliver, Chris. (2010). Introducing RDA: a guide to the
basics. Chicago: ALA.
Pinto, Michael A. (2013). Layb Life: mga kwento at
karanasan ng isang librarian. Quezon City: Great
Books.
Shelly, Gary B. (2013). Discovering computers
fundamentals. 8th ed. Andover: Cengage Learning.
Taylor, Arlene G. (2006). Introduction to cataloging and
classification. Westport: Libraries Unlimited.

52
 About the Author

Malditang Librarian, RL is a licensed librarian from Iloilo

City, Philippines. She has worked as a librarian, college
instructor, board exam reviewer, and freelance writer.
She loves anything related to books, stories, and
mythology. She has been writing in blogs and diaries
since 2007. She is an aspiring fiction writer and you can
read her musings, book reviews, movie reactions, and
stories on her blog, Malditang Librarian.

Why “Malditang Librarian”?

For me, that’s just meant to be an amusing nod to the
popular stereotype of the librarian who is “Maldita” -
Filipino for “naughty, bratty, mean girl.” But actually,
librarians are the most helpful people I know and most
of them are not ‘maldita’ at all. The previous name of
my blog was Library Logs but that name is quite boring
and “Malditang Librarian” stuck because its catchy,
amusing, and easy to remember.

53