Study center prepares students for college entrance exam pressures

MANILA, Philippines - With more than a decade’s experience in preparing students for competitive testing, Newton Study Center’s five branches in Metro Manila and Pangasinan aspire to fill in the gaps in a student’s education through their college and high school entrance review programs. Aside from Loyola Heights, other Newton Study Centers are located in West Avenue, Quezon City; Sucat, Paranaque; Dagupan and Urdaneta Cities in Pangasinan.

AljaneQuintans, operations officer of the Newton Study Center at Loyola Heights, Quezon City, observes that while pupils may understand the concepts taken up in the classroom, many are hampered by the time limits and the multiple-answer approach imposed on them in entrance tests to top schools like the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University.

Often, 20 sessions taken through the summer months are sufficient in helping youngsters master test-taking skills. Newton Study Center focuses on helping students grasp general topics and basic concepts while honing them to think quickly and accurately. “Eventually, constant drills and testing translate to speed and accuracy - which are essential ingredients in entrance tests,” relates Quintans.

In the Newton Study Center classroom, instructors in their 20s and early 30s who are considered “cool” connect with the students easily through the use of Anime, graphics and other devices that appeal to the young. Quintans, who was a BS Physics graduate from the University of the Philippines were she qualified for a scholar from the Department of Science and Technology, says: “We put a high value on establishing rapport with our students because once that is established learning takes place more quickly and easily,” she says.

The high number of Newton enrolees who make it to the schools of their choice is also attributable to the review materials which Newton publishes and constantly upgrades. These are supplemented by books produced by a Newton subsidiary and which are top sellers in their category at National Bookstore.

Quintans observes that because the Philippines is not producing enough good schools to match its growing population, the pressure on pupils trying to get high quality education has never been greater. “Thus any advantage they can gain from a review program goes a long way.”