This post is longer than I expected it to be.

I was back in Penang last weekend, to take the ASEAN Scholarship selection test. If you know somebody else who took it too, please let me know!! Thank youuu =D

Anyway . . . the test was held at the Sunway Carnival Convention Centre at Seberang Perai. After they managed to have us assembled properly (Oh, what a feat!) they led us into a vast hall with rows and rows of tables and chairs. There were basically three groups of people there; those who were taking the selection test for Sec 1, Sec 3 and Pre-U (like me!) respectively.

The first paper was Mathematics. People who have taken the test in previous years have warned over and over again through forums that the test will be extremely difficult. After a first glance at the paper, I had a conclusion in mind; these people were NOT joking!! After we were allowed to begin, I frantically flipped through the paper, looking for a single question that I could answer *faints*. I found a few which were easy, but there were a total of 22 questions - and I didn't have to be a maths genius to know that I had to answer more than 2 or 3?!

So as the clock ticked away, I tried to squeeze out every single drop of brain juice (though I doubt there was much left, especially after 6 months of rotting) in order to come up with solutions. Really, the stuff they learn is pretty much the same, but what differs is that they have a much deeper understanding of the concepts than we do. The disparity in the standard of Malaysian maths and Singaporean maths has never been more obvious to me!! Most of the questions were really, really 'chim', and were much less straightfoward than the questions we are so used to answering!

Let me give you an example:

Given that a + b = c. Evaluate abc.

I was like, 'O.o Excuse me??' Okay la, obviously that was not the whole question, but it is essentially the same. They give you unknowns all over the place, some of the tiniest bits of information, and make you work your brain as if you've taken a drug that doubles your IQ. I must've left approximately half of the whole paper blank!!! Salute to all Singaporeans for their non-human cognitive abilities. I surrender *waves white flag* =.=

Apart from having neurons that can send information at the speed of light, Singaporeans have something else most of us don't - the ability to write at machine-like speed. Let me explain. We had to write a 350-word essay within half an hour, for the English paper. Let me repeat. Half an hour!! Gosh. The moment I had my points I began to start writing at top speed, but clearly 'top speed' still wasn't enough. I'm pretty sure I managed to pass the 350-word mark, but I still had to omit one point, because there really wasn't sufficient time at all. A friend told me he saw a girl who managed to fill ALL 3 PAGES of the answer sheet!! That's just . . . really crazy. My essay was only one and a half pages long. To be able to fill 3 pages, I'd have to be really high on candy or something!

Singaporeans clearly also have a much higher standard of English!! I had no trouble with the general meaning of the passage given (based on which we had to answer questions), but when they picked out specific words or phrases and made me explain them . . . it's pretty much, 'Hey, let's play a game of stand-still-and-shoot. I'll stand still, and you'll shoot.' Awful!! Just awful! *shakes head*

Something else I realized is that Malaysian students are far more pampered than Singaporean students are. We are given ample time to answer our SPM English papers - so much that I had taken for granted the amount of time that we were given to answer the English paper during the selection test. I wasted too much time on the comprehension section . . . and almost couldn't finish my summary!

Throughout the whole duration of the test, there was something I really couldn't help noticing - that the hall was getting colder . . . and colder . . . and colder!! Really, what is their problem?? Why do they seem to expect potential ASEAN scholars to be able to withstand extreme cold!? Remind me, when was the last time Singapore was covered in snow??? =.= Couldn't they have turned it down? Sure, we were told that the place would be 'rather cold', and thus it would have been advisable to bring a jacket or something of the sort. Nonsense! They should've said the place would be FREEZING US TO OUR BONES! I would've brought an electric blanket and a polar bear!!

I was out of practice in writing AND thinking, and it REALLY didn't help that it was so extremely cold in there. So not only were my brain juices frozen, but so was my hand. It took an incredible amount of effort to write as quickly as I could. Even after I had stopped writing for awhile, I could still feel my arm screaming out in pain, saying 'WHAT IN THE WORLD are you doing to me??'

There were only 3 papers, and the last one was the General Abilities test. It was basically an IQ test, and although it wasn't half as difficult as the maths paper was, I still didn't manage to complete it, having left 10 questions out of 48 undone.

Seriously speaking, if I do want the scholarship, I would've cried. And would still be crying, considering how it turned out to be. But . . . I don't want it. My father wanted me to apply for it. He really, REALLY likes Singapore. IMO, even if I had flunked the whole test . . . no biggie. The sky is still blue and I'm still happy! Anyways the results will be out sometime in August or September, and until then I will no longer think of this catastrophe!!

Doomsday

I've written posts in the form of a documentary... book and painting reviews, and now I'm doing one in the style of a movie trailer! *winks*

-Clock strikes 12 midnight.

-Girl (fast asleep) with her head on a textbook.

-Another girl, stepping into a hall with a handful of stationery, muttering prayers in silence.

-Students scribbling away with confidence. Or without.

-Invigilator with eyes boring into space.

-Yet another girl; frowning at question paper.

-*Screams*

-*Complete screen blackout, as dramatic background music begins to play*

198 OTHER STUDENTS...

24 PAPERS...

11 SUBJECTS...

10 ACTUAL EXAM DAYS...

ONE BRAIN.

-*Background music fades*

-Voice: (in heavy Hokkien accent) Ha, got ONE brain only ah? Mana boleh muat? Die loh like that!! *faints*

-*Background music resumes*

Can you feel the adrenaline?

D-O-O-M-S-D-A-Y

Brought to you by

LEMBAGA PEPERIKSAAN SHOWTIME PRODUCTIONS CO.

invading local school halls

on

18 NOVEMBER 2009

SEE YOU THERE.

STRESS

Stress, stress, so much stress
Puts your mind in a state of mess
If life were an apple, then stress is the worm
The creature that makes your stomach just churn!

You wish you could sleep, you wish you could play
ANYTHING but study and study all day
Want to burn all your books, or just throw them away?
Oh NO, you can't do that - the exam's the next day!

There's not much time left, you need to move on
Determination, come back; laziness, begone!
Alas, you ter-doze, but wake up in shock
'Die la', you groan, as you look at the clock!

So what to do now, just wait to face death?
(NOT AT ALL!)
Believe in yourself - you've got to have faith
Triumphs you must see, victory you must smell
You put on a brave front, and 'ONWARDS!' you yell

Written by blog owner

in support of self-confidence and positive thinking during exams

(or just in general)

as well as STRESS-FREE life

ALL THE BEST, MY FRIENDS!!

XD

11 Legendary Battles: The Event

THE 11 LEGENDARY BATTLES

The Event

INTRODUCTION:

The 11 Legendary Battles is a compilation of a series of battles fought by a country known as Xyme. Written by renowed historian Ng Xing Yii, this book retells tales of courage and bravery of the soldiers who were sent to fight the 11 battles of the Great Midyearexamination War that lasted an unbelievable span of 1200 years (1405-2605).

CHAPTER 1:

-Years: 1805-2205, Against country: Bahaya-Muleya

This was a battle of cruelty and ruthlessness indeed. Thousands of troops of soldiers had set off, hardly knowing the nature of their destinies. They were not oblivious for long, however, because the moment they set foot on the border of Bahaya-Muleya they were brutally forced into sitting down and writing thousands and thousands of words non-stop. This two-part battle caused intense, chronic pains in the limbs of their brave soldiers. There was no doubt this was a battle taking lives by the bulk.

CHAPTER 2:

-Years: 1905-2505, Against country: Englishiistan

This was the other linguistic battle fought by the soldiers. The Englishiistaneese were an easy lot, but they did put up quite a fight. The blood battle went smoothly enough, but soldiers prayed that in all the haste to win it they did not make silly tenses mistakes. Even if all went well, there was still the barrier of . . . The Examiner *jeng jeng jeng*

CHAPTER 3:

-Years: 2005 and 2505, Against countries: Mads and Et Mads

This chapter features two battles that required the use of logical and analytical thinking. Soldiers were drilled many times beforehand by Generals Misslee and Missho and were given plenty of strategies and formulae of success. On the battlefield, however, soldiers had to throw numbers and digits at the opponents in order to knock them out! This was quite a victory for Xyme, but again, the soldiers hoped that there were no silly number mis-throwings made.

CHAPTER 4:

-Year: 1805, Against country: Histeria

This battle was absolutely the most devasting battle of the 11. Many of the poor, under-prepared soldiers either had to flee - or die facing the wrath of the King of Histeria and his soldiers. Many lost their heads and brains as the enemy swiftly terminated the weaker soldiers without mercy. Much was lost in this battle - Histeria was never a country Xyme could conquer.

CHAPTER 5:

-Year: 1405, Against country: Moralisa

Different from all the other battles, this was one whereby soldiers did not have to brutally masacre each other. Rather, they had to sit around in plastic chairs and compete to find the most un-barbaric and civilised and moralized soldier of them all. Long, complex phrases in foreign languages, like mematuhi peraturan and undang-undang (that the Royal Translator said had something to do with rules and prawns) were used to out-moral each other. Nevertheless, it was not easy for Xyme as most of their people were . . . not as moralized as we may wish they were.

CHAPTER 6:

-Years: 1905-2105, Against country: Bambula Triangle

*Bambula Triangle is a cluster of islands which consisted of three general regions; Bihorrodgy, Phyzeeks, and Kenmystery.

Bihorrodgy was not as difficult as expected, but several errors were made as gallons of insulin and glucagon were splashed onto the soldiers. Soldiers also seemed to be experiencing some slight form of Alzheimer's as little information of the battle can be recalled. There was also some confusion at the sight of a blunt and sharp pencil each sticking out from a whole boulder of plasticine when soldiers stepped into the vast lands of Phyzeeks. Soldiers were also required to build a weak, fragile water tower that will collapse and destroy the enemy's troops. No, it was quite the opposite actually. Of the 100 troops of soldiers sent to fight the battle in Kenmystery, only 56 troops made it back safe and sound. Another 24 troops were killed ruthlessly by massive amounts of sodium hydroxide and potassium hexacyanoferate (XII), while the remaining 20 have been abducted by King Puantan and will be held captives until further notice. King Puantan of Kenmystery reveals that he will be releasing the soldiers only after the school holidays. UM, I mean The Great Break.

CHAPTER 7:

-Years: 2105-2605, Against country: ESTeelauder

This was the last of the 11 battles. It went smoothly for the most part, but there was some mass confusion caused by calculations involving Martian days known as sols. Reportedly, several Martians were going to land and take over country ESTeelauder. Panicked, the country's leader King Feonaliwongg told Xyme's soldiers to conquer them instead. This explained the simple but not-quite-spectacular victory.

CHAPTER 8:

-Year: 2105, Against country: Civicsjaya

This bonus chapter tells the tale of the friendly battle held in the midst of the Great Midyearexamination War. There was no known preparation done for this battle, and no pressure on the troops. It was a mere breather given to the exhausted soldiers, who happened to enjoy the fake battle immensely. Soldiers were not even perturbed by the massive word bridges they had to complete using given clues, which they failed at doing.

*After these battles were held, an Examiner was sent to each mentioned country

to evaluate and tell apart victories and losses. Details of the outcome of the legendary battles will be featured in an upcoming second book, 11 Legendary Battles: The Outcome. Be sure to look out for hardcover editions which will be released in bookstores close to you!

Waa...?

WHOOPS.
When your best friends fail you . . .
I got 43 for BM?
When you turn out to be so wrong . . .
I was THIS CLOSE to failing!
When everything you believe in just falls apart around you . . .
How did that even happen??
How does that ever happen??
*faints*
When life turns its back against you . . .
Oh well!
All you have to do is to get up.
I'm sure I won't do so abysmally for the next one.
All you have to do is believe.
Jia you!!
And you will smile again.

. . . And here's a toast to the end of the tests!!

The school tests ended today. The finish was a horrible one! Gahh, that last paper was absolutely devastating. Anyhow, it is all over! And for now, that's all that matters.

Here is a little something to acknowledge the end of the first of four Form 5 exams:

During a class, the professor told this story about a colleague. Students in the other professor's class had taken to tossing erasers at the clock. Each precise hit caused it to jump ahead one minute.

Before class one morning they succeeded in advancing the clock by ten minutes. Since the new time indicated that the professor was beyond the accepted starting time, the class left. The professor never said a word about the incident.

However, he presented the class with a very difficult final exam. As the students laboured to finish within the allotted time, the professor amused himself by tossing erasers at the clock.

Heheh! And . . .

A few words of wisdom (regarding exams!):

You may look up for inspiration,

or down in desperation -

but not to the side for information!

- In support of facing exams with a brighter mood xP -

Government exam:

The government exams are back again to terrify us . . .

It's BIGGER. And BADDER. And it's here to make us SHUDDER!!

*screams*

Carmen is right. Reality striked. In fact, it hit like a truck.

When I finally put my signature on the piece of paper, I realized, 'This is it.'

The point of no return, no regret, whatever you'd like to call it.

It's worse than getting married!! The commitment, ohh. . . !

And I was so unwilling to tick the box next to the Sejarah subject code. In fact, I had to ask Ee Lynn to do it for me.

Why, oh WHY did they put the box there in the first place??

As if it were OPTIONAL!

As if I had a CHOICE!

Argh, wasting my pen ink.

They should've just put a column there:

MATAPELAJARAN YANG ANDA TIDAK BOLEH 'DROP':

And list down BM and Sejarah and everything else I don't want to take. (PENDIDIKAN MORAL!!)

:-(

* Comments would be appreciated. I haven't had any in ages; I do miss human communication!!

(untitled)

I did so badly for Sejarah!! The worst I've ever done for any paper. EVER.

Gahh. EST doesn't look like it's going to be any help to my percentage either...

18/30???

When everybody else got 22's and 23's??

Nasty, eh...?

Here's a picture of some candy, to cheer me up!!

I have a profound love for candy!!

If ever the need arises for you to bribe me, for anything, offer me some candy, and I'm all yours!!

XP

honey honey~

Yay exams are almost officially over!

Overall I don't have a very bad feeling about the papers, like I usually might have...

I mean...I believe got bad things la, but I don't feel anything.

Oh what am I saying!! Sorry ler after exam all my language brain cells break down liao.

I can't express myself properly anymore!

Becky's birthday is on MONDAY!!

I will be bringing her to the beach this weekend.

I'll blog about it on Monday or so

=D

HELLO...!!

As most bloggers have already posted, YES I'm back too~!

Yes,

1) the exams are over

&

2) the holidays are approaching

&

3) I have my weekends packed with birthday parties!!

YAY x3

Do you know that I have not gone to bed for the past three nights,

because I was burning ALL the midnight oil doing my last minute studies

AS I DID NOT START STUDYING THE WEEK BEFORE

EVEN WHEN I DECIDED TO STOP ONLINE-ING FOR 3/2 WEEKS!

(Ahahah no I'm not superhuman - I had to sleep the whole afternoon through

in order for me to keep awake at night...)

However happy and glad I am that it's now all over,

today's Add. Maths paper has left me feeling very miserable indeed.

It was really really horrifying.

At the last minute, I decided to give up and stop...

so I started to count the marks I would lose

for not having provided any answer.

One by one, I ticked off the allocated marks for the questions I didn't manage to complete.

Adding them up as I went along...had to be more horrifying than anything else

Just so you know >>>

1) I did not draw the ogive

2) I did not sketch the quadratic equation graph

3) I did not solve the log question

4) I did not get the standard deviation - and I believe that I really f**ked up my table of values

5) I did not get the y-intercept of line CD or whatever...

If there were more, I just don't remember.

Either that, or my brain has suppressed the memory of it, to save me from going psycho.

All in all, I lost 16 marks for not having provided any answer.

It's not like I didn't know how to do them...?

They weren't very difficult questions at all.

I just ran out of time.

It's sick, the paper.

15 questions...

in an hour

is really really GILA

I feel like I could just die...

I failed myself...

And failed Ms. Lee as well...

NOTICE

Um um, as Julia has posted,

I as well will be ON HIATUS - for about 3/2 weeks from now.

This means that...during the hiatus period,

I will try not to update,

or go online,

until the tests are over.

This also means that I will not be able to leave comments for other bloggers...

(my apologies)

until the tests are over.

Well, they are just ujian penilaians,

(which will not be taken into account for anything)

but I'm sure we still don't want to do badly - do we??

...

...

Can't wait! After test is HOLIDAYS!

YAY...!

thank you + goodbye for now

wish all of you (and me!) all the best + god bless you

see ya~!

P.S.

Remember what I said about BM?? Oh, I didn't get 90 laa DUH. (Where got people can get 140/130 for Paper 1 eh?? Later teacher demerit me laa - she say I cheat in exam =X)

I got...71 instead! Am I happy?? Oh yes I am. Eh don't kutuk me la I know alot of other people got VERY HIGH wan. But I thought initially that I will get either 6x for 5x for BM k...I so scared tau. I happy enough la din get below 70...

Finally~

Yay...Guess what?? I got the subject prize for EST! But it's gonna be my first and last time d, because now Phaik Chern has joined us...and clearly that means that I WILL NOT BE getting it again next year. (To Phaik Chern: >.< ... XD)

Ahh. So people, congrats to me, as after this I won't have a similar post in the future!

Haih. Actually, I don't feel so proud of it ler.

Because...HL didn't take the paper.

Huey Fern didn't take the paper.

Phaik Chern didn't take the paper.

Who else?

Carmen (Chuah)...

Jolene...

Et cetera, et cetera...

And because, my marks not so high also. And Esther was just 2 marks away niaaa.

Sad la. I only got the prize...because the people who would have done better than me - DIDN'T SIT FOR THE PAPER. All of us know that if they did sit for the paper, I wouldn't have stood a chance. Oh well, lucky me then.

You know how it feels?? It's like having the love of your life say to you: The woman I love is not here. So I will marry you instead~

Ahahahahahaha. EST is NOT the love of my life. It's just...well, you get what I mean.

Anyway, I'm kinda happy. Because I've never gotten a single subject prize so far - in so many years of secondary schooling! (Primary got la. Primary time always get eh. XP)

So...^^

Oh yeah. Congrats to Hui Lynn (Yay! ALL HAIL HUI LYNN) - for getting a most amazing

98/100

for Chem!! (I doubt she will ever read this, but)

Darling you brilliant sangat laa. I'm sooo proud of you! ^^

I love you...but I love your brains more!! XP

Go Hui Lynn...!

Sucky results...

Well, no, results are not really 'sucky', it's just my brain. Me and my brain... =(

Sejarah - 74 (-1 to A)

Biology - 71 (-4 to A)

P. Moral - 74 (-1 to A)

Physics - 74 (-1 to A)

* Physics officially got 84, but that's just because all the Physics results were sooo low, Ms. Chow got to +10 marks for all of us!! Wah she upset sia... =(

Ahh sad laa. What is all this B-so-close-to-A results?? Why, oh why?! Oh you reap what you sow...The books I 'reap' so little, so the results I 'sow' so little...Also, initial energy = final energy! XP

And to top it off, BM Paper 2(or is it 1??) - 75/110!! Oh kek sim. Most people got 8x, 9x...Ahh because I did so badly for my rumusan la. Only got 16 1/2 out of 30 tau. Just like I said...sucky. Huhu T_T.

To all teachers! I hereby announce, that from now on, ALL SUCKY RESULTS SHALL BE BANNED!! Ahahahahahaaha!! No more sucky results! Ban them, ban them all!! Those who present me with sucky results will be prosecuted. NO EXCEPTIONS. Yay...bravo~ ^^ Bleh!

Ah nevermind. I've done some calculations - if I can get 140/130 for the other paper (2x karangan! -diao-), I still can get 89.58 marks = 90 marks!! Yay...Yeah. Such an extremely comforting thought! JYJY ^^