Greetings! Remember that email screenshot I posted two posts ago that showed how I was longlisted and was invited to sit for the ASEAN scholarships selection tests? Well, that’s exactly what I did for the past two days!
On the 16th of June, which was a Saturday, my Dad drove my Mum and I to the Sunway Carnival Convention Centre where the tests would be held. Needless to say, I felt like emptying the contents of my stomach, bowels and let’s be honest, my bladder too the entire time.
And then it was noon and we headed for Level 4 to find it crowded and let me just inform you beforehand that I knew absolutely no one else among my friends and acquaintances who would be sitting for the tests too but imagine my surprise when I bumped into not one nor two but three people I actually know back in Alor Setar: Jing Sheng, Zhe Han and Jing Hwan.
And things got a little better after that because I don’t like to admit it but the major reason why I was so nerve-wrecked was because I thought I’d be walking into a hall full of genius strangers and am I crazy for being more afraid of that than of the actual exams? Maybe.
Anyway, registration began, and all Pre-University applicants (which were around 80 people) were divided according to their classes. I was in Class 8.
The first test was Mathematics. The question paper contained 26 questions and we had to finish it in two hours. A friend asked me to describe the test in three words, so I’ll give you those three words: Pretty Freaking Bad. I managed to complete all questions, and by “complete” I mean create my own formulae as a desperate measure when I was running out of time and had no idea how to continue solving a question I absolutely didn’t know how to. Many asked if Singaporean Math is Modern Math or Add Math and the answer is both, only tougher. The syllabus is nearly the same, but the questions twist in more ways than one that make you forget the first step once you proceed to the next. To add to my distress, I couldn’t get that annoying Circus Afro song out of my head throughout the entire paper so yeah, thanks Pixar. If it’s even Pixar. I came out of the hall laughing my way to the toilets. Because I needed to pee and not because it’s a symbolic metaphor or whatever.
Next was English and I was relatively more confident for this test. The first paper was a comprehension and summary question and it was nice. Nice in the way that the words “using your own words” appear in almost every question because in Malaysia, your marks get deducted if you use your own words so wahey! (What even is “wahey” I don’t know it was a random sound I literally made at the end of that sentence.)
The second paper required us to write a 350 words comprehension in 30 minutes and this I’d been training for for the past two years when I took the University of New South Wales Essay Test, to be honest. We were allowed to choose from two questions which were “Young people nowadays are more concerned of themselves than other people- do you agree?” and “Wealth is a blessing as well a curse” and I chose the former one. Ten minutes into the essay and I didn’t really know where I was headed but at least I got two solid points in which filled up two pages.
And then the day was over and we went home.
The next day, we had to wake up at 6 AM because we were supposed to register ourselves at 9 AM. We reached Butterworth at 8 and had breakfast at some nasi kandar shop before heading for SCCC.
We were once again sorted according to our classes and led to different rooms where we would be sitting for our last test: the General Ability test. Amanda had warned me beforehand that speed was essential for this test so I rushed through all 46 questions in the span of 20 minutes, leaving two more questions undone which I then hurriedly filled in randomly. All in all, it was quite okay because I was confident I’d gotten most of the questions that I’d rushed through more or less correct.
After the GA test, we had a briefing session about the scholarship as well as the Junior Colleges at Singapore. And the gist of that session (as Aifa liked to put it) was this: I actually want to go to Singapore. Previously, it had just been an alternative route (although, let’s be honest, it’s been the only route these few months) but right then, right then I decided that if I got the scholarship, I would go. Without a doubt. This is a globally top ranked country educational-wise we are talking about, it’d be a shame to let go of such a great opportunity.
So after that, I bade farewell to the guys and headed for Penang where I would be meeting Amanda (who is currently an ASEAN scholar studying in Anglo-Chinese JC and also a fellow ex-Starstrucker) at Gurney Plaza.
We had lunch at Kim Gary and from then on, it was an Amanda-athon.
Nah, just kidding, couldn’t resist a The Social Network reference.
But basically, that’s what went down, to be honest, except it didn’t have as much hostility as Eduardo Saverin had put in. Amanda talked about her own process in getting the scholarship and subsequently her life at JC and in Singapore in general.
After talking to Amanda…okay so I might have been intimidated a little. And I’m not getting my hopes up. But I still see it as a potential path in the future.
After that, we went roaming around the mall for a while and ended up, not surprisingly, at Popular. However, surprisingly, we bumped into yet another ex-Starstrucker, Eibhlin and we went into states of shock for several seconds before everyone started talking at once. What were the odds? This was my first time meeting up with Amanda in Penang after she came back from Singapore for a 4-week break and the first person we bump into was Eibhlin, who we both coincidentally know? Do you see what I’m getting at? Do you see this incredible coincidence? Do you see a loophole in the universe? Do you see a chameleon licking a rainbow-coloured ball?
Anyway, Eibhlin had to leave really soon though and right after that Amanda’s phone started ringing as well so we started to part our ways after several rounds of hugs.
So that’s that and we have reached the end of this post! Further developments of the scholarship will only be known starting from mid-August, where eligible applicants will be called in for interviews in September and wouldn’t that be the perfect motivation for trials?
G’DAY!
michelle teoh 
“Do you see what I’m getting at? Do you see this incredible coincidence? Do you see a loophole in the universe? Do you see a chameleon licking a rainbow-coloured ball?”
HAHA they should just give you the scholarship based on your writing hahaha
Keeping mah fingers crossed for you then! WAHEY!
Hey, do you have twitter? Can i ask something about this scholarship?
Hi can I have your email, and discuss about scholarship? I’m applying too for 2013-2014.
You can find it on my contact page on the top right of the screen.
Can you reply my email?
Please….
sengmuyleng@gmail.com
Hi! I just got the notification for the scholarship test , mine’s next week omg! haha anyway , i just wanted to ask you , does everyone who apply get in the test? and how was your ga test? was it very difficult? could you please give me an example of a hard question you encountered please? thanks ! x
No, not everyone who applies gets selected to go through the test. GA test was ok for me, but you’ve got to be quick. The maths are difficult compared to the Malaysian standards.
Ehh….I also got it a few days ago! XD I would like to contact you through email, Michelle~ xD
Sure! My email is in the contact page on the top right corner of my blog.
hey… I was just wondering, did you get the scholarship???
Nope haha
U were invited to the selection test? Can I know wats ur result? I have applied but I haven’t got the notification.. So I wanna know wats the requirement:)
The requirements vary…it doesn’t depend on your academic results alone. My F4 year end results was 4A+ 7A.
hows the general knowledge test.. hehe what would they usually ask?? im going to sit for the exam too anyway.. ”wish me luck”
The GA test is a pattern-based test, where you have to answer 40Qs in about 20 mins. Good luck!
Thank you for your help , I did the test yesterday and your advice was truly helpful! Thanks a lot , especially for the ga test 🙂 I rushed through 48 questions xD So , thank you 🙂
Greetings! My name is Nadhea and I’m from Indonesia. i’m gonna take the test this Sunday and I don’t what to study. I wonder if doing O level math papers helps? and what about the english and GAT papers? do you have any cluee? thanks before!
Greetings Michelle! One of your homies here from Malaysia. I am going to take the ASEAN Scholarship next year for the 2015 intake. So in a nutshell I have less than half a year to prepare for the scholarship. May I ask in your opinion what does it takes to be qualified enough to obtain the scholarship and what should I do in order match up with their expectation towards the applicants? By the way here is my email
Hi Mark. I’m Adit from Indonesia. I’ll apply for AY 2015/2015 too. If you don’t mind can I get your email?? Hope we can meet each other on singapore. btw my email is aditnhehe@outlook.com
Hi, Adit,
Have you done your selection test? how is it? 🙂
simmark1997@gmail.com
Hi! all, thanks for your sharing. Would like to seek some guidance on behalf of my son secondary 2 in preparation for the selection test on this coming 12 June’14. I have just received the invitation thru email today. Appreciate for your kind guidance. Thank you and regards, helen/jansen. 😉
Hey Helen – do you mind letting me know where is the test centre and it is strange that it is on a Thursday. My daughter took the test in 2012 and it usually is on both the Saturday & sunday because the test is quite intense and it will use up 2 whole days as they will also do briefing on the 2nd day.
I am going to take the scholarship test at orchird park secondary school. Any of u goin there……lol….
Does anybody receive the letter from the MOE that calls those short-listed candidates for the selection test for AY2016 Asean Scholarship for Malaysia?
yes, just received yesterday.
I juz received mine.How abt you?
I did have received the e-mail.May I know what types of essay questions will the MOE usually ask the Pre-U candidates to write?Thank you.
Same here ha! Kuala Lumpur, here I come!
I did have received the e-mail.May I know what types of essay questions the MOE usually asks the Pre-U candidates to write?Thank you.
Hi..which day did you guys received the e-mail for the A2016 Pre-U ASEAN Scholarship Selection Test?
I’m Cambodian and i’ve applied for the Asean Scholarship too.. Can u guys tell me if the math is going to be in English or mother tongue language? Thanks beforehand 😀
In English. 🙂
Any of you received the interview letter yet?
So I received the Asean Scholarship of 2015 and I curious about a few of details.
My question are:
1)Is biology compulsory for the education in Singapore?
2)Which is subject should I put more effort in?
3)Do you have any syllabus for my to refer?
Thanks,
Anonymous
hello! I was wondering if those who sat for the selection tests but did not pass it will be notified that they will not be able to go for the interview? I’ve been waiting since the start of August and its almost September now 😦
hi, no unfortunately you won’t be notified if you haven’t gotten through. 😦
Did anybody receive the scholarship offer this year yet?
Has anybody received the scholarship offer for 2017 yet?
Hi there!I’m from Malaysia and I got my admission test on this Saturday.Is the Maths test was very hard?any clues?Hurry up !!! I’m in urgent
Hi,
How do i go about application for entering Pre-u in 2021?
Hi so im not sure if anyone is still replying/ reading this blog but I’m from Malaysia and I’ve also been short-listed for the exam. From what I’ve heard and seen so far, the Math test seems super hard and I’m not even sure if I could even answer all of the questions LOL. However, there doesnt seem to be a GA test nor a second day listed in the e-mail they’ve sent me. Oh well, the test is this Saturday and I bid goodluck to all those applying for the current and future scholarships ❤
Hi everyone, I am also an ASEAN scholar (more to a school-based scholar) for Sec 3 2021! If you are interested in my process of applying and getting the scholarship, kindly visit my blog – https://zoetheaseanscholar.blogspot.com/ or comment your questions down the blog and I will reply you as soon as possible! Also, this blog helps me a lot in my application process, thanks !