Published on May 05, 2005

Top-scoring students in the central university entrance exam yesterday explained the formulas for their success and passed on useful tips to future test-takers.

And while the top scorers basked in the honour of meeting Education Minister Adisai Bodharamik, two blind students were celebrating their success in passing the entrance exam to study at their chosen universities.

Patcharaphan Suwannakood, a student at Chulalongkorn University’s demonstration school, was one of nine to receive books as gifts from Education Minister Adisai.

She had emerged as the top scorer among applicants to Chulalongkorn University’s faculty of arts, receiving an overall score of 86.94 per cent.

“You have to concentrate in class and you should do plenty of practise with old exams,” Patcharaphan advised younger students.

Tanawat Saengpaiboon, a schoolmate of Patcharaphan, came a close second with an overall score of 86.79 per cent. He topped this year’s list of applicants to Chulalongkorn’s faculty of dentistry.

“I have been studying very hard for the past three years,” Tanawat said, adding that beyond his usual workload in school he took tutorial classes in physics, chemistry and biology.

“If students learn their lessons in school thoroughly, and review them at least twice, tutorial classes may not be necessary,” he said.

The students faced exams on several subjects – the combination depended on the requirements of the particular academic programme they applied for. Average scores each year fall below 50 per cent.

Traditionally, most of the top scorers continue their studies at Chulalongkorn University, the country’s highest-rated educational institution.

The highest-scoring applicant to the university’s faculty of communication arts this year was Chanya Pikunkantalert, from Triam Udom Suksa School. She received an overall score of 85.18 per cent.

“My tip is to read a lot,” she said, adding that she took only one extracurricular tutorial class on social science.

Nisachol Muenpirom, a student from the same school, topped the list of applicants to the faculty of commerce and accountancy, with a score of 83.06 per cent.

“I always paid careful attention in class and often reviewed my lessons,” she explained.

Her schoolmate Pattaraporn Cuenglertsiri was the highest scorer among applicants to the faculty of political science, scoring an overall 82.99 per cent.

“Before the exam I read my textbooks a lot and did lots of practice with old exams,” she said.

Next was Chawin Chaiwat, a student at Assumption College in Thon Buri – the top applicant to Mahidol University’s faculty of medicine, with 81.55 per cent.

“I think I simply owe my success to years of hard work,” Chawin said, encouraging

other students to follow his example.

Meanwhile, two blind students explained their ambitions yesterday after passing the entrance exams.

Teenager Athisri Songkhro said she would study English in Bansomdej Chao Phya Rajabhat University’s faculty of humanities, while Apiram Ngaosri said he would study at Silpakorn University’s faculty of arts.

They would both attend interviews and physical examinations later this month.

Athisri, from Bangkok’s Chinoros Withayalai School, said she had not expected to pass the exams because she had failed to finish the English, Thai, Social Science and French tests on time – although she knew every answer she had given was correct. She got a score of 171 and a grade point average of 2.21.

Athisri said she wanted to be a translator and an English news reporter in future. Her mother Thanya, a food seller, said the family income was only Bt300 to Bt400 a day.

“We do our best to support her, despite the difficulties and having to borrow money,” she said.

Thammarat Kitchalong,

Puangchompoo Prasert

The Nation

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