DSHAPE Exam Prep Guide PDF

Admissions Hello!! I recently passed DSHAPE, and I want to be able to help out students who want to become future Lasallians. I tried to remember as much as I could, so I'm sorry if this post isn't enough to cover everything and that it might be unorganized. I'll also try updating this post as soon...

Admissions Hello!! I recently passed DSHAPE, and I want to be able to help out students who want to become future Lasallians. I tried to remember as much as I could, so I'm sorry if this post isn't enough to cover everything and that it might be unorganized. I'll also try updating this post as soon as I remember something. From my experience, DSHAPE was tolerable. I wouldn't say it was easy, but it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. Surprisingly, I had a harder time in Science than in other subjects. I answered too slowly in the first part, but I was able to pick up the pace for the rest. WHAT HAPPENS AS YOU ENTER YOUR BUILDING? My building was at the Br.Andrew Gonzalez Hall. My time was 1 PM and I arrived at around 12:50 PM. My mother accompanied me but as soon as I walked to the line to go inside, your parent/guardian cannot go with you. You must have your test permit out. Next, a security guard will check your test permit. Then, another staff will do it also (probably to check its authenticity). Once its been checked, you go inside the building and it's like an airport! You have to put your bag on the baggage scanner and get yourself scanned. Another security guard helped me put my bag properly because I used a backpack. Anyways, you go through a queue wherein some staff have to scan the barcode on your test permit. Afterwards, we had to go on an elevator to get to our room. Once you get to your floor, your examiner/proctor or other staff will be there to guide you to your room. You'll be seated down and that's it! We were able to use our phones before they started explaining the rules and flow of the exam. Before DSHAPE starts, we are asked to take out our pencils, erasers, sharpeners, and then we put our bags at the front of the room. WHAT'S IN THE EXAM? From this point, I'll be listing down the parts and topics that I remember. There were 300 items in total. You are given a booklet with the questions, an answer sheet, and scratch paper. When I entered my room, a list of the parts and the time limits for each part were on the whiteboard. When there are about 10 or 5 minutes left, your examiner/proctor will remind you how much time is left. In my case, there were 2 examiners. As you take the exam, they'll roam around the room to check if you're cheating, answering the correct page, things like that. One of them will interrupt you to ask for your test permit. Later on, that examiner will return with a sheet of paper for the attendance. You will just sign it and put your reference number (no need to memorize this because you may find it in your answer sheet). QUICK NOTE: There's no Filipino subject, so you're good. And a calculator is not allowed, so there's no point in bringing one (this goes for all SHS entrance exams). FIRST PART: Mental Ability. To me, it was kind of confusing.. It's a mixture of a bunch of stuff like geometrical shapes, numerical series, choose what word completes the sentence, things like that. Some of them also make you choose a deep word that'll fit a group of words. Make sure to not lose your focus here or else you may do so for the rest of the exam.  SECOND PART: Math. Keep practicing your mathematical skills, especially factoring. It's the best way for you to answer that part of the exam. They provided a scratch paper but to be honest I didn't use it as much as I'd expected. topics: factoring polynomials simplifying radical equations circumference and area triangle postulates definitions in geometry (e.g., linear pairs, congruent, supplementary) age word problems trigonometry (including SOHCAHTOA) properties of addition laws of exponents statistics (mean, median, mode) probability the language of algebra THIRD PART: Reading Comprehension. DO NOT OVERSTUDY ENGLISH! Overstudying English is the biggest mistake I made. I wasted at least 2 weeks studying it. It was super easy. 💀 But the essays are so long that you must read fast while trying to understand what you're reading. At some point, I lost the energy to continue. topics: deep words you may not understand reading comprehension connect the two sentences rewrite the sentence Break time! It was only for 15 minutes. We had to go out of our rooms (idk why). I highly suggest you drink water and eat a small snack. Also message your family members/friends for luck and support! ^ FOURTH PART: It's English again. From what I remember, it was just about correct grammar, capitalization, and correct punctuation. FIFTH PART: Science. 😈 There's a chance you'll get confused about whether or not the question is related to chem or phys, so maybe watch out for that. Chemistry was the most difficult for me because I didn't study enough for it (it had solving stuff so all I did was guess). Physics was 50/50 in terms of difficulty. I think there were only a few??? questions about Biology. There was no Earth Science but I studied it a bit just in case. biology:  parts of the eyes genetics mendelian genetics physics: distance displacement Relative Velocities trajectory Work, Energy, and Power Kinematics electricity Ohm’s Law chemistry: Atomic structure and Subatomic particles Gas Laws chemical reactions and solutions balancing chemicals dilution of solutions Concentration of Solutions Computing Moles number of Molecules Boiling and Melting points Reading Variables and solving possible outcomes (Experiments/Lab Analysis) SIXTH PART???: I seriously cannot describe what this part is. It's like reading comprehension with a mix of physics..? That part got me really confused because it was just a mix of random things. It had charts, graphs, paragraphs. I don't know if there was solving because I didn't do any. LAST PART: Personality Test. This part is my FAVORITE. The questions were situational, so the choices are about what you'd do in that situation. It had like 20 or 30 items and all you had to do was answer like an angel! You can really just chill and take it easy. EXTRA TIPS: Skip the question if you don't understand it. Don't waste time trying to make sense of the question if it's taking you too long. If you seriously don't know the answer, literally just guess. When reading a long essay/passage, read with a finger so you won't get lost. If you've already found the answer in the essay, don't waste time trying to read it all. Don't read the questions out loud. Read them with your inner voice. Do not use a ballpen! I brought one just in case, but it's no use.  💀 Drink water during the break and perhaps eat a small snack. My mouth got super dry when we continued. Calm your nerves as soon as you get to your room. Wear a jacket or long sleeves because my room was pretty chilly. Do not write on the exam booklet. It's simply for you to see the questions, not actually write on them. The examiner will explain this before you start. I suggest arriving 10 to 20 minutes early. The entrance to your building/gate can get really crowded. That's all that I can remember. Remember that this post doesn't contain all the necessary information. There may also be a possibility that they'll change the questions. This next part is more related to preparing for it rather than studying it. From what I remember, you'll know what to bring as you finish your application, but this is just what I brought when I took the exam. WHAT TO BRING? 2 copies of your test permit (the other one is extra) No. 1 or 2 pencil/s, eraser, sharpener Water (you may bring snacks if you want) Jacket School I.D Next, I'll just add some information that's related to all of this. I'm not sure how to categorize this part. When should I start studying? I studied 1 month before the exam. Depending on how fast you learn, I suggest you do it 2 or 3 months earlier. Studying over the summer would be nice, but I suggest you get familiar with the topics rather than stressing over exams when relaxing. Although, I don't think it's too bad to start studying over the summer. But don't overstudy to the point where you lose time for freedom before you get super busy in 10th grade. What should I study first? You do you. But for me, I'd study English first because that's what was easiest and quickest for me to review. After English, you could practice Mental Ability. It's easy, but it can be much more confusing, so that's why you need to practice it if you have the time. I actually didn't have enough time to study it, so when I was answering this part of the exam, I definitely got nervous because nothing made enough sense to me. Next, you could do Science or Math, depending on which is easier for you. I studied math first. I just had to refresh and practice topics like trigonometry, factoring, etc. I studied science last because not only did I have to learn how to solve things, but I also had to really understand the concepts, or else I wouldn't understand the questions. Not to mention, I struggled with chemistry. Are review centers worth it? In my honest opinion, it depends. The physical books I got from my review center were very helpful. As for the actual classes, they weren't as helpful. It cramped up my schedule so much that it affected my mental health. This really depends on your schedule and how much studying you can take. The good side to it is that one of the commentators on this post mentioned that it really prepares you for the exam. One of the teachers at my review center mentioned that the questions there were harder than the actual exam. Is it necessary to buy reviewers? In my honest opinion, no. Unless the material inside is super good, then go for it. However, because I was enrolled and got books from a review center, it was good enough for me. My friends bought a bunch of books that, if I had them, wouldn't really do much for me. You may also use what your school provides (books from the library, PPTs, etc.) because the topics are from grades 7 to 10. You could even borrow from your older siblings or from higher levels if they're willing to share. Make use of what you already have. Is it possible to pass if you study on your own? Yes! 100%! Even though I paid for my review center, I didn't really listen... I also didn't join study groups, so I self-studied. It was more comfortable for me in that way. I didn't buy any other reviewers or books because YouTube and Google were helpful enough. Do low grades affect your application and the results? (Ex. Line of 7 in report card) This isn't confirmed, but I think it would affect your choice of strand. If you don't do well in DSHAPE to make up for your low grades, you could get your 2nd choice or a completely different strand. There is always the option to shift strands, but the process would be long, especially for STEM. You can only shift to STEM during the 3rd term. Reviewers my friends used (DLSU-Laguna, UST, PUP, FEU passers) [Senior High School (SHAPE) Reviewer Books (Set)] [Comprehensive English Reviewer] [MSA Science Handbook set] Now, don't feel bad if you fail. Rejection is redirection. And you could always write a reconsideration letter (not sure how to do this, though). A lot of students may back out and choose other schools, so there is always hope. Anyway, I'm also willing to answer questions if y'all have any. Good luck, and I hope you guys pass! Advice: https://www.reddit.com/r/dlsu/comments/11murp6/dshape_tips_for_future_takers/?utm_source= share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_b utton https://www.scribd.com/document/619149643/Dshape-Ashape-Ustet-Coverage-docx-1 https://www.docsity.com/en/dshape-mock-test-reading-comprehension/5705037/ _________________________________________________________________ AI MADE Reviewer I. MENTAL ABILITY (Abstract and Verbal Reasoning) This part tests your logic and ability to think critically. Expect questions on: Geometric Shapes: Pattern recognition, analogies, and visual puzzles. ○ Tips: Practice visualizing patterns in 2D and 3D shapes. Look for rotation, reflection, symmetry, or transformation (e.g., flipping, mirroring). Use online resources with shape puzzles and pattern questions to get familiar. ○ Example: Which shape comes next in the sequence? (Follow a pattern of rotation, color change, or number of sides.) Numerical Series: Recognizing patterns in sequences of numbers. ○ Tips: Analyze the differences or ratios between numbers, square roots, and powers. ○ Example: What is the next number in the sequence? 2, 4, 8, 16, __? Word Analogies and Sentence Completion: ○ Tips: Focus on vocabulary, context clues, and logical relationships between words. Practice synonym/antonym relationships and word categories (e.g., professions, objects, emotions). ○ Example: Sun is to day as moon is to __? Deep Word Choice: ○ Tips: Review higher-level vocabulary and context-based word definitions. ○ Example:  Which word best completes this group: benevolent, altruistic, generous, __? (Answer: Philanthropic) II. MATH Focus on core high school math concepts, including algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and statistics. Practice speed and accuracy. 1. Factoring Polynomials: Factor quadratic expressions or higher-degree polynomials. ○ Tips: Familiarize yourself with common factoring techniques like grouping, difference of squares, and using the quadratic formula when necessary. ○ Example: Factor x2−5x+6x2−5x+6. 2. Simplifying Radicals: Simplify square roots and other radicals. ○ Tips: Know how to simplify radicals by factoring numbers into prime factors. ○ Example: Simplify 5050​. 3. Geometry: ○ Circumference and Area: Be able to compute for circles, triangles, and polygons. ○ Triangle Postulates: Familiarize yourself with congruence (SSS, SAS, ASA) and similarity theorems. ○ Definitions in Geometry: Tips: Review definitions like linear pairs, supplementary angles, and the properties of congruent shapes. ○ Example: Find the area of a circle with a radius of 7 units. 4. Trigonometry: ○ SOHCAHTOA: Use basic trigonometric ratios to solve for sides or angles of right triangles. ○ Example: Solve for sin⁡θsinθ if the opposite side is 5 units and the hypotenuse is 13 units. 5. Statistics: Focus on mean, median, and mode. Know how to calculate probabilities. ○ Example: What is the median of the following numbers: 3, 7, 8, 15, 20? III. READING COMPREHENSION This section involves reading passages and answering questions based on them. The essays might be lengthy, so practice reading quickly while maintaining comprehension.  1. Deep Word Understanding: Recognize the meaning of complex words in context. ○ Tips: Use context clues and practice with SAT-level vocabulary lists. 2. Sentence Structure and Rewriting: ○ Tips: Focus on understanding grammar rules, parallelism, and connecting ideas smoothly. 3. Example: ○ Read the passage and answer the following questions. "What is the main argument of the author? How does the author structure their points?" IV. ENGLISH This part will focus more on technical grammar and proper sentence structure. 1. Grammar, Capitalization, and Punctuation: ○ Tips: Brush up on subject-verb agreement, tense consistency, punctuation marks, and capitalization rules. ○ Example: Choose the sentence with correct punctuation: "I need to buy eggs, milk, and bread." V. SCIENCE This is more concept-heavy and may involve some calculations. Chemistry seems to be the hardest for many students, so focus on the basics of balancing equations and solving problems. 1. Biology: ○ Tips: Know the anatomy of the human body (especially the eye), genetics (Mendelian genetics), and basic biological processes. ○ Example: What part of the eye is responsible for focusing light? 2. Physics: ○ Tips: Be familiar with the concepts of velocity, displacement, kinematics, and energy. ○ Example: Using Ohm's Law, calculate the current if the resistance is 10 ohms and the voltage is 5V. 3. Chemistry: ○ Tips: Learn how to balance chemical reactions and solve for moles using Avogadro’s number.  ○ Example: How many moles are in 12 grams of carbon (C)? VI. MIXED SECTION (Science + Reading Comprehension) This section appears to be a mix of reading graphs, analyzing charts, and scientific reasoning. 1. Charts and Graphs: ○ Tips: Interpret data from graphs and charts (e.g., bar graphs, pie charts, line graphs) and answer related questions. ○ Example: Given the chart of temperature changes over time, what trend can be observed? 2. Science-Based Reading Comprehension: ○ Tips: Practice scientific reading comprehension, interpreting experiments, and lab results. ○ Example: What conclusion can you draw from the experiment based on the data provided? VII. PERSONALITY TEST The personality test is situational and subjective. Just answer honestly, but consider what qualities the school might be looking for in students (e.g., responsibility, teamwork). 1. Example: ○ If a friend is in trouble and asks you for help, how would you respond? A) Ignore them B) Help them solve the problem C) Let someone else handle it D) Get frustrated with them Final Tips: 1. Time Management: Practice pacing yourself, especially for long reading passages and math problems. 2. Stay Focused: Mental ability questions can be tricky and confusing, so train yourself to stay focused even when facing difficult questions. 3. Take Breaks: During your review, take short breaks to prevent burnout. 4. Use Practice Tests: Simulate the exam environment with practice tests and timers. Good luck on your DSHAPE exam preparation! 4o You said: Could you make the Science, Math, and English part more detailed ChatGPT said: ChatGPT Absolutely! Let’s expand on the Science, Math, and English parts to provide a more detailed guide for each. I. SCIENCE This section involves biology, chemistry, and physics, with an emphasis on problem-solving and conceptual understanding. Here’s a breakdown of each area: 1. Biology Topics: Parts of the Eye: ○ Know the function of key parts such as the cornea, lens, iris, pupil, retina, optic nerve, and the photoreceptors (rods and cones). ○ Example Question: Which part of the eye focuses light onto the retina? Answer: Lens Genetics & Mendelian Genetics: ○ Understand the basics of heredity (dominant and recessive traits), genotypes (AA, Aa, aa), and phenotypes. ○ Example Question: If both parents are heterozygous for a trait (Aa), what is the probability that their offspring will express the recessive trait? Answer: 25% 2. Chemistry Topics: Atomic Structure & Subatomic Particles: ○ Understand protons, neutrons, and electrons. Be familiar with their charges, relative masses, and where they are located in the atom.  ○ Example Question: What is the charge of a neutron? Answer: Neutral (no charge) Balancing Chemical Equations: ○ Balance reactions by ensuring that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation. ○ Example Question: Balance the following equation: H2+O2→H2OH2​+O2​→H2​O Answer: 2H2+O2→2H2O2H2​+O2​→2H2​O Gas Laws: ○ Be familiar with Boyle’s Law, Charles’s Law, and the Ideal Gas Law. ○ Example Question: If the pressure on a gas increases, what happens to its volume (assuming temperature remains constant)? Answer: The volume decreases (Boyle’s Law). Dilution of Solutions: ○Use the formula ​to calculate dilutions. ○Example Question: How much water must be added to 50 mL of a 3M solution to dilute it to 1M? Answer: 100 mL Boiling & Melting Points: ○ Be familiar with phase changes and how substances behave at their boiling or melting points. ○ Example Question: What happens to the temperature of water as it reaches its boiling point? Answer: The temperature remains constant until the entire liquid has vaporized. 3. Physics Topics: Distance, Displacement, & Relative Velocities:  ○ Understand the difference between scalar (distance) and vector (displacement) quantities. ○ Example Question: A car travels 60 km north and then 80 km east. What is the car’s total displacement? Answer: Use Pythagoras' theorem: 602+802=100602+802​=100 km Work, Energy, & Power: ○ Work: W=F⋅dW=F⋅d (force times distance) ○ Energy: Kinetic Energy , Potential Energy PE=mghPE=mgh ○ Power: P=WtP=tW​(work over time) ○ Example Question: Calculate the work done by a 10 N force moving an object 5 meters. Answer: W=10⋅5=50W=10⋅5=50 Joules Kinematics & Trajectory: ○ Understand the basic kinematic equations for uniformly accelerated motion: v=u+atv=u+at, s=ut+12at2s=ut+21​at2. ○ Example Question: A ball is thrown upward at a velocity of 20 m/s. How long will it take to reach its maximum height? Answer: t=vg=209.8≈2.04t=gv​=9.820​≈2.04 seconds Electricity & Ohm’s Law: ○ Use Ohm's Law V=IRV=IR (voltage = current × resistance) to solve for missing variables. ○ Example Question: If the resistance in a circuit is 5 ohms and the current is 2 amps, what is the voltage? Answer: V=5⋅2=10V=5⋅2=10 volts II. MATH The Math section will test your ability to solve problems involving algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and basic statistics. 1. Algebra Topics: Factoring Polynomials: ○ Factor quadratics and other polynomials. ○ Example Question: Factor x2−9x2−9. Answer: (x−3)(x+3)(x−3)(x+3) Laws of Exponents: ○ Know how to manipulate expressions involving exponents. ○ Example Question: Simplify (x2)3(x2)3. Answer: x6x6 Age Word Problems: ○ Translate word problems into algebraic expressions to solve for unknown variables. ○ Example Question: John is twice as old as Mary. Five years ago, he was three times as old as Mary. How old is John? Answer: Let J=2MJ=2M, set up and solve the system of equations. 2. Geometry Topics: Triangle Postulates: ○ Understand congruence (SSS, SAS, ASA) and similarity postulates (AA, SSS, SAS). ○ Example Question: In △ABC△ABC, AB=ACAB=AC and ∠B=∠C∠B=∠C. What type of triangle is △ABC△ABC? Answer: Isosceles Definitions in Geometry: ○ Know key terms such as linear pairs, supplementary angles, and the properties of polygons. ○ Example Question: What is the sum of the interior angles of a pentagon? Answer: (5−2)⋅180=540∘(5−2)⋅180=540∘ 3. Trigonometry Topics: SOHCAHTOA: ○ Use trigonometric ratios (sine, cosine, tangent) to solve for unknown sides or angles. ○ Example Question: In a right triangle, if θ=30∘θ=30∘ and the hypotenuse is 10, find the length of the opposite side. Answer: sin⁡(30∘)=opposite10sin(30∘)=10opposite​, so the opposite side = 5 units. 4. Probability & Statistics Topics: Mean, Median, Mode: ○ Calculate the average, middle value, and most frequent value of a data set. ○ Example Question:  What is the mode of the following set: 2, 4, 4, 5, 7? Answer: 4 Basic Probability: ○ Example Question: If you roll a die, what is the probability of getting an even number? Answer: 36=1263​=21​ III. ENGLISH The English section tests grammar, reading comprehension, and sentence structure. 1. Grammar, Capitalization, & Punctuation Topics: Subject-Verb Agreement: ○ Make sure the subject and verb agree in number (singular/plural). ○ Example Question: Choose the correct sentence: A) Each of the students are preparing for the exam. B) Each of the students is preparing for the exam. Answer: B Tenses: ○ Ensure the correct use of past, present, and future tenses. ○ Example Question: She (watch) the movie last night. Answer: watched 2. Sentence Structure Topics: Rewriting Sentences: ○ Change the structure of sentences without altering their meaning. ○ Example Question: Rewrite: "The cake was eaten by the dog." Answer: "The dog ate the cake." 3. Reading Comprehension Topics: Connect the Sentences: ○ Understand how two sentences relate (cause-effect, contrast, continuation). ○ Example Question: Sentence 1: "He was late for the meeting." Sentence 2: "The bus broke down on the way." Which word best connects these two sentences? Answer: Because