10 Tips for Passing the Licensure Exam for Teachers (LET)

First published on March 11, 2009  |  Updated on March 6, 2013  |  Education  |  331 comments

After reviewing for the Licensure Exam for Teachers and passing it, I decided to share my ten LET passing tips here on my blog. These tips are essentially helpful if you decide not to enroll in a review center and just review on your own to get a license for teaching.

# 1 Know your weak and strong subjects/classes.

Allot a few hours each day or each week to review the lessons for classes you did well when you were still in college. Enjoy this review time so you can easily remember what you are re-learning.

Allot more time, however, on classes you were weak in. Well, at least if you are weak in mathematics for example, make sure you don’t miss reviewing the concepts that will be tested in the General Math part of the licensure exam.

It will be easy to find out your areas of weakness. Check the grades in your transcript or assess yourself which among the classes you took you don’t remember much about.

See my pointers to review based on PRC’s table of specification (TOS), which was available for download in first week of June 2011.

Also read the coverage of the exam with schedule.

# 2 Understand the major theories, concepts and techniques in Professional Education subjects.

Understanding the theories and concepts by heart will allow you to answer questions that are written to confuse you. There are times that you have to choose which among the situations on the choices will be logical based on theories or concepts mentioned or implied in the question.

I didn’t have any teaching experience when I took the exam so I really based a lot of my answers on what I remembered from my college years.

See some pointers for Professional Education subjects.

# 3 Strive hard to improve your analytical skills on answering questions.

After you reviewed the theories and concepts, you should test your understanding by differentiating and explaining these in your own words. While reviewing, rephrase ideas and think of actual applications.

For example, in methods of teaching, allow yourself to compare method 1 with method 2, then ask yourself why method 1 is preferred than the other on certain situations.

Ask yourself  questions like:

  • “Why are you doing _________?”
  • “Why is it similar to ______________?”
  • “What if you will not _________, what will happen?”
  • “Why the result is different?”
  • “How can I apply this?”
  • “Have I experienced this myself?”
  • “What other examples can I think of?”
  • “In other words, this is about  ____________.”

Just keep asking yourself regarding whatever you’ve just read on your review. Analyze and answer in your own words. If there are questions at the end of each chapter of your book, answer those questions.

Enjoy this process so you will remember.

#4  Review General Education subjects.

Remember that you have to pass all three sets of tests including General Education (for Secondary Education) and two sets of the tests (for Elementary Education).

Don’t assume that General Education  is easy since you took the Gen Ed classes when you were in Elementary or High School. Remember that a lot of years had passed. So refresh your memory especially on common mathematical equations (e.g. Fractions, Volumes, Areas, Percentages, Ages, Distance and Time computations) and major science concepts (e.g. Matter, Gravity, Mass, Energy, Friction). You’ll never know what will show up in your test.

Solve problems listed on your review materials or old books.

# 5 Prepare everything you need for the exam.

Make sure you have read the test guidelines, which included the things you need to bring for the exam.

Also check if the calculator you plan to bring for the exam is in PRC’s list of allowed calculators. If not, buy or borrow a calculator that has a model listed there (I bought mine). If you don’t want to buy a new one, make sure you have a non-programmable calculator. But don’t take my word on this because I wasn’t sure if other proctors had allowed calculators not on the list. Although my friend said she didn’t even check the list and just grabbed a basic calculator on the exam day. Proctors check each calculator before the exam starts.

# 6 Get enough sleep before the exam.

Make sure you don’t feel drowsy while taking the exam so you have enough time to answer all the test questions. You don’t want to fail because you didn’t have enough sleep the night before.

# 7 Avoid erasures, OR MAKE THE ERASURE CLEAN AT LEAST. And Of Course, Shade it Properly!

In Centro Escolar University (CEU), where I attended college from 2003 to 2007, we used Scantron papers for our prelim, mid-term, and final exams. So, I’m used to answering tests by shading boxes.

I knew how erasures could make a bad score. So before you shade it, make sure you are shading the right answer, or at least it is your final answer. If you need to erase it, make sure it is clean. But I still don’t think it is a good idea.

So, before the exam day, try the eraser you plan to bring. On a white paper, or a semi-cardboard white paper, write something on it with the pencil you plan to bring and erase this writing with this eraser. If the eraser erases cleanly your writing, then you are good.

I also make sure when I shade the box of my answer, I don’t shade it beyond the box (huwag lumampas ang shading). Don’t shade it heavily too (Baka masira mo ung papel).

# 8 Skip questions you aren’t sure and go back to them later on.

There are some questions that no matter how well you prepared for the exam, you will have no idea what the answer is or it will take you a lot of time to answer it. If you come across to questions like these skip them first.  Answer questions that you know as much as you can then go back to the questions you skipped.

If you still can’t figure out the right answer the second time you look at the skipped question, make an educated guess. Eliminate options that are obvious detractors and you will end up with two best possible answers.

Make a very very educated guess at this point when you really can’t figure the right one out. Or follow your instinct (See Tip #10).

# 9 Follow instructions.

Listen to what the proctor is telling you during the exam. If you are confused, ask the proctor directly not your seatmate.

# 10 Bring with you your Common Sense.

Most of the time, you haven’t reviewed whatever appears on the real exam. What will help you answer the exam are your basic understanding of the topics and your analytical skill. Don’t  overdo it though because you might miss the right answer.

 

My Story:

I completed 18 credits in Education together with my degree in Mass Communications-Journalism. In 2008, a year after I graduated, I took the Licensure Exam for Teachers or LET held in September.

The challenging exam made me think of enrolling in a review class, but at the end, I chose to study on my own. Not an easy choice but I was fortunate to have my friend enrolled in a review class that I photocopied her reviewers.

I started to self-review though just a month away before the exam, and took it more seriously just two weeks before the exam (define cramming!). If I had a bigger goal like to be one of the top 10 examinees, I would had taken the review more seriously and started the review months before or took an earlier initiative to enroll in a review center (excuses!). I just wanted to pass the exam and get a license. I’m glad I did, with an overall score between 82-84%.

 

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331 thoughts on “10 Tips for Passing the Licensure Exam for Teachers (LET)”

  1. and the most important thing after and before the exam id to seek help and guidance to our Almighty GOD….for the knowledge and wisdom He bestowed upon us…

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  3. thank you for your tip’s,if we want to pass the exam initiative and perseverance believe that we can do it,if there is difficulties think that it is a challenge not an obstacle.and believe in yourself always…go.go.go and good luck, God bless!

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  6. hi mam, marami na pong beses ako kumuha ng let pero di ako makapasa. sana matulungan nyo ako. sana po mabigyan nyo ko ng pointers to review in general educ, professional educ and content course. gusto ko po kumuha ngayon 2013. sana maepost nyo kung mayron bago. thanks po!

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  8. i graduated last april 2009, i have earned 18 units of education and i want to take this coming march 2013 secondary level major in biological sciences. can you give me some tips on how to pass the LET?

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  9. hi ms. reah,
    i am planning to take my LET nextyear when i go home to philippines, please provide me some tips on how to pass the exam i am a secondary education graduate major in mathematics,this subject is my weakness and i graduated long time ago year 2003.

    Your response will higly appreciated. Thanks and more power! Godbless po.

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  10. Hello po Ms. Reah!

    Need ko po ang reviewers nyo po if there is new Topics to review… Try nyo po ak bigyan ,
    I am planning to take my LET next year please provide me some tips on how to pass the exam I am a secondary education graduate,.

    Thanks and more power! Godbless po.

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  11. Hello po Ms. Reah!

    Need ko po ang reviewers nyo po if there is new Topics to review… Try nyo po ak bigyan ,
    I am planning to take my LET next year please provide me some tips on how to pass the exam I am a secondary education graduate,.

    Thanks and more power! Godbless po.

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  12. Hi,ms. Reah tnx for ur tips it help us a lot as a l.e.t takers.

    If you don’t mind, please give us more tips on how to pass the let exam this coming march 10,2013.
    May ALLAH grant our prayer to pass the exam..

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  14. HI Ms reah
    nbsa ko ung tips mu before mgtake ng Let for teachers ang gling sana mkapsa n poh ko mgttake poh lo ngaun march 10 2013 hay ang hrp poh kc kelangan tlga mcpg mgreview

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  15. Hi…I’ll be taking the exam this coming March 10, 2013…absolutely I failed to register early in a review center…so I have no choice but to review on my own…and I know I need some help from you…could you please allow me to have a copy or your reviewer…how can I be able to download it?..is there any way to?…thank you and God bless…

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  16. hi po .. nka trice n po ak sa pagtake ng exam at naun po ulit kukuha po ako .. bumagsak po ak sa major k sa math .. meron po ba kau maitutulong sa kn mpasa k n po .. tns and godbless..

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  17. Hi ms rhea,
    twice na po akong magtake ng board exams pero di po tlaga ako pinalad……. bka po pwede nyo po akong mbigyan ng reviewers for LET… god bless po and more power…

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  18. tnx 4 this information, i going to take LET Examination this coming march 2013, im hoping that i will pass the examination .. God bless

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  20. hi ms.reah…..i’m so nervous now.. i will take the let on sunday….. i don’t know what im going to do first….review , making exams,encoding grades, lesson planning or study the lesson that im going to impart to the students….please help me….

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  23. i took my first course already w/c is far from education but i wanted to take the LET exam. How do you apply for LET? What are the requirements? Do you need to inform your “COLLEGE SCHOOL” that you will be taking an exam? Just asking lng poh… :)

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  24. have a nice day ate…..im aira of CCSPC Cotabato City a 3rd year student.im on my way to plan to take my let examination, and by your help. i do belive on sayings “there is no falure, only delayed success”
    more power.god bless.

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  25. Hi Ms. Reah,
    I enjoyed reading your blog. Thank you for the tips. I took the LET exam last year 2010, and i failed because i didn’t have much time to review because I have my job already. Would you mind if il ask what reviewers I should be using so I can start a self-review and il file when I’m ready to take the board exam for the second time around. Thank you and God Bless!

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  26. Hi Ms. Reah,
    Thank you for the tips and reviewer for TLE.
    It really help me a lot to passed the March 2013 LET Exam.
    I know God use you to help us.
    May God continue to bless you and your family

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  27. hi,ms.rhea im chris how many times na rin ang akong kumuha ng exam sa let pero hindi ako nkapasa social studies major.pls.help me to have that tips especially sa major ko.plllsssssssss…..thanks and more power

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