PROMISES: a review that's systematic, only review center to be able to preserve integrity, quality, and values to it's students.

FACILITIES: The brochure made no mention of their facilities though I learned that as of late 2001, computers are in use for computer-based examinations which you can avail of once every month.

DISCOUNTS/PERKS: The brochure also made on mention on discounts but I'm sure there is (if you are a graduate with honors, or officer of a club or entity, or you enroll in groups). Free books are also given and, of course, manuals and test questions from quizzes.

TEXT FROM THEIR BROCHURE: Your success is our business and with this in mind, we aim to make your review worthwhile and much easier. Our quality-oriented programs which have been advertently designed to fill your needs, will warrant you the practical leading edge that you deserve. Complementing our unique programs are our proficient reviewers who have been carefully selected from among the brilliant minds in the fields of Mathematics, Electronics and Communications. Likewise, our friendly and service-oriented office staff ever ready to attend to yur needs and our complete facilities at your service, will make you even more confident in realizing your ultimate goal. Be your best always and we shall contribute our humble share by bringing out the best in you.

OUR SAY: You may hear this review school's name as Castro by our more senior ECE comrades, but they're referring to the same review school.

When it comes to systematic review, Certii will probably have most of the nods. Their well planned and stick-by-the-schedule type of review program can be attested by my batchmates who took their review classes at Certii. If you intend to have a clear understanding of the theories behind principles of electronics and communiations, and you are much more concerned in understanding these concepts, then Certii is the choice for you.

According to my batchmates also, The Pre-board Exam of Certii is so very much really difficult! Out of all their reviewees, only a handful pass the exam (roughly below 10%). And what's more, the result of this exam is given to the reviewees less than a week before the examination day itself (at least, this happened before Nov.2001 exams)! To see a sorry grade days before the exam itself may make you lose some confidence. But don't worry, most questions in that pre-board exam don't really show up in the actual exam (at least from our experience). And it was made specially difficult, kumbaga, sinasadyang gawing mahirap (perhaps there's a good reason for doing it?!)

RESULTS: Most of the ECE-B 2001 and UST ECE students who reviewed at Certii passed the board exam, though with relatively fair grade.


Excel Review Center
Rm. 306 Dona Amparo Bldg.,
Tolentino St. cor. Espana Blvd., Sampaloc, Manila
tel. 7362688
email. exl@skyinet.net

Excel Review Center Cebu
2/f LBF Bldg.,
V. Gullas St. Cebu City
tel. 2538759 (Cebu)
email. jrtiong@skyinet.net

MOTTO: "Still the country's top producer of ECE Topnotchers and Passers"

PROMISES: Fairness, competitiveness, and flexibility.

FACILITIES: The facilities are fair enough: a roomfull of working PCs for hands-on exams, the classroom though should be transferred because it's at the 6th floor. The weekend reviewees (like I used to be) have to climb the stairs just to attend classes. Projectors and wireless mics are also in place.

DISCOUNTS/PERKS: I wonder why they wrote in the brochure "no big discounts." In fact, they do! But only for deserving enrolees. Honor graduates, medalists, IECEP Quiz National Champions enrolled only at Excel get free review, refresher and coaching courses, and books. Class presidents get the same privildeges. Class officers and IECEP National Quizzers enrolled only at Excel get 50% discount in review fee and 10% discount in refresher and coaching fees. Free books as well. Past Excel reviewees also get 50% discount in review fee. Group enrolees have discounts based on the number of enrolees in that group.

TEXT FROM THEIR BROCHURE: Excel Review Center offers no big discounts nor shows ficticious passing percentages nor provides money-back guarantee, etc. just to entice enrolees.

Excel's reviewers don't self-proclaim to be the BEST. They don't show false number of years in review experience nor boast to be "competent." They simply do their job - help examinees pass or even excel in the board.

We offer no gimmicks but pure performance!

RECORDS SET BY EXCEL (1992-2001)
most number of ECE Topnotchers, most number of 1st placers, most number of passers, most number of branches, first to offer computer-aided review, most number of computers, first to use projectors and electronic feeders, first to provide free hand-outs and lecture notes, most number of full time reviewers, among others.

OUR SAY: I would say Excel is the fiercest rival of Certii (in UST, at least, Certii and Excel battle it out to win the ECE Thomasian's heart). Review classes of Excel is ok but Certii's review is better. Though Excel provides handouts which are very helpful, you can also get it without enrolling there by simply photocopying your friend's handout. Adding some difficulty (at least to some degree) is the very strong Cebuano accent of ALL the reviewers, as they are all from the Visayas. Of course this is not a problem if you're from there!

I would recommend you attend the refresher class and the coaching class. Though very pricey, they will help you a lot in sharpening your memory and have a sort of practice of what to expect most likely in the actual board exam.

Excel Review Materials (also available at National Bookstore and other major stores) are good buys... highly recommended. You can use them for practising, and they come with helpful hints, appendices, list of formula, and questions from past board exams. I personally think that Excel books are higher in quality and value than Certii review materials which are more of textbook than a reviewer.

If you don't care about the theories behind different electronics and communications concepts and want straightforward review and pass the board, then Excel is for you.

RESULTS: All of the friends that I know enrolled at Excel passed the board exam. The two Top 20 placers (numbers 13 and 18) of UST all reviewed at Excel.

OTHER REVIEW SCHOOLS:


SCHOOL: Macro Integrated Training and Review Center, Inc.
ADDRESS: Suite MI, Mezzanine Flr., Dona Amparo Bldg., Cataluna St. cor Espana Blvd., Sampaloc Manila
PHONE: 7357336

BIRD'S EYE VIEW: MITRC's review program is a solid 240 hour lecture and workshops attuned with the fully computerized board exam and the engineering needs of our time handled by our pool of competent, experienced and best ECE reviewers in the country today. They also have a computer-aided review to acclimatize the students to the actual board exam condition. Group studies attended by their review instructors are also conducted.

MITRC has a money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied by their quality of teaching.

MITRC also offers a cash incentive to board topnotchers (PhP 2000.00)

In addition, MITRC offers free seminars that include a wide range of topics, from "Data Communications Systems" to "LAN and WAN Troubleshooting" to "Telephone Switching System" to "Analog and Digital Testing."


SCHOOL: Engineering Reviewers of Asia
ADDRESS: Rm. 409 4/f Dona Amparo Bldg., Tolentino St. cor Espana Blvd., Sampaloc, Manila
PHONE: 7357257/09188381329

BIRD'S EYE VIEW: ERA is the longest running ECE review school in the country. They also have branches in Cebu and Baguio. They claim to have produced the highest number of Board topnotchers with 257 as of early 2001. They claim to also have comprehensive board exams and lectures that were designed in the manner that the actual board examinations are being conducted. And they boast of their Mathematics review director, Engr. Perfecto Padilla, with 100% board ratings in Mathematics. Like MITRC, ERA also offers cash incentive to topnotchers.

Finally, they don't approve of deceiving reviewees with "gimmicks" that are absolutely "foul" and they are dedicated to the noble tasks of developing future engineers through quality review and adheres to the fundamental virtues: SERVICE, INTEGRITY and EXCELLENCE.


After all that's been said in our little article, maybe you've gained a better idea of a review school that's ideal for your needs. Though all of the information written here are from our observations and experiences only (unless indicated). It may not be applicable for you. But we hope we're able to help you and we welcome any questions or suggestions or if you need help from your, ahem, senior licensed ECE comrades, feel free to contact us. To all of you taking the exam: pray hard, study hard, play hard...