Drawing Dreams | MARA Result

The result was out months ago but I don't have the courage to face the music. I failed to get the MARA loan and I have tried to appeal but it didn't work out.

What I've been through was like a massive water ripple effect. Everything, emotionally for instant has been tarnished.

It all started last year. I really wanted to finish my study and decided to take Master of Architecture. Unlike other courses, we are studio-based and technical course need to prepare extra documentation. I was so determined and put my best preparing portfolio, resume, personal statement and university application.

 I managed to get 3 offer letters, unconditional from University of Liverpool and Lincoln University and conditional offer from Liverpool John Moores University. Which I believe not so important to MARA as they didn't ask for offer letter (quote from MARA officer).

Drawing Dreams | MARA Interview Tips

Assalammualaikum

The interview starts today and some of us still don't have the exact date. MARA only stated 1-3 April for the interview and I'm already nervous. So, to curb my anxiety problems, trust Allah and get prepared is the right solution.  Googled some of tips from various blogs; afterschool, mygabus, sophie (interview uitm), I would like to share what I found.

So, basically MARA stated these on their site and please prepare all the required documents. Put it in order will lessen your kelam-kabut if ask to find any.

Compare to last year and year before (2013 and 2012), base from my friends solely, there was no interviews for postgraduate. However, some said that they had a group and individual interviews since 2009 for MARA scholarship/loan. I can't verify if it was for postgraduate or undergraduate. More or less we shall be prepared la kan.

Briefly, the group session was like this:

“Calon perlu mendaftar di kaunter pendaftaran berdasarkan panel yang diberi. Jika tidak silap saya, ada 12 panel kesemuanya. Setiap panel mengandungi 8 calon dan 3 penemuduga. Calon akan diberi tugasan dan perlu membahagikan masing-masing kepada 2 atau 3 kumpulan. Temuduga keseluruhannya mengambil masa 1 jam. 40 minit akan diberi kepada calon untuk berbincang dan membuat perbentangan sesama sendiri. Penemuduga tidak mengambil bahagian dan sekadar memerhati sahaja. Setelah perbincangan dan perbentangan selesai, penemuduga akan bertanya tentang tugasan dan tentang ahli kumpulan yang lain (contohya ahli mana yang patut dilantik menjadi ketua ataupun jika ada peniru di kalangan mereka.) Setiap seorang calon akan ditanya satu soalan. Setelah itu, penemuduga akan bertanya tentang kursus yang diambil oleh calon. Sesi ini bersifat terbuka dan sesiapa sahaja dibenarkan menjawab soalan. “ 

(via: afterschool)

and more detailed example; rephrase from yaya,

• Calon diminta duduk ikut turutan dari no 1 - 7 (meja mesyuarat), atas meja ada 1 task. 
• Task: ada 8 orang di dalam hot air balloon : yb. dato seri najib tun abdul razak (Prime minister), rozita che wan (acteress), dr. fadzhillah kamsah (motivator), khairul fahmi che mat (goalkeeper), tony fernandes (bisnes leader), yb dato ibrahim bin mohamad (ketua pengarah MARA), zety (gabenor bank negara) and islamic minister. 
• Select one character and discuss , debate, tolerate and defend our chosen character, kenapa character kita must be save from the hot air ballon.
• kita kena menonjol sikit. cari peluang untuk bercakap.  group saya, okaylah semua dapat bercakap, (except dua org, sampai interviewer tu tegur kenapa tak bercakap )
• at the end of the discussion, select only 4 characters to be save.  kitorang sepakat memilih: prime minister, ketua pengarah MARA, gabenor bank negara and islamic minister. 
• then, habis discussion (40 minit) kitorang boleh tanya apa2 soalan kepada interviewers. ( 3 interviewers - 2 org lelaki, sorang perempuan).
• apa lagi, peluang ni saya guna untuk bertanya tentang pinjaman ni.

I  can relate this to my previous interview in 2005, for Petronas scholarship. Basically there was 2 sessions, group and individual. First it started with group. Each group will be given a topic, my group topic was deforestation. You have to pick from a box randomly, a method to curb the problems. I got campaign as a method to halt deforestation. Others got authority rules, recyling, etc. From that you have to discuss among yourself to pick the right order for a solution. 

I believe the interviewers just wanted to know how will you work in a team, personal skills, contribution in a group, some sort mcmtu I think. Now I am even worried. Nowadays, we are as postgraduates, they will expect more as we have grown this far right.

Some Basic Rules

1. be early - an hour before lg bagus, in case sesat jalan or no parking
2. well-dressed - baju kurung with no more than 3 colours tau. serabut nanti. 
3. knock the door and give salam - show respect to the interviewers
4. sit still, smile - body language is important 

Common Interviews Questions

1. Please introduce yourself
2. Why do you choose to pursue study in  _______(the cost : architecture/medicine/...)
3. Who is your favourite architect? Favourite building? (those applying architecture)
4. Why oversea universities and not local universities?
5. Instead of JPA, why do you choose MARA?
6. How will you contribute to MARA in future time?
7. Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

- On introducing yourself, please don't be boring. Help the interviewer to remember you by giving some unique things about yourself. For instant, your hobbies or interest. This will grab their attention and help them to know you better. 

- Why do you choose architecture, please don't answer it because of "passion". Too many of us will give the same answer. I believe you should be detail and relate it to what you have learned. For example, relate it to your ambition, strength, challenges, hopes..or maybe environmental issue, current issue, pollution. 

- In terms of question on predicting future, I suppose the answer is somehow to know how commit yourself towards the study/industry. Convince the interviewer on how determine yourself to become successful in what you have chosen.  

Extra Tips
- keep update with current issue, in case they ask for opinion.
- do a research to know a bit about MARA.
- keep calm while answering the question.
- don't talk too fast or too slow that you can't be heard.
- be confidence
- don't forget to doa and tawakkal. Allah will ease everything, InsyaAllah.

Wish you all the best! Good luck. :D

Drawing Dreams | MARA Psychometric Test

Assalammualaikum

Just finished the test. *scream* I feel much more relief as it has been a while since I last sat for any exam. Actually, the best part of this year MARA test is it has to be taken online and anywhere that has net connection. Well, for me I was at home. TV was off, no music. Konon-konon nak fokus kan. 

So, today is the first day of the online test and there is no reference on how the test going to be. I have searched and asked few of my friends who had passed the exam last year but the format may not be the same. Found a blog, Let's Dream High that has the best explanation of the test for 2013. 

So, basically I'm not going to explain what was the test in detail. I just hope this brief post will help someone, at least to get better view of the test and get prepared, if any. 

As on MARA page as above, time given is 60 minutes to answer all 100 questions. There will be a counter on top of the page. The test consist of 3 sections; A, B and C. All questions are multiple answer questions. No essay, as last year. :D and no diagrams, just a schedule I think. Based on my test today solely, it was about 3 different aspects.

SECTION A : 32 q - Simple math, Logical thinking, Problem solving (in English)

SECTION B : 48 q - Personality (in English)

SECTION C : 20 q - General Knowledge of Malaysia and MARA (in Bahasa)

These are some type of questions that I've remember, roughly. Pardon if I'm wrong.

Simple math 

| Choose a number, add 11, subtract 13 out of it,...

Logical thinking
| There are 4 doors, which one is the door to freedom?

| A mother has 3 daughters, A and B, what her last daughter's name?

Problem solving 

| If an animal wanted to get across a river, what will it do?  

Personality test 

| Rate yourself from 1-5, ex: happy and cheerful person, always be on time, a good leader..

Malaysia & MARA 

| Penubuhan Malaysia, Perlembagaan, Mahkamah, Kementerian, Kesultanan, 

You might need 

- Sheets of paper

- Pen/Pencil

- Dictionary

- Calculator

I've answered all 100 questions in 56 minutes and don't have ample time to re-check all of my answers. Blame the counter as it was in red and making me panicked. haha..ok joking. Is it hard? Yes, part of it. You have to deal with time and be precise with the answer. Please bare in mind that lots of questions in part A is quite tricky. Some questions, had already stated the answer clearly, afraid you might misread the question. Plus, I find it hard as you have to click on everything and move from one page to page. 

Extra Tips

- I find it easier to read the answer first and then the question.
- Please read with careful the question. If you got confused, read it again.

- Some straight forward questions can be tricky. 

- I think it is better to be prepared for sections C.
- Read some info on Malaysia and MARA.
- Please be on time.

- Don't forget to doa and tawakkal.

Good luck everyone :)

p/s: I can't guaranteed if tomorrow's test going to be exactly the same as today. As well as, I believe the test is computer generated and might be different set of question for every applicants or at least for the day kan.