Students are admitted onto the MDE programme on the basis of highly competitive entrance examinations in economics, mathematics and English that are held every September.  Currently, more than 250 applicants sit the entrance examinations.  Information about the timing of the entrance examinations is circulated in the Vietnamese press several months prior to September.  The Faculty of Development Economics organizes pre-examination revision classes, in order to help prepare students for the entrance examinations.

Applications are currently being received for the next set of entrance examinations in September 2001.  Further enquires can be directed the Project Office (Ms. Dinh Anh Nguyet, secretary).

Students that are admitted onto the MDE programme can finance their studies through one of three methods.

1.  Scholarships

At present, the annual intake of students onto the MDE in Ho Chi Minh City is restricted to 30, who are funded through Dutch development co-operation scholarships.  These scholarships cover tuition fees, and provide for a modest living allowance.  These scholarships will cease in 2001.

2.  Sponsored applications

The MDE provides in-country English language economics training to international standards at a fraction of the cost of equivalent courses overseas. Therefore, the MDE welcomes offers of fully-funded sponsored applications from public and private sector partners who are seeking to foster capacity development in Vietnam. Arrangements can be made so that sponsored places can be named after the benefactor, so that sponsored places can lead to specific types of the thesis research.  For Class 8 (2001-2003) the cost of a sponsored application will be US$5200 for the two years of the MDE.  Sponsors are also urged to meet living costs which, at US$60 per month, is approximately US$1920 over the course of the degree.

3.  Full-fee applications

From the year 2001 the UOE will begin to accept full-fee students who meet the entry requirements of the course. The cost of the programme for the full two-year MDE is US$4200 for the year 2001. Applicants should also be prepared to pay living costs in Ho Chi Minh City, which, at US$60 per month, is approximately US$1920 over the course of the degree.

The following guidelines will assist applicants preparing for the entrance examinations in 2001.

ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS 2001

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1        THE STRUCTURE OF THE EXAMINATIONS

The 2001 entrance exam consists of two three-hour exams and an interview.

q       The Maths Exam

This will be three hours in duration and worth 100 marks.  It will consist of a number of problem solving questions.

q       The English/Economics Exam.

This year English and Economics will be integrated into one exam.  Thus questions will simultaneously test English ability as well as Economics knowledge.  All questions will be written within an Economics context. The exam will be three hours long and worth 100 marks.  Specifically it will consist of three parts:

Multiple choice questions – You will be given 10 grammatical structure questions (worth 10 marks), 10 vocabulary/definition questions (worth 10 marks), and 10 Economics questions (worth 10 marks).  

Total marks: 30. 

Reading Comprehension – You will be required to read three short passages and answer five multiple-choice questions for each. These questions will be both extractive and interpretive.  An understanding of Economics is required. Total marks: 30

Essay – You will be required to write an essay on particular economic issue.  A choice of three essay topics will be given.  The essay will be marked for English and Economic content.  15 marks will be allocated for the former and 25 for the latter.  Total marks: 40

q       The Oral Exam

The highest scoring candidates from the Mathematics and Economics examination will be exempt.  The next 40-60 candidates will be considered for interview.  The interview panel will consist of three people: an English teacher and two Economics teachers, at least one of whom is a native English speaker.  The interview will be marked out of 100.  Interview performance will be judged according to specific criteria (ie.  comprehensibility, content, cohesion, confidence etc.). You will be given a question relating to a particular economic issue and have 30 minutes to prepare your answer.  You will then have 10 minutes to present your answer orally to the panel of interviewers.  They will ask you questions in relation to your answer.

2 TIME MANAGEMENT AND STUDY SCHEDULES

Some considerations when writing a study schedule for the entrance examinations are as follows:

q       Estimate study time needed for each subject – Once you know how many hours of study and revision you need to do for each subject you can allocate times.  Generally you will need do at least twice as much study outside class as you do in class (2:1 ratio).  But remember that this will probably increase significantly during exam periods

q       Study during alert times of the day –You should make sure you study when your level of concentration is at its highest. For some people this may be early in the morning, for others it may be late at night.

q       Study hardest, least liked subjects first – By doing this you are less likely to leave them until the last minute and will have more energy to put in that little extra effort required for harder subjects.  Also, if you have any major difficulties you will have time to contact fellow students or lecturers to ask for help.  But remember, if you really cannot do a task or assignment and there is nobody to help, you should continue on to other work.  It is very inefficient to spend five hours trying to figure out a question when it could have been done in five minutes after explanation. This is especially relevant when you are preparing for exams and you are already pressed for time.

q       Focus on fifty-minute blocs – Studying in fifty-minute blocs is preferable, as it is enough time for you create a mindset for a particular subject but not enough time for you to lose concentration.  After this study bloc you should have a short ten-minute break. Try not to watch television during this break as you may get distracted and not go back to studying. The overall duration of study you do in a day will of course vary depending on how much work you have, but it is important to have continual “mental rests” every fifty minutes or so. 

q       Plan at least one study bloc per day – Undertaking a degree, especially at the post graduate level,        requires hard work and commitment.  Exams are always trying but good study habits can reduce stress. You should try and fit in at least one bloc of study each day.  It is much more effective to spread your study over a week than try and ‘cram’ it into a Sunday night.  By doing it this way you will get more done and be better prepared for your exams when they come along.

q       Avoid ‘cramming’ and that minute rush – Cramming is when you leave all your exam preparation and assignments until the night before they are due and stay up very late trying to complete them.  Study of this nature is very ineffective and should be avoided. You will never be able to do sufficient exam preparation in one night.  All you will achieve is a headache and mental and physical exhaustion.

You should also consider the following time management strategies:

q       Follow Patterns – Your study schedule should follow some sort of pattern.  If there are consistencies within your plan then it will be easier to follow. For example:

Study for the same subject on specific days

Work when your concentration and energy levels are at a highpoint

Include similar time blocs for leisure, family, exercise etc.

Eat meals at the same time each day

Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day

q       Establish Good Health Habits- Do not neglect your health.  Make sure you eat properly, exercise regularly and get enough sleep. If you follow a healthy lifestyle you will have more energy, higher concentration levels and be better equipped physically to cope with trials and tribulations of study.

q       Work hard, Relax Hard – Remember that when you schedule in leisure time that is what it should be.  There is no point trying to relax for two hours when all you can think about is the conclusion of your essay.  Similarly it is highly unproductive to sit at your desk for three hours “doing exam revision” when all you can think about is the date you have in the evening.  Thus always keep in mind the task at hand.  If you are going to study do it well and if you are going to relax do that well too.

q       Avoid Procrastination –It is very easy to do everything else before you study (ie. clean your room, finish writing your memoirs, re-paint the house etc.).   This is a bad habit however and should be avoided at all costs.  Procrastination wastes time and energy.  Make sure you are aware when you are doing it and try to develop strategies to overcome it. As the saying goes “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.”

q       Set Goals – You should set yourself daily and weekly goals. By doing this you can be clear on what you are trying to achieve each day.  Determine how much study you want to get done in a day and when you finish give yourself a small reward (ie.  a hot bubble bath, a piece of cake, a walk in the park with a friend, a phone call etc.)

TASK: At home, fill in the weekly time management schedule.  Use it to organize your preparation for the Master’s entrance exam.

WEEKLY TIME MANAGEMENT SCHEDULE

For the week of …………………..

TIME	Monday	Tuesday	Wed.	Thurs.	Friday	Sat.	Sunday
12-6am
6-7
7-8
8-9
9-10
10-11
11-12pm
12-1
1-2
2-3
3-4
4-5
5-6
6-7
7-8
8-9
9-10
10-11
11-12

 

3 EXAM PREPARATION

3.1 Finding Out About the Exam

One of the key ingredients in successful exams is preparation.  If you don’t study then you should not expect to pass or do very well. 

Before any examination it is important find out as much information about the test as possible.  This includes:

Ø      Where is the exam?  What time?

Ø      Format of the test - is it an essay? Multiple choice? Combination?

Ø      What is the marking scheme?

Ø      How long is the test?

Ø      What areas does the course cover?

Ø      Is there a study guide sheet?

Ø      Can I take a dictionary?

Ø      Are there any formal revision sessions organized?

Ø      Are there any sample tests available?

Once you are clear on all this information you can go about devising a study plan and begin your revision. 

3.2  How Should I Study?

DISCUSSION In small groups compare study techniques.  Which do you think are the most effective?

How to study for an exam, like most study skills, varies from person to person.  But some ideas are as follows:

¨      Read over chapters in textbooks.  Highlight, take notes and summarise.  (Remember to focus on chapters that will be on the test)

¨      Do review questions at the end of each chapter

¨      Read, highlight and summarize lecture notes

¨      Read handouts

¨      Go over all past assignments, reports and tests

¨      Go over tutorial and discussion questions

¨      Participate in group revision sessions and classes (*this is up to the individual)

¨      Do past exams (the more the better)

¨      Write practice essay question and do them under test conditions

¨      Leave time for memorizing certain facts

¨      Get somebody to test you

Remember that revision and study of any sort requires a high level of concentration so study in a place that is quiet, comfortable and free from distractions.

Moreover don't forget to eat well, get enough sleep and do some exercise.  It is also desirable to limit you're social life until after the examination period.  Furthermore your lecturer is there to help you so if you have any problems don't be afraid to ask!

4 EXAM ROOM STRATEGY

If you prepare thoroughly for an exam, then most of the time taking the examination should not be a problem.  However there are certain strategies you can employ to ensure optimal performance. 

DISCUSSION: a)      Think of several examinations that you have done well in and several that you have not.  What did you do during the examination in each situation?  How did you feel? b)      Compare your answers with a couple of other students.  Discuss the problems student’s sometimes face when they are taking an exam.

Some tips to remember when you are taking an exam:

§         Go Prepared – make sure you take to the exam room all the necessary requirements.  Such as:

Several pens and pencils

Watch

Dictionary (if it is allowed)

Calculator, ruler etc. (if it is required

Spare paper

Make sure you have all these things before you go into the exam room or otherwise you will waste time and energy trying to locate them at the last minute.

§         Listen to Directions- as the supervisor starts to talk, you should pay close attention to their directions.  They will inform about the procedures and rules of the examination, and may mention late changes, corrections or suggestions.  Here is when you should clarify any problems you have.

§         Read the question – it is important that you read through the test thoroughly and ensure you are clear what each question is asking.  You will not be awarded marks for an answer that does not fulfill the criteria of the question, even if the information you write down is correct.  It is also imperative that you read the directions of the test thoroughly.  For example  “Answer five of the following questions” is very different to “Answer all of the following questions”.  A lot of time can be wasted and points lost from not reading through the test thoroughly.

§         Allocate Time Accordingly – It is very important to divide your test time appropriately.  This should be done at the beginning of a test according to the number of questions and their mark value.  It is often helpful to write beside each section how much time you should spend on it.  

TASK: a)      You have a two-and -a -half hour examination in Political Economy worth a total of 100 marks.  It consists of three sections.  Section one is 20 multiple choice questions worth one mark each (total 20 marks).  Section two is 15 short answer questions worth two marks each (total 30 marks).  Section three is a choice of one of three essays, worth 50 marks  (total 50 marks). Decide how much time you would allocate for each section. b)   Look at the outline of the new entrance exam (Economics/English).  Decide how you would allocate for each section.

§         Always Keep the Marking System in Mind – If a question is marked out of four then often your answer should consist of four components, or at least a number that is divisible by it.  For example if there was a question “List the main features of Australia’s political system” and it was worth five marks, then the answer should probably contain five features.

§         Answer the easy questions first.

§         Don’t watch others – just think about what you are doing and stay focused

§         Try to finish early so you have time to look over your answers

§         Answer all the questions -Even if you don’t know the answer make an educated guess – something written on paper has a chance of scoring marks.

§         Don’t panic- take deep breaths and remember if it is hard for you it is hard for everyone.

¨      Adherence to academic conventions – the essay is written for a particular audience of people who require that writers follow a particular set of rules.  Thus there is a standard and uniform way of citing references, setting out quotations and laying out a bibliography.

¨      Commonly, the ability to argue a particular point of view – unless specified, essays at this level are often argumentative, especially in Economics or Politics.  Thus one must avoid writing descriptive essays and ensure they have developed a logical and well-substantiated argument.

¨      Good writing skills – an essay at the tertiary level should be written clearly and attention should be paid to spelling, grammar and punctuation.

It is also important that the essay follows a logical and clear structure.  It should include:

An Introduction –In this section there should be a topic statement that states the main point (objectives) of the essay, a brief outline of the scope and limitations of the essay,  the sequence in which you intend to treat the main sections of the essay and the approach you have selected to deal with the topic.

Body – The paragraphs that make up the body of the report should provide evidence, details, explanations etc.  They should examine each part of the topic in detail.  They must relate to one another, be logically sequenced and lead into the next.  Any sentence that does not help the essay in some way should be omitted.

Conclusion – This should summarize all the main points of the essay and state how the essay reached its objectives.  It may also highlight problems revealed in the essay, which are beyond its scope and future lines of research and investigation.

When writing an essay it is imperative to keep the style and tone (ie. formal, academic writing) in mind.

An exam essay is slightly different to a research essay.  This is due to the fact that in an exam you have limited time to write and plan the essay and you don’t have access to a vast array of research materials. Thus a lecturer’s expectations and assessment of an exam essay will differ from their assessment of a research essay.

5.2 Essay Requirements (Exam)

Lecturers’ expectations of an exam essay may be as follows:

·        The essay will deal fully with the set topic and address its central concerns (to the extent that exam time allows)

·        The essay will be the result systematic revision, rather than wide and critical reading

·        The essay will present a reasoned argument (it will not be descriptive)

·        The essay will still be somewhat structured but not to the extent that the drafting process of a research essay allows.

·        Presentation is not of high importance, but the handwriting should be legible.

·        Bibliography, footnotes, and quotes are not required.

5.3 How to Study for an Essay Exam?

It should involve many of the general exam preparation tactics mentioned earlier.  Specifically you should be revising the areas to be covered, taking notes, writing down important dates, names and figures, and examining all other relevant material.  After you have completed this general revision you should practice writing essays under exam conditions.  Try and get some old exams and complete as many of these as possible.  Also write possible exam questions and complete them.

5.4 Some Things to Remember When You're Writing.

 ¨      Always read the question properly to ensure that you answer it correctly.  Try to identify key words that will help you.  

TASK The following words are commonly found in the titles of academic essay questions. It is vital that you are clear on what these words mean before you begin writing essays and taking exams. In pairs discuss the meanings of some of these words.  At home, use a dictionary to clarify the meaning of any words you do not understand. Account for, analyse, argue, compare, criticise, define, discuss, evaluate, examine, illustrate, interpret, justify, outline, review, summarise, expand, trace, highlight.

 ¨      Don't forget to go through the brainstorming and planning process.  Although this will be fast, it is still very important to do it so your ideas are organised.

¨      Don't forget about the correct structure of an essay.  Even exam essays are required to have an introduction, body and conclusion.

¨      Try and be clear, concise and to the point.  Don't ramble and drift off the subject.

6       ORAL PRESENTATIONS 

Many of you will go through an interview process in order to gain entry into the Master’s course. 

You will be given a question relating to a particular economic issue. You will have 30 minutes to prepare your answer.  You will then have 10 minutes to present your answer orally to a panel of interviewers.  They will ask you questions in relation to your answer.

Some things to remember when undergoing the interview process:

Use the preparation time wisely –

§         The question will require you to argue a particular point of view.  So think about what you are going to say.  Don’t forget to look at both sides of the argument, it is vital that you address the counter arguments.

§         Think about the conclusion you will arrive at. 

§         Think about the organisation of your ideas.  They need to be logical, ordered and easy to follow. 

§         Also think about what the interviewers may say in relation to your argument.  If you anticipate some of their questions you will be able to give better responses. 

Presentation of the talk

§         Think about the start your talk.  Remember to acknowledge the audience and introduce yourself.  Clearly introduce your topic and give a very brief outline of what you are going to say. 

§         Remember that your body language must convey confidence and enthusiasm. Maintain eye contact, stay on the subject (don’t ramble), don’t read, stand up straight and hold your chin up high in order to project your voice, speak clearly and loudly and use short simple sentences to stress main points. 

§      Make sure you leave time for summing up and a conclusion. 

  Practice

§      The only way to improve your interview skills is to practice. Think of possible topics and go through the whole process – preparation, presenting your argument and answering questions.  Get friends and family to be the interviewers.  The more closely you duplicate the interview conditions the less likely you are to be nervous on the day!

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