Basic Studies Programme is a programme designed to help those students who did not meet up with the university admission requirement. I personally see this programme as a golden opportunity to gain admission into any high institution of your choice. Considering the high rate of university applicants in Nigeria, gaining admissions in Nigerian universities has become one of the major challenges for students. I gained my own admission through University of Port Harcourt Basic Studies Programme. As a result of that, i have decided to share with you my personal experience and observations while on basic programme.
If you are planing on enrolling for Basic Studies programme, that means this post is really meant for you. If you are to pass basic exam i will advise you to settle down and read this post, trust me you will benefit a lot from these write up, because the purpose of this post is to help you know some important things you need to know about Basic Studies Programme.
In this post i am going to share with you 21 Things You Need To Know Before Applying For University Of Port Harcourt Basic Studies Programme.
Lets get started.
1. Basic Studies Programme Is Fun But Very Stressful
Yes Basic is fun but very stressful, as a basic student you will get to meet so many people with different characters. The Programme consist of two semesters of intensive teaching. Each semester is made of ten (10) weeks of lectures.
2. Writing Of Screening Exam Before Admission
You will need to write basic screening examination before you will be granted admission into University of Port Harcourt Basic Studies Programme. This screening exam comprises of English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology. This exam is just like Post UTME with just 50 questions to be answered.It is advisable you do your best to perform well.
The screening exercise is a must for all basic candidates to undergo, it is a Computer Based Screening Test (CBT), for the selection of the best for admission. But do not be afraid, it is not difficult. During my time they admitted almost everybody even the one with the least scores. You are to ensure that you get there before the Exam time.
3. The Duration Of The Programme Is One Academic Year
It is a one academic year programme consisting of two semesters of intensive teaching. You are advise to take each semester serious because your performance will play a major role in getting admitted.
Maybe i should tell you this story, Yes let me tell you. it is my little story I believe you will grab one or two lessons from it.
During my time in Basic studies, it was my second week in the campus precisely. You know being in such a large campus with thousands of students can make you forget all your worries and even your purpose of being in school.
I was more interested in making new friends that i never knew what basic was like, i was even seeing myself as an undergraduate student. So one day a friend came to me while i was reading, she asked me come along with her to the school library (Donald Ekong Library) which i accepted without wasting time. So we left together, i was very excited to be there that particular day because seeing such a big library was of a great surprise to me. I and my friend was able to dash into the library without any distraction from the library staff. It was indeed a big library with thousands of books in it. you will equally find air conditions and ceiling fans there, it was very quite in there.
Believe me, it was very cool to read in there. So on that particular day i made up my mind to be coming to the library everyday to read my books. The next day i decided to go back there to read, i was so happy that i couldn't even wait to get there. I got there and was surprised when one woman whom i believe is one of the library staff asked me about my school identity card which i presented to her my Basic Studies registration print out. After checking it. I was shocked to hear her saying that i was not qualified to enter the library, she told me that my Basic school fees does not qualify me for the library and she told me to go back and work hard to be able to have access to the school library.
Well it was somehow embarrassing but i didn't see it as an embarrassment, instead i saw it as a challenge, i saw it as a big task to accomplish. Do you know what happened? I was more determined to work hard and to prove myself. Hard work pays. Today i now have access to that particular library. There are so many lesson you can learn from this short story of mine.
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4. Students Cannot Change Their Department After Registration
This is the first thing you need to know before applying for Basic Studies Programme, it is very important you decide on your course of study in order not to make any mistake of registering a course you will later regret studying tomorrow. It will be better to think well and come up with the one you love.
5. Students Are Required To Register For Five Courses
Doing Basic requires you to register five good courses such as; English (HUM 050), Mathematics (MTH 010), Physics (PHY 030), Chemistry (CHM 001) and Biology (FSB).
NOTE: You must pass all five course to qualify for admission into Pre-degree Programme.
6. There Are Approximately Three Thousand plus Students in Basic Studies Programme Each Year
Every year basic always pull a large number of students. You will notice it when you get there, you will be able to see thousands of students.
Please i will kindly advise you not to mind the number of students out there. I was once a victim of that, at first, seeing the large number of students over there got me discourage that i even started to imagine how to come out the best among all the student there.
Just forget about the number of students and do your best, as long as you did well, Basic will admit you. That is one thing about Basic Studies.
7. There Are Many Basic Tutorials Within The Campus
Apart from Basic normal lectures, there are so many tutorial classes within the campus. The purpose of this tutorials is to guide you through on how Basic exams work, to enable you to know the nature of Basic Studies Examination. With this tutorial you will learn so many things like how to manage your time while writing Basic exams, you will learn how to solve difficult question within some seconds, and you will also learn how to solve long question using shortcut method. I will advise you to engage yourself in one of these tutorials.
There are so many tutorial available in the campus, both free and paid once. If you want me to recommend you to the best and serious one to join, just feel free to comment on the comment box below. I will always make sure i reply you as soon as posiblee.
8. Focus More On Basic Textbooks
There is one good thing i like about Basic Studies, and that is their area of specification of study. Basic have a recommended textbooks for you. You will be given five textbooks for the five courses, that is English, Mathematics, Biology, Physics and Chemistry. They are also specific for the number of topics to read in a semester.
9. You Need Jamb To Get Admission Through Basic Studies
This is where i totally disagree with Basic Studies. During my time i registered without having the knowledge that Basic and jamb work hand in hand.
NOTE: To get admission through Basic Studies, you must score at least 180 in jamb exam
10. Basic Studies Have Jamb Tutorial Class For Students
To make things easy for students, the School of Basic Studies made jamb tutorial class available for students. Please i will advise you to take this jamb tutorial class very serious, do take it serious.
Your jamb result will help determine your faith in getting admission, make sure you take it serious.
Do Not Make The Mistake I Made
This is my mistake! During my time in Basic Studies, I channeled all my focus on how to pass Basic. I was very eager to prove myself. I never knew that Jamb is a must exam to be written as long as Basic is concern, I never knew that as a Basic Student that i have to beat the cut-off mark which is 180. It happened that when others are in jamb class, i make sure i am in basic hall, i always ensure i don't miss any lecture. Even though Basic were divided into two groups, which are group A and B. This is how this groups function, when group A is having Basic lecture, Group B will be having Jamb tutorial. And when group B is having Basic lecture, group A will be having jamb tutorial class.
It was obvious that if you come to group A, you will find me there and if you come to group B, you will equally find me there. I was just eager to pass Basic and gain admission. What happened was that before i came to realize that it was very important to beat the cut-off mark it was already late because the major topics on the jamb syllabus has been taught. So i had to join them and was able to get those topics i missed from friends.
But one thing is for sure, and that is; "No Knowledge is a waste". Jamb came, i wrote it and i passed it. Guess what i scored! I scored almost times two of the cut-off mark.
I will strongly advise you to always take jamb class serious while on basic studies, always do your best to combine the two.
11. You Don't Need Post UTME
Basic does not have any thing to do with post utme exam, but to be in a safer side, you will need to write post utme. Writing it will increase your chance of getting admission because if you missed out on basic admission jamb will give you, and if jamb didn't give basic will give you. That is how it works.
12. Biology (FSB) Is Very Compulsory
As far as Basic Studies is concerned, Biology is compulsory. Majority of the students are not fond of this course especially engineering students. Now school of Basic Studies board has made it mandatory for every Basic students to always take this course very serious. So my candid advise is to face reality, with determination, persistence and hard work you will get the best out of it.
13. Basic Have Past Question And Answers
Within the campus you will come across different types of past question and answers. They are all basic past questions indeed, but among all of this past questions, there are best among them, very intensive and self-explanatory.
But i will help recommend one of my favorite if you want me to.
14. Basic Can Never Set A Question Aside Textbook
As mentioned, Basic is straight forward and specific. If you must pass basic exam always stick with the textbook given to you, that is where all the question will come from. They can never set any question aside their recommended textbooks.
15. Learn Calculator Shortcut
With the help of calculator shortcut, you will be able to utilize your time properly by manipulating tough question in a seconds. This is one of the things you will learn from this four tutorials i will recommend to you. If you want free tutorial i will tell you the one to join. And if you want paid one, i will tell you the best one to join.
16. Do Not Depend Much On Your Calculator
What am i even saying? I said do not depend much on your calculator. In School of Basic Studies 2017/2018 academic session something actually happened during the first semester examination. It happened that majority of the students went and focused and depended on the calculator shortcut. So on the day of exam the use of calculator was prohibited, and they ended up writing it without calculator, which lead to massive failure.
Please why learning shortcut always ensure you solve without calculator. I am doing this because your success is important to me.
17. Basic Exam Is Always Strict
Ensure you are mindful and careful not to do anything that can implicate you during exam. They have zero toleration exam malpractice. Always make sure you abide on the instruction given to you.
18. Basic Always Repeat Past Question
Solving past question plays a major role when preparing for any examination. Basic programme are fond of repeating their past question. If you are to pass Basic exam always work with past question. While reading ensure you test yourself using past question and answers.
19. Expect 50 Question For Each Of The Course
There are 50 questions to answer on each of the five courses. First and second semester consist of 500 questions, that is 250 questions for a semester.
20. Basic Exam time times are always limited
If there is somethings to be afraid about, is time. Time factor is one of the reason why students fail basic exam, their time is always limited. Imagine where you will be given 45 minute to answer 100 question. So to make the best use of your time, always solve the once you know and make sure you shade everything including the one you don't know than leaving it blank.
21. Admission Is Sure If You Perform Well
Believe me Basic will offer you admission as long as you perform well no matter what. There is never a two ways about it.
These are all the things you need to know about Basic Studies before applying for it.
If you have any question concerning Basic Studies just feel free to ask me using the comment box below. Ask me anything.
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