A look back at chemical engineering board exams

The recent news on the results of the Chemical Engineering Board Exam brought back memories of my own experience, which are different from the present. Time was when examinees numbered thousands while passers ranged from 30 to a little over 40 percent. This course was so popular then until its population dwindled over time as some schools ceased to offer it, including my alma mater, the University of San Jose – Recoletos.

Unlike nowadays, when exams are computer-based, back then, they were the “open-book” type with clear calculations and answers required (not multiple choice). Good penmanship was desired (lest the examiner gets pissed off). A few items on current events were included.

Manila was the only venue. We had to bring luggage full of books on a passenger ship during an almost 24-hour travel from Cebu.

Our batch took the review “in-house,” which was conducted by the head of the university’s chemical engineering department during the last semester of our fifth year from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. We had to stay in a “board and lodging” type arrangement somewhere on Ermin Garcia Street in Quezon City.

The two-day board exams took place at Arellano University in Sampaloc, Manila in April 1979. Results came out in October via the Daily Express broadsheet. That was a long agonizing wait of six months.

The University of San Carlos Cebu took seven out of the top 10 board passers, with the last spot tied between our school and USC. In those days, USC regularly lorded it over the Top 10.