User:ElveraSchofield

Can Students from Rural Areas Really Pass the STIS Entrance Exam? My Experience and Lessons Learned

When people talk about the STIS entrance exam, many immediately think, “Oh, that’s just for city kids who have easy access to tutoring, plenty of teachers, and abundant books.”

I used to think the same.

Living in a small town in East Java, study resources felt very limited.

But as time went on, I realized those limitations weren’t an excuse.

In fact, they motivated me to try even harder.

What Makes STIS So Attractive?

STIS has always been considered one of the most prestigious government service colleges.

The link with BPS makes career security after graduation highly attractive.

For most families, STIS represents both prestige and job certainty.

Research shows that career assurance plus solid academics makes government institutions like STIS highly competitive.

It’s natural that each year thousands of students fight for a very small number of places.

Challenges of Studying in a Small Town

To be frank, studying for the STIS exam in a small town is really tough.

Most well-known prep schools are based in major cities.

Library collections in small towns are usually insufficient.

The internet connection is unstable—sometimes fine, sometimes very slow.

Initially, I relied on my worn-out high school books to prepare.

The effect? It was very difficult to adapt to STIS problem styles.

The hardest parts were higher-level math and quantitative logic.

UGM studies confirm that poor access to learning tools hampers students in rural regions during competitive exams.

I felt that struggle myself.

How to Catch Up?

Luckily, today students have countless online learning options.

I first discovered BelajarCPNS.com, which often held STIS tryouts similar to the real CAT system.

From there, I realized my weaknesses: basic math and English.

I also enrolled in virtual tutoring at NgajarPrivat.com.

Lessons were taught patiently, often with real-life examples.

Bloom (1984) found that one-on-one tutoring can be twice as effective as large classroom learning.

I personally felt the difference.

As reinforcement, I attended intensive prep from LapakGuruPrivat.com.

The classes trained us to answer questions efficiently.

By myself, I usually spent too much time on one item.

But in this class, I was trained to see patterns, not just answers.

What’s the Difference Between Studying Alone and with a Community?

Learning by yourself can be very discouraging.

Not being able to solve tasks killed my motivation.

For that reason, I decided to join KoncoSinau.id’s study community.

There, I met peers from different regions.

It was almost like building a new family circle.

At times they exchanged shortcut methods, at other times motivating words.

It made a huge difference.

Studies at UNY found collaborative learning increases motivation significantly, around 35%.

It truly worked in my experience.

What Should You Practice for the STIS Entrance Exam?

From what I went through, three subjects are absolutely critical.

Basic & advanced mathematics – the heart of STIS.

English—often underestimated, yet crucial in determining success.

Academic potential test (APT) – logic and speed of thinking.

I practiced with this routine: math in the morning, English midday, logic at night.

Though not perfect, consistent effort showed results.

Duckworth (2016, Harvard) proved grit—persistent effort—matters more than pure talent.

That’s why, though tiring, I kept at it consistently.

Are Tryouts Really Important?

Yes, very much.

I wasn’t convinced at first, but experience proved mock exams critical.

They teach not only solving but pacing.

Means et al. (2013) showed simulations boost performance by making students familiar with time pressure and exam format.

Therefore, you must train with CAT, not only learn concepts.

What If You Feel Mentally Down?

This happens often.

Particularly after failing in practice tests.

It made me want to surrender.

Gradually, I accepted not blaming myself excessively.

I remember words from my NgajarPrivat.com tutor: “Don’t compare your results with others. Just focus on your own progress.”

The message stayed in my head.

For encouragement, I went back to peers at KoncoSinau.id.

Talking to them made me feel relieved.

So, Can Rural Students Pass STIS?

The reality: without a doubt, yes.

I’m not from a big city, but with tutoring, online tryouts, intensive courses, and peer support, it became achievable.

Sure, the effort is higher, but it’s still realistic.

NgajarPrivat.com helped me understand difficult materials.

LapakGuruPrivat.com provided special strategies for problem solving.

BelajarCPNS.com gave me authentic tryout practice.

KoncoSinau.id gave motivation from fellow fighters.

Together, these four resources made my prep solid.

Here is my homepage ... https://koncosinau.id/product/guru-privat-stis-dari-koncosinau-id/