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Is It Possible for Students from Small Towns to Succeed in the STIS Exam? Journey, Struggles, and Preparation Tips

The moment STIS is mentioned, people often assume it’s only for students in major cities with good tutoring centers, excellent teachers, and endless resources.

I once assumed that too.

Resources in my small East Javanese town were scarce and limiting.

Eventually, I learned that these obstacles shouldn’t hold me back.

Ironically, the scarcity made me more determined to succeed.

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.

Many parents, including mine, believe that entering STIS means a more secure future.

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

Honestly, preparing for STIS from a rural area isn’t easy.

Popular tutoring centers tend to exist only in metropolitan areas.

Public libraries rarely stock complete exam references.

Internet access is inconsistent: fast at times, sluggish most of the time.

At first, I tried studying with my old high school textbooks, some even torn.

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

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

According to Wibowo (2020) at UGM, lack of educational resources is a key barrier for rural students in exams.

I felt that struggle myself.

How to Catch Up?

Fortunately, now there are many online platforms.

I came across BelajarCPNS.com, offering CAT-like STIS simulations.

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

Afterward, I tried private lessons via NgajarPrivat.com.

They explained calmly, even breaking things down with simple analogies.

Bloom highlighted that individual tutoring yields double the results of traditional classrooms.

I personally felt the difference.

For extra practice, I joined intensive courses at LapakGuruPrivat.com.

These sessions emphasized speed-solving techniques.

When studying alone, I often wasted time stuck on a single question.

Here, the training emphasized understanding patterns rather than merely memorizing answers.

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

Solo studying frequently results in frustration.

When stuck on certain questions, I became demotivated.

That motivated me to participate in an online forum on KoncoSinau.id.

There, I met peers from different regions.

It was almost like building a new family circle.

Members sometimes offered fast hacks to tackle problems, other times just moral support.

And that helped a lot.

Rahmawati (2019) from UNY proved that group learning raises motivation levels by about 35%.

The effect was real in my case.

What Should You Practice for the STIS Entrance Exam?

Based on my journey, three pillars of practice are non-negotiable.

Math, simple and complex, forms the central requirement.

Language skills—especially English—frequently decide final results.

The aptitude test—focused on reasoning and quick thinking.

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

The schedule wasn’t rigidly smooth, but discipline mattered.

Research from Harvard University (Duckworth, 2016) shows success depends not only on talent but on grit—long-term consistency.

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

Are Tryouts Really Important?

Absolutely.

Though I doubted in the beginning, I later saw tryouts matter greatly.

It’s practice in both knowledge and timing.

Studies confirm tryouts enhance outcomes by preparing students for real test conditions.

So don’t just study theory, practice CAT regularly.

What If You Feel Mentally Down?

Many experience this.

Mostly when tryout scores turn out disappointing.

That nearly broke my will.

But slowly, I learned not to be too hard on myself.

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

I carried that reminder forward.

I relied on my KoncoSinau.id group for emotional support.

Sometimes just venting lightened my heart.

So, Can Rural Students Pass STIS?

The reality: without a doubt, yes.

Though not from a metropolis, combining private tutoring, practice exams, focused classes, and a study group made it possible.

Yes, it takes more work, but it’s not hopeless.

NgajarPrivat.com clarified challenging topics for me.

LapakGuruPrivat.com provided special strategies for problem solving.

I used BelajarCPNS.com as my practice arena.

Support came from KoncoSinau.id’s community.

Together, these four resources made my prep solid.

Here is my blog :: https://koncosinau.id/product/les-stis-online/