MANILA, Philippines – Around 153,000 aspiring Iskolar ng Bayan are taking the University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT) for Academic Year 2027–2028 this weekend, as the country's premier state university administers its annual entrance examination nationwide.
The two-day examination began on Saturday, August 1, and continues on Sunday, August 2, with thousands of applicants trooping to testing centers across the Philippines.
According to UP Office of Admissions Director Gerald Pio Franco, around 153,000 examinees are expected to take the UPCAT over the two-day period, including approximately 53,000 applicants assigned to testing centers in UP Diliman.
University officials also expect additional walk-in examinees to arrive at testing sites throughout the weekend.
To make the admissions process more accessible, UP is administering the UPCAT in 118 testing centers nationwide, consisting of nine UP constituent universities and 109 partner schools and non-UP testing sites.
The testing centers are spread across Regions I to XIII, as well as the National Capital Region, the Cordillera Administrative Region, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, MIMAROPA, the Negros Island Region, and other areas served by UP constituent universities.
The university said most examinees are taking the test outside UP campuses, reflecting its continuing effort to bring the UPCAT closer to aspiring students in communities nationwide.
Franco said preparations for the nationwide examination have generally gone smoothly despite minor issues, noting that the university had spent months preparing with the support of partner institutions.
Despite the large number of examinees, only a small percentage will eventually secure admission under the UP System's quota-based enrollment policy.
Franco said the number of students to be admitted will be determined later this year after individual UP campuses finalize the number of freshmen they can accommodate.
Historically, only about 16,000 to 18,000 applicants are admitted to the UP System annually, making admission to the country's premier state university highly competitive.
Aside from UPCAT performance, applicants are evaluated based on their Grades 8 to 11 academic records, while socioeconomic and geographic factors are also considered as part of the university's commitment to expanding access to quality higher education.
The UPCAT consists of four subtests covering Language Proficiency in English and Filipino, Science, Mathematics, and Reading Comprehension in both English and Filipino.
UP said the results of UPCAT 2027 are expected to be released in the first half of 2027.
— The Summit Express
Start the conversation. Share your thoughts, insights, or reactions, and connect with fellow readers.