Education in the Philippines: school stages, UPCAT and the Civil Service Examination

In short

Basic education in the Philippines is run by the Department of Education, usually called DepEd. Higher education is overseen by the Commission on Higher Education, known as CHED. There is no single national entrance test for college. Each university or university system sets its own admission test, and the University of the Philippines uses the UPCAT. Separately, the Civil Service Commission gives the Civil Service Examination that opens the way to many government jobs. Students who plan to study abroad also sit international English and aptitude tests such as IELTS, TOEFL, SAT and GRE.

School stages

The system is called K to 12. It begins with kindergarten for five-year-olds, which became part of basic education by law in 2013. Elementary school follows, from Grade 1 to Grade 6. Junior high school covers Grades 7 to 10, and senior high school covers Grades 11 and 12. Students in senior high school choose a track and a strand. Academic strands prepare for college, while technical and vocational options prepare for skilled work or further training. Schools may be public or private, and many private schools set their own admission tests for new pupils.

Language of instruction

The country uses mother tongue based multilingual education in the early years. In kindergarten and the first three grades of elementary school, teaching and assessment are meant to be in the learner's regional language. Filipino and English are then introduced step by step. By secondary school, Filipino and English are the main languages of instruction, with English used for subjects such as science and mathematics in many schools. The questions on this site are written in English, so they suit learners who want to practise English reading and reasoning.

University admission

Admission to a Philippine university usually depends on three things: the grades from senior high school, the result of the university's own entrance test, and sometimes an interview or a form about family circumstances. Public and private universities publish their own rules each year. Some large private universities have their own entrance tests. Because the details change, candidates should read the current admission notice of each school and should not rely on older summaries.

The University of the Philippines runs one of the best known entrance tests. The UPCAT has been given since the late 1960s. It is meant for graduating students and for graduates of accredited secondary schools, and each applicant may take it only once. It has multiple-choice questions on language proficiency, reading comprehension, mathematics and science. UP combines the test result with the applicant's school grades to rank applicants, and it also takes social and geographic factors into account when choosing who may enter each campus. Always check the official UPCAT site for the current rules.

The Civil Service Examination

The Civil Service Commission, or CSC, sets the Civil Service Examination. It exists to decide who is eligible for government appointment. There are two levels. The Professional level gives eligibility for first-level and second-level positions, and the Sub-professional level gives eligibility for first-level positions. The papers test vocabulary, grammar and correct usage, reading comprehension and numerical ability, and the Professional paper adds analogy and logic. Questions appear in English and Filipino. The test can be taken on paper or on a computer, depending on the schedule that the CSC announces.

National licensure exams

Many professions in the Philippines require a licence from the Professional Regulation Commission, known as PRC. Teachers, nurses, engineers and accountants all sit PRC licensure examinations after their degrees. Rules and subjects differ for each profession, so candidates should read the notice of the relevant board.

Studying in the Philippines

A few habits suit the Philippine setting well. First, expect bilingual reading. Both the UPCAT and the Civil Service Examination reward people who read quickly in English and also follow Filipino text, so practise with mixed material. Second, treat vocabulary as a daily task. Short lists of words with example sentences work better than long evening sessions. Third, practise numerical reasoning with tables and short word problems, because both tests use them. Fourth, train for the one-time nature of the UPCAT by doing full timed papers early, then reading every explanation and noting which mistakes came from reading too fast and which came from a gap in content.

Students who want a place overseas often take IELTS or TOEFL to show English ability, SAT for undergraduate entry to some universities, and GRE for graduate study. These tests are run by their own organisations, and each has its own registration process. Teachers and parents can help by setting a weekly practice test and discussing the answers together. The school year follows a calendar set by DepEd, and exam dates for the UPCAT and the Civil Service Examination are published by UP and the CSC.

Preparing with GetMyMockTest

GetMyMockTest offers free practice in English for the exams below. Check the official format with each organiser.

• UPCAT and Civil Service Examination: practice questions for the Philippine admission test and the government eligibility examination.
• IELTS: practice for English reading, listening-style and writing tasks.
• TOEFL: practice for academic English.
• SAT: reading, writing and mathematics practice.
• GRE: verbal and quantitative reasoning practice.