UPCAT Complete Guide: What to Expect and How to Prepare

The UPCAT (University of the Philippines College Admission Test) is one of the most challenging and competitive college entrance exams in the Philippines. The basis for admission into UP is the University Predicted Grade (UPG) which generally consists of your high school grades (40%) and your UPCAT score (60%).

Exam Format

Structure:

• Multiple choice questions
• Four main subtests:
• Language Proficiency (English and Filipino)
• Reading Comprehension (English and Filipino)
• Science
• Mathematics

Duration: A five-hour-long exam session. Calculators are not allowed, but scratch papers are provided.

Content Breakdown

Mathematics

The Math subtest mostly comprises Algebra questions, but you must not overlook the other subjects. Topics include:

• Arithmetic and Number Sense (PEMDAS, Fractions, Percent, Ratio)
• Algebra (Polynomials, Linear/Quadratic Equations, Functions)
• Geometry and Trigonometry
• Statistics (Central Tendency, Probability, Permutations)
• Calculus and Logic

Science

Expect an even distribution of questions, but with a potentially heavy focus on Earth Science. Coverage includes:

• Earth Science: Rock/Minerals, Plate Tectonics, Weather
• Biology: Central Dogma, Genetics, Evolution, Cell Metabolism
• Chemistry: Periodic trends, Stoichiometry, Gases, Organic Chem
• Physics: Kinematics, Thermodynamics, Waves, Optics, Electromagnetism
• Astronomy

Language Proficiency & Reading Comprehension

The Language Proficiency subtest consists of English and Filipino portions tackling Vocabulary (Synonyms, Confusing Words) and Grammar (Subject-verb agreement, Modifiers). Reading Comprehension covers Novel excerpts, poetry, short stories, and getting the main idea/drawing conclusions.

Preparation Tips

• Master the basics and practice basic arithmetic: Do not blindly cram. Since calculators aren't allowed, you must do everything manually.
• Internalize, don't just memorize: Understand how formulas are derived and translate scientific concepts into easy-to-understand stories.
• Read a lot: This helps you pick up a good sense of sentence construction and speeds up your reading for the lengthy reading comprehension subtest.