UP Office of Admissions confirms no pen-and-paper UPCAT for 2023
Heads up, aspiring Iskos and Iskas: The University of the Philippines (UP) has officially suspended the traditional pen-and-paper UP College Admission Test (UPCAT) for academic year 2023-2024.
UP Office of Admissions director Francisco de los Reyes confirmed the suspension in a column he wrote for Inquirer today, Sept. 2. In-person exams, which would be postponed for the third straight year, have been shelved due to "continuing health risks" and "operational hurdles."
"Given the continuing health risks and operational hurdles posed by in-person exams due to the pandemic, [UP] has resolved to forego the nationwide [UPCAT] for academic year (AY) 2023-2024," de los Reyes said.
UP student publications UPLB Perspective and the Philippine Collegian have shared the news on their social media accounts.
De los Reyes' essay has also been shared by the official University of the Philippines page and UPCAT - UP System.
The suspension comes after the University Councils of the eight constituent universities of the UP system unanimously adopted the resolution.
Instead of the UPCAT, UP will continue using the "admission score model" to accept students. This model looks at the applicant's high school grades, which will be standardized to account for biases and inflated grades.