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Philippine Science High School Main Campus in Quezon City. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

Philippine Science High School Main Campus in Quezon City. Photo taken on October 21, 2020.  Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Philippine Science High School 

Francis Orcio

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177329488558420201021-philippine-science-hs-facade-MD-3.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Philippine Science High School Main Campus in Quezon City. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Department of Education (DepEd) has rolled out the first-ever Unified Science High School Admission Test (USHAT) in the National Capital Region, a computer-based entrance exam designed to standardize admissions across science high schools and modernize science education.</p><p>The new system replaces the previous practice where each science high school administered its own entrance test. </p><p>Under the unified approach, all applicants take the same exam, which DepEd said ensures fairness and consistency in evaluating students’ readiness for advanced science and mathematics.</p><p>Around 8,831 Grade 6 students took the computer-based exam on Saturday, March 7, across 18 science high schools in Metro Manila for admission to Grade 7 in School Year 2026–2027.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/2/5/boardroom-tea-the-last-stand-for-philippine-education-1039">Boardroom Tea: The last stand for Philippine education</a></div><p>“This is limited to the National Capital Region because we wanted to follow or align with the five-point reform agenda of the secretary as regards digitalization, as regards ensuring that our science high school students are really at par with science high school students in the world,” said Department of Education Assistant Secretary for Operations Jocelyn Andaya, who is also NCR director, on Wednesday.</p><p>DepEd said the test measures students’ readiness for rigorous science education through a competency-based assessment that focuses on higher-order thinking skills.</p><p>“By using a unified exam, we ensure fairness, validity, and reliability while we streamline the admissions policy. Why? Because in the past...we have 18 science high schools in the National Capital Region, and each of them has a different exam,” Andaya said.</p><p>The test items were developed in partnership with the University of the Philippines National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development (UP NISMED), which also assisted in the exam’s data processing and evaluation.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/7/deped-conducts-first-ever-unified-science-high-school-admissions-test-in-ncr-2016">DepEd conducts first-ever Unified Science High School Admissions Test in NCR</a></div><p>Preparations for the pilot implementation included site inspections, system load testing, orientation sessions for examiners and information technology staff, and deployment of technical support teams in testing centers.</p><p>DepEd said IT personnel were assigned to each testing site, while backup laptops and computers were prepared to address potential technical issues.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>TECHNICAL GLITCHES ENCOUNTERED</strong></div><p>Despite preparations, technical glitches were reported during the exam, mostly at Quezon City Science High School where more than 600 students took the test.</p><p>DepEd said the issues were quickly resolved, and affected students were given options to continue with extended time or retake the exam on another date.</p><p>“May I say that, that is normal for the first time. But these were just minor glitches because the moment that we saw that there was a problem, we immediately addressed these problems and concerns,” Andaya said.</p><p>“In fact, limited ito doon sa Quezon City Science High School because that&#x27;s the site where so many students took the exam,” she added.</p><p>Students were allowed to either finish the test with additional time or retake it later, with some opting to take the exam again the following Monday, March 9.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;90 PERCENT’ READY</strong></div><p>Overall, DepEd estimated that preparations for the pilot run were about 90 percent ready.</p><p>“We have prepared extensively for this. And prior to the conduct, we worked with our division offices and even our science high schools,” Andaya said.</p><p>Some parents earlier raised concerns that the shift to a unified, computer-based exam came as a surprise to applicants. </p><p>DepEd, however, said announcements had been issued months before the test.</p><p>“And there were some orientations that were conducted to our students would be takers and even their parents. And the week prior to that, we also did an orientation,” she explained.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>FASTER RELEASE OF EXAM RESULTS</strong></div><p>Officials said the computer-based testing is expected to speed up the release of results and improve transparency because scores are automatically generated.</p><p>“In fact, the results can be out in two weeks&#x27; time,” she said. She said applicants used to wait for up to two months to find out if they passed.</p><p>“Ito iyong isa sa magandang nangyari dito sa unified assessment test na computer-based. Because kaya agad ma-generate iyong results ng exam,” she added.</p><p>DepEd plans to conduct a post-examination evaluation involving schools, test takers, and parents to refine the process and address concerns in future exams.</p><p>The agency also said earlier announcements will be made for next year&#x27;s test, possibly as early as September this year, to give students and parents more time to prepare.</p><p>If the NCR pilot proves successful, the unified science high school admission test could eventually be implemented in other regions as well, serving as a model for nationwide adoption.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0AIvYQSaQEE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lmTWP9jjYfk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>The Department of Education (DepEd) has rolled out the first-ever Unified Science High School Admission Test (USHAT) in the National Capital Region, a computer-based entrance exam designed to standardize admissions across science high schools and modernize science education.</p>

The Department of Education (DepEd) has rolled out the first-ever Unified Science High School Admission Test (USHAT) in the National Capital Region, a computer-based entrance exam designed to standardize admissions across science high schools and modernize science education.

DepEd responds to glitches in pilot unified science high school exam

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DepEd responds to glitches in pilot unified science high school exam

Francis Orcio,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 12, 2026 02:13 PM PHT

Read More:

DepEd

Education

Sonny Angara

Science High School

USHAT

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