Jamaine Punzalan

The Department of Education (DepEd) headquarters in Pasig City on February 6, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

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Job Manahan

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177338079806420250206-department-education-deped-JC-8.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>The Department of Education (DepEd) headquarters in Pasig City on February 6, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</div><div> </div>MANILA – The Department of Education (DepEd) conducted the first-ever Unified Science High School Admissions Test (USHAT) in various science high schools in Metro Manila this Saturday, as the agency gears towards a standardized admission test in these institutions. Led by Education Assistant Secretary Joyce Andaya, the USHAT was created to serve as the official admissions examination to students entering Grade 7 and would want to study in science high schools. This was approved and rolled out by Education Secretary Sonny Angara following the findings and suggestions of EDCOM II, which emphasized the gradual shift to computer-based examinations. <div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/3/deped-opens-reintegration-program-for-teachers-affected-in-middle-east-2000">DepEd opens reintegration program for teachers affected in Middle East </a> </div>“As institutions designed to provide advanced and enriched learning experiences in science and mathematics, these schools require admissions mechanisms that are fair, rigorous, and responsive to the competencies necessary for success in a demanding academic environment,” said Andaya in a statement provided to ABS-CBN News. Andaya, who is also DepEd NCR&#x27;s regional director, said that previously, science high schools admissions in Metro Manila were based on “varied entrance examinations, differing standards, and non-uniform testing modalities.” While these reflect contextual needs, the official said the absence of a streamlined admissions framework has resulted in “inequities among applicants, duplication of testing burdens for families, and challenges in ensuring comparability of results across schools.” “These conditions underscore the need for a unified, region-wide admissions assessment that upholds equity, transparency, and technical soundness,” said Andaya. “Rather than prioritizing rote memorization or content recall, the USHAT aligns with the intent of the Enhanced Kindergarten to Grade 10 Curriculum, which underscores conceptual understanding, application of knowledge, and the development of transferable skills necessary for lifelong learning and advanced STEM engagement,” she added. The standardized admission test in the capital region’s science high schools, she said, is based on EDCOM’s findings and recommendations, noting the importance of digital transformation in basic education. The examinations for USHAT are computer-based, an advisory from DepEd read, and these were conducted through a local area network (LAN) or secured offline network environment. “In this context, the adoption of a computer-based modality for the USHAT responds not only to operational efficiencies but also to the broader national direction toward modern, technology-enabled assessment systems,” said the official. Students would be screened by their scientific literacy and process skills (30 percent), mathematical and quantitative reasoning (30 percent), reading comprehension and critical thinking (25 percent), and abstract and spatial reasoning (15 percent). The results of the examination will be released in 2 weeks, and those scoring 75 percent above will fall in Category A – automatically eligible for interview. “Students from Category B (those with scores between 60 to 74%) will be ranked, and those who are included in the cut-off/absorptive capacity of the school shall be eligible for interview,” the DepEd said. “For Quezon City Science High School, as the regional science high school, a student will be classified in Category A if his/her general average score is 75% and has 75% in all domains of the examination,” it added. DepEd said a student will be asked to indicate their top 5 preferred science high schools during the examination, where their test score will be ranked for each of the chosen schools along with other applicants.<div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/23/deped-s-three-term-school-year-proposal-draws-scrutiny-pushback-at-house-hearing-1531">DepEd’s ‘three-term school year’ proposal draws scrutiny, pushback at House hearing</a> </div>“Depending on the student&#x27;s rank and the availability of slots, the student may be qualified for interview in one or more schools,” the DepEd said. “Therefore, there is no need to submit multiple applications to different schools, since one examination and one application already covers all participating science high schools in NCR,” it added. The agency said 8,831 students took the examinations today across 18 science high schools. Only 3,195, however, could be admitted.

The Department of Education (DepEd) conducted the first-ever Unified Science High School Admissions Test (USHAT) in various science high schools in Metro Manila this Saturday, as the agency gears towards a standardized admission test in these institutions.

The Department of Education (DepEd) conducted the first-ever Unified Science High School Admissions Test (USHAT) in various science high schools in Metro Manila this Saturday, as the agency gears towards a standardized admission test in these institutions.

DepEd conducts first-ever Unified Science High School Admissions Test in NCR

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DepEd conducts first-ever Unified Science High School Admissions Test in NCR

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 07, 2026 08:16 PM PHT

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Updated March 13, 2026 01:46 PM PHT

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Unified Science High School Admissions Test

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