AY 2027-2028 intake
UPCAT 2027: requirements, deadlines and how to prepare
The timeline and eligibility rules for this sitting of the University of the Philippines College Admission Test, alongside 205 free practice questions with worked answers.
Who can apply
- Grade 11 students in AY 2025-2026 who expect to finish senior high school by the end of AY 2026-2027
- Senior high school graduates
- Complete final grades for Grades 8, 9, 10 and 11 by the grades submission deadline
You are generally not eligible if you have taken any college or post-secondary course since finishing senior high school, if you have already sat the UPCAT, or if your UP application was processed in a year without the test. Full detail is in our application guide.
The timeline
Note who is responsible for each step
| Step | Window | Whose job |
|---|---|---|
| Form 1 Personal Data Sheet Submitted online by you. | 3 to 30 March 2026, extended to 13 April 2026 | You |
| Form 2A confirmation by your Grade 11 school An authorised school official must confirm you. Without this, no test permit is issued. | 3 March to 10 April 2026, extended to 24 April 2026 | Your school |
| Form 2B High School Record Submitted online by you, months after Form 1. Easy to forget. | 3 to 24 August 2026 | You |
| Form 2A by your Grade 12 school | 3 to 24 August 2026 | Your school |
| Certified true copy of your permanent secondary school record Hard copy. SF-10 or Form 137, signed in wet ink, sealed with a signature across the flap. | 3 to 24 August 2026 | Your school |
| Test permit availability Download and print it. It states your test centre, date and session. | Notified by email around July 2026 | UP |
| Test administration Morning or afternoon session. Report by the time on the permit. Runs about five hours. | On the date stated on your permit | UP |
Worth knowing for this cycle
- Filipino citizens pay no application fee. Non-Filipino applicants pay a non-refundable fee that differs for those studying in the Philippines and those applying from abroad.
- Both the March and the April windows above were extended once. Extensions are common, but planning around them is a bad idea.
- The gap between the March and August windows is the single easiest thing to overlook in the whole process.
How to prepare
The UPCAT has four subtests: Language Proficiency, Reading Comprehension, Science and Mathematics, with the first two each set in both English and Filipino. Your test score is combined with a composite of your Grades 8 to 11 final grades, so schoolwork counts directly toward admission.
Start with a timed quiz to find your weak areas, then work through the explanations for whatever you get wrong.
Frequently asked questions
- When is the UPCAT 2027 application deadline?
- For the AY 2027-2028 intake, the applicant Form 1 window ran 3 to 30 March 2026, extended to 13 April 2026. Deadlines are set per cycle and are frequently extended, so confirm the current dates at upcat.up.edu.ph rather than relying on any summary.
- Who can apply for the UPCAT 2027?
- Grade 11 students in AY 2025-2026 who expect to finish senior high school by the end of AY 2026-2027. Senior high school graduates. Complete final grades for Grades 8, 9, 10 and 11 by the grades submission deadline.
- Is there an application fee for the UPCAT 2027?
- Filipino citizens pay no application fee. Non-Filipino applicants pay a non-refundable fee that differs depending on whether they are studying in the Philippines or applying from abroad, and must upload proof of payment before submitting Form 1.
- What happens if my school does not submit its part?
- No test permit is issued. An authorised official at your Grade 11 school must confirm you in a separate portal, and your own submission cannot substitute for it. Follow it up directly rather than assuming the automated email was acted on.