The University of the Philippines (UP) has announced that there will be no UP College Admissions Test (UPCAT) this year. Previously scheduled on Oct. 10 and 11, the exams have been canceled amid physical restrictions imposed because of the ongoing pandemic.

Due to COVID-19, University Councils across the UP System unanimously decided not to hold the UPCAT for admission of students in AY 2021-22. Instead, the UP Office of Admissions is currently modifying the admissions system for the next intake year.

Read: https://t.co/IukqwRTqqx pic.twitter.com/p2WK13uNT1

— University of the Philippines (@upsystem) November 10, 2020

In a statement on the UP official website, the University Councils unanimously voted against the synchronous in-person exam. “Taking into account the uncertain trajectory and uneven spread of COVID-19 in different parts of the Philippines, majority of the UC members did not deem it feasible to administer the usual UPCAT involving around 1,600 testing personnel deployed to 94 testing centers throughout the archipelago,” the statement read.

The feasibility of an online exam was also junked considering the country’s lack of stable internet. “This is primarily due to the length of the exam and variety of items that would require a consistently strong internet connection to download within the time allotted for examinees to answer,” the statement continued.

*The UP Diliman campus grounds courtesy of the University of the Philippines* *Facebook*

Other admissions models being examined

Not all is lost for the aspiring iskolar ng bayan, though.

UP is considering other options for admission in the coming academic year (AY).

“The Board of Regents (BOR) also instructed the Office of Admissions (OAdms) to come up with a modified freshmen admissions system specific to AY 2021-2022 by February 2021 in light of the pandemic. This includes the use of big data analytics to arrive at a UP admission score model, which the OAdms, together with other concerned offices, is currently developing, as well as the determination by academic units of an additional layer of screening for particular programs if deemed necessary.”

[READ: Online UPCAT? UP to come up with unique admission process for AY 2021-2022]

The data to be potentially used will come from the applicant’s personal data sheet, high school records, the specific high school and performance of its former school graduates in UP, and other relevant information.

Still, there’s a possibility that UP may place a moratorium on freshman admissions if the proposed model doesn’t work.

Header photo courtesy of University of the Philippines Facebook

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