400 Participants Progress to National Selection Stage for SMA Kemala Taruna Bhayangkara
Four hundred test participants with the highest scores have advanced to the national selection stage of the 2026/2027 New Student Admissions Selection (SPMB) process for SMA Kemala Taruna Bhayangkara (KTB). They will proceed to the Centralized Selection stage scheduled for April.
The SMA KTB entrance examination employs the Nusantara Standard Test (NST) methodology. Of the total 3,000 participants who qualified in NST Stage 1, 2,644 students attended NST Stage II, recording an 88.13 per cent participation rate from provinces across Indonesia.
“The SMA KTB admissions selection is not merely an academic selection. The selection system is designed to be transparent, data-driven, and meritocratic. The 400 participants who have advanced represent the nation’s finest potential, having surpassed rigorous academic standards and objective evaluation,” said Dewi Amri, Chair of the SPMB Committee of the Indonesian Cadre Education Foundation (YPKBI), in a statement on Saturday (28 February 2026).
In NST Stage II, the selection panel tested competencies in Mathematics and Science (IPA), with all questions administered in English, including English itself as an examination subject.
The selection committee calculated scores using the Item Response Theory (IRT) approach, based on the difficulty level of questions analysed from answer patterns across the entire participant population. This methodology ensures measurement of ability occurs transparently, objectively, and with precision.
“The determination based on NST Stage II ensures the selection remains fair and provides equal competitive opportunity for all participants,” Dewi added.
The NST scores of the top 400 participants ranged from 630 to 770, whilst the national average stood at 580. These scores demonstrate that advancing participants far exceeded the national average.
Meanwhile, the Assistant to the National Police Chief for Human Resources, serving as Chair of the Kemala Taruna Bhayangkara Foundation (YPKTB), Inspector General Anwar, reported that of the total 2,644 NST Stage II participants, only approximately 15.1 per cent fell into the 5-7 category or “good to excellent” based on the International Baccalaureate (IB) predictive scale. This group was subsequently designated as the 400 best participants nationally.
These students originate from junior secondary schools in 28 different provinces. The ten provinces with the largest number of participants include West Java, DKI Jakarta, Central Java, North Sumatra, DI Yogyakarta, Banten, East Java, Bali, Riau Islands, and South Sumatra.
Based on school origin, participants come from public schools (44 per cent), private schools with national curriculum (42.5 per cent), and private schools with international curriculum (13.5 per cent). “This system selects the nation’s finest children without regard to regional origin or school type. What is evaluated is potential, integrity, and capacity to develop into future leaders,” said Inspector General Anwar.
The composition of the top 400 participants consists of 251, or 62.75 per cent, male students and 149, or 37.25 per cent, female students. At the national stage, the 400 participants will undertake a series of final selections including advanced academic testing, IELTS prediction test, medical examination, psychology testing and personality assessment, physical fitness evaluation, group discussion assessment, and interviews with parents and students.
“The presence of participants from 28 provinces affirms that the agenda of developing an excellent generation is a national agenda. SMA Kemala Taruna Bhayangkara stands as part of a strategic endeavour to prepare national cadres ready to compete globally,” said Anwar.