98 Per Cent of Students Across Indonesia Have Taken the Academic Ability Test, But Results Are Not Yet Optimal

Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Abdul Mu’ti, stated that the Academic Ability Test (TKA) has been taken by 98 per cent of students in Indonesia. He explained that the TKA serves as a determining factor for students continuing their education.

Mu’ti clarified that the TKA is not a mandatory test for students. However, currently, 98 per cent of students in Indonesia have participated in the TKA. Nevertheless, he admitted that the results are not yet optimal.

“Although the TKA is not a mandatory test, national participation has reached over 98 per cent of the total number of students in Indonesia,” Mu’ti said on Sunday (17 May 2026).

He explained that the TKA does not determine student graduation. Instead, each educational unit determines student graduation through tests and report card grades.

“The TKA does not determine graduation because graduation is determined by each educational unit through tests and report card grades,” Mu’ti clarified.

Mu’ti continued, stating that the TKA serves as a determining factor for students to continue their education to the next level.

“The TKA determines which students can continue their studies at universities and other higher education institutions,” he said.

Mu’ti mentioned that universities now require the inclusion of TKA results as one of the requirements for admission. “In fact, there is a university in the Netherlands that requires applicants from Indonesia to include their TKA scores,” he added.

Mu’ti revealed that the current achievement of the TKA is still not optimal. However, he promised to continue evaluating and improving the TKA results.

“There is indeed a reality where the TKA scores are not as high as we hoped. But that is not the end of everything. It is actually the beginning for us to improve, evaluate, and enhance the quality of education through various steps and strategies,” Mu’ti said.