Academic Aptitude Test Registration Extended to Boost University Admission Chances

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) has stated that extending the registration period for the Academic Aptitude Test (TKA) for senior high school and vocational school students will enhance pupils’ readiness, thereby increasing their chances of entering their dream universities. Head of the Education Assessment Centre at Kemendikdasmen, Rahmawati, said in a written statement in Jakarta on Monday that this year’s TKA implementation will be better and more prepared due to the longer execution timeframe. She added that this year’s TKA is a refinement of the previous administration. According to her, various inputs from last year’s TKA evaluation have formed the basis for policy and implementation improvements this year. These evaluation results include scheduling arrangements so that pupils only work on one compulsory subject per day, an increase in the duration to 75 minutes to allow participants more optimal time, and the addition of vocational subjects based on skill programme clusters, now totalling 50 subjects. In terms of benefits, Yudhistira Almayda Basunjaya, an alumnus of SMA Negeri 1 Surabaya, East Java, has experienced the advantages of the TKA through his admission to the undergraduate Medicine programme at the Faculty of Medicine, Airlangga University, after validating his abilities with a distinguished TKA result in 2025. Yudhistira said he was satisfied with his 2025 TKA results, which met his targets. He stated that the test results served as motivation for him to continue learning and developing. The scores he achieved in his chosen subjects, biology and chemistry, helped him secure the academic capability needed to enter the Medicine programme. He said the exam results reinforced his academic strengths and added to his confidence that his choice of major was correct. Yudhistira explained that he used the test to measure his level of understanding of the subject matter. He had been studying the material gradually long before the TKA implementation day, having already built a habit of consistent study, deepening his understanding of concepts, and routinely evaluating his abilities through practice questions. He added that SMA Negeri 1 Surabaya also facilitated preparation through an intensive guidance programme every Saturday, which included material reviews and trial tests. Additionally, subject teachers at the school provided in-depth material sessions to strengthen the pupils’ understanding.