Academic Competency Test Becomes Official Requirement for SPMB 2026/2027
The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) has made the Academic Competency Test (TKA) a mandatory requirement for the 2026/2027 Student Admission Selection (SPMB). However, this selection requirement does not apply to all pathways.
There are four selection pathways in the SPMB 2026/2027: the Affirmation Pathway, Prestige Pathway, Mutation Pathway, and Domicile Pathway. TKA will be a requirement for the Prestige Pathway.
“Almost all regions yesterday already included TKA. So TKA also becomes one of the determinants for the Prestige Pathway,” said the Director General of Early Childhood Education, Basic Education, and Non-Formal and Informal Education at Kemendikdasmen, Gogot Suharwoto, during the Welcoming SPMB for the 2026/2027 Academic Year agenda in Jakarta on Thursday (7/5).
He added that, besides TKA, report card grades remain a selection component in the Prestige Pathway.
“For primary schools (SD), there are 12 semesters; for junior secondary schools (SMP), there are 6 semesters. The report card for SMP is very important, so it must still be included to appreciate the results of work and achievements during school,” explained Gogot.
The stipulation that TKA is a selection component for the Prestige Pathway is enshrined in the Ministerial Regulation on Basic and Secondary Education (Permendikdasmen) No. 9 of 2025 and the technical guidelines for SPMB 2026/2027.
Example Requirements for the Prestige Pathway in SPMB 2026/2027
The detailed provisions for TKA and the SPMB selection pathways will be delegated to each region. Using the example from the Central Java Education Office (Disdik Jateng), here are some requirements for the Prestige Pathway in SPMB 2026/2027 for the senior secondary school (SMA) level:
Report card grades from SMP/equivalent for semesters 1-5 in specific subjects as determined.
TKA results.
Achievements:
Academic achievements: Achievements in science, technology, research, innovation, and other academic fields.
Non-academic achievements: Achievements in arts, culture, sports, and other non-academic fields.