Deputy Minister of Education's Message to Primary School Students Preparing for Academic Ability Test
Deputy Minister of Basic and Secondary Education Fajar Riza Ul Haq stated that the implementation of the Academic Ability Test (TKA) for primary school (SD) level will soon take place. He urged students to participate in the assessment honestly and with confidence.
Fajar conveyed this during an inspection of preparations for the TKA at SD Dwijendra Mataram in West Nusa Tenggara, ahead of the event from 20-30 April 2026. “For our children, do not panic or be afraid. Take the TKA honestly and with confidence,” Fajar said in a written statement on Monday, 13 April 2026.
He emphasised that the TKA is not a determinant of graduation, but rather an instrument to map students’ literacy and numeracy abilities. However, the results can be used as a component for selection via the achievement pathway to the next level.
The principal of SD Dwijendra Mataram, Ni Nyoman Sukreni, said that preparations for the TKA at her school are nearly 100 per cent complete, including equipment and network aspects. This year, eight students will participate in the assessment.
A Year VI teacher, Ni Wayan Mega Whidya Sridani, added that preparations have been underway since last year through additional lesson hours and practice questions based on the TKA grid. “After conducting simulations, we also created similar model questions to train the students,” she said.
These preparations, she noted, have been ongoing since last year because the TKA material covers learning from Year 4 to Year 6. She hopes all students can complete the TKA well and achieve the best results.
Meanwhile, one of the students, I Gede Swantara Yonas Amnifu, admitted that the practice and simulations conducted helped him understand the question patterns. “We have done enrichment several times and one simulation,” said I Gede.
According to him, the additional lessons greatly helped in understanding the material and the TKA question model. He hopes to achieve satisfactory results to support his steps to continue education to his dream junior high school through the achievement pathway.
The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education stated that this inspection was conducted to ensure school readiness while encouraging students to face the TKA with confidence and integrity.
The TKA schedule for primary school level begins with registration from 19 January to 28 February 2026. Simulations will be held from 2-8 March 2026. Following that, there will be a dress rehearsal for TKA SD from 9-17 March 2026.
The TKA SD itself will commence from 20-30 April 2026. If there are any issues, the ministry provides a follow-up TKA SD period from 11-17 May 2026. The processing of TKA SD results will start from 18-23 May 2026 and will be announced on 24 May 2026.