Education Minister Urges Pupils to Master Material for Academic Ability Test
Jakarta (ANTARA) – Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu’ti has urged pupils at SMA Negeri 1 Patikraja in Banyumas Regency, Central Java, to prepare for the Academic Ability Test (TKA) by mastering the subject matter, developing strategies for answering questions and preparing mentally.
“First, master the material. Second, prepare a strategy. Third, prepare mentally. Those three things are the key,” Mu’ti said in a written statement in Central Jakarta on Tuesday.
He stressed that pupils need to prepare equally in all three areas to answer questions to the best of their ability and demonstrate their academic capabilities.
In his view, knowledge of the subject matter alone will not produce the best results without an appropriate test-taking strategy. Mental readiness is also essential to help pupils avoid becoming stressed when faced with exam questions.
Mu’ti also told pupils not to be discouraged by TKA questions featuring lengthy passages.
He explained that the questions are designed with reference to the standards of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), so pupils need to become accustomed to understanding texts and applying suitable strategies for answering questions.
Preparing for the TKA therefore requires more than studying school subjects: pupils must also be able to manage their time and remain calm while taking the test.
“Do not believe anyone who says that school is not important and that being clever is all that matters. Nobody becomes clever without schooling. School is fundamentally what helps us succeed. Education can also enable us to do more and do better for other people and the nation,” Mu’ti said.
He hoped pupils would take their education seriously and prepare for academic assessments honestly and with confidence.
With preparation covering subject knowledge, test-taking strategies and mental readiness, pupils are expected to be better equipped for the TKA and to use education as a foundation for their future and their contribution to the nation.