Education Ministry Revises Several Provisions for 2026 Academic Ability Test
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) has made several changes to the organisation of the 2026 Academic Ability Test (TKA) for senior secondary schools (SMA), vocational schools (SMK), Islamic senior schools (MA) and their equivalents. The changes cover exam scheduling, extended completion times, and additional vocational subjects for SMK participants.
Registration for the TKA opens from 27 July to 27 September 2026, whilst the main test is scheduled to take place from 26 October to 8 November 2026.
Rahmawati, Head of the Education Assessment Centre, said the changes result from an evaluation of the previous year’s test. “This year, we hope to become better and more prepared for the registration period, because the implementation window is longer,” Rahmawati said in a written statement on Tuesday, 28 July 2026.
One change is the exam scheduling, so that participants now take only one compulsory subject each day. The ministry has also extended the working time to 75 minutes so participants have more optimal time to complete the questions.
For SMK participants specifically, the number of vocational subjects based on programme clusters has been increased to 50 subjects.
In addition, participants with residual data issues are still permitted to register, though they are urged to rectify their data as soon as possible. Supervision of the test will also be strengthened through the involvement of more universities.
The ministry is also integrating the TKA with the National Assessment (AN). This integration aims to improve both efficiency and the quality of assessment delivery.
Rahmawati said the improvements are expected to make this year’s TKA run more smoothly than the previous year.
Toni Toharudin, Head of the Primary and Secondary Education Policy Agency (BKPDM), said the changes form part of the government’s commitment to continually improving the quality of national assessments. “We invite all prospective participants to make the most of this opportunity by preparing as well as possible and following every stage in accordance with the rules,” said Toni.
The ministry urges all prospective participants to ensure their personal data is correct before registering. Information on requirements, schedules, registration procedures, and the TKA implementation guide can be accessed through the official TKA website and Kemendikdasmen’s official channels.