Mathematics Questions in Senior High School TKA Reduced from 30 to 25

The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) has incorporated feedback and aspirations regarding insufficient time for mathematics questions in the Senior High School Academic Ability Test (TKA) by reducing the number of questions to 25. Rahmawati, Head of the Education Assessment Centre (Pusmendik) at Kemendikdasmen, stated that the ministry has allocated three minutes per mathematics question in this year’s SMA TKA, up from the previous 2.5 minutes. “Here, we have already provided information on the number of questions, which many have been waiting for—how much time per mathematics question. In 2026, God willing, each question will be allocated three minutes, meaning with a 75-minute allocation, 25 questions will be set instead of 30,” Rahmawati said during a media briefing on TKA results for junior high school (SMP/MTs) and primary school (SD/MI) levels at Kemendikdasmen’s Complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday. She noted there would be no time differences across time zones, meaning the SMA TKA would be conducted simultaneously across all regions of Indonesia with the same duration. In addition to mathematics, Rahmawati said the ministry had accommodated requests for only one subject to be tested per day in the SMA TKA, allowing students to prepare more focused and effectively. This is because the TKA Result Certificate (SHTKA) can be used for the merit-based pathway in the New Student Admission System (SPMB). Therefore, Kemendikdasmen has confirmed that each TKA wave for senior high school will last four days instead of two as in previous years. “Regarding the implementation aspirations, there was a request to not test three subjects in a single day, and we have accommodated this, so student testing will no longer span two days but four,” Rahmawati said. The first wave will take place from 26-29 October, the second from 2-5 November, and a special wave from 31 October-1 November and 7-8 November.