ACET Guide: Format, Dates, Admission and a 90-Day Plan

ACET: The Complete Guide for Filipino Applicants

The Ateneo College Entrance Test (ACET) is the admission test for first-year applicants to Ateneo de Manila University's Loyola Schools. This guide covers what the test covers, the current dates, what Ateneo weighs besides your score, and a 90-day prep plan.

Dates for SY 2027–28 admission: the ACET-route application deadline was 17 August 2026. The ACET runs on 19–20 September 2026 at Metro Manila centres and 26–27 September 2026 at provincial centres, with a few provincial sites testing on 3 October (Batangas, Davao, Lanao del Norte, Palawan) and 10 October 2026 (Zamboanga del Norte). Admission decisions go out by email in May 2027. The scholarship application deadline is 15 October 2026. The next cycle (SY 2028–29) hasn't been announced; check Ateneo's admissions calendar.

1. What the ACET tests

According to Ateneo, the ACET has multiple-choice questions in:

1. Mathematics
2. English
3. General knowledge
4. Abstract reasoning

plus an essay segment — all under time pressure.

Ateneo's own FAQ answers the questions applicants ask most:

• How many items? It varies from year to year.
• Is it right-minus-wrong? No. A wrong answer doesn't cost you more than a blank, so answer every item.
• Is there a Filipino section? None.
• Calculators? Not allowed. Scratch paper is provided.

You'll see item counts, time limits and "5 options per item" quoted online. Ateneo doesn't publish those, so don't plan around them.

2. What Ateneo looks at besides the test

Ateneo's admission decision also considers your high-school record, extracurricular activities, personal essay and recommendation letters. Ateneo doesn't publish how much each part counts — any percentage split you see online is a guess. What's clear is that the test isn't the whole story, so:

• Keep your grades up through the rest of senior high.
• Treat the personal essay as real work — see our ACET essay guide.
• Ask for recommendation letters early, from teachers who know you well.

Ateneo also doesn't publish applicant numbers, admission rates or programme cutoffs. See ACET cutoffs and admission for what that means for your choices.

3. The 90-day prep plan

This plan assumes about three hours a day for 12 weeks before your test date.

Weeks 1–2: Diagnose

Do a full timed practice set covering math, English, general knowledge and abstract reasoning, without a calculator. Find your two weakest areas. Start a daily reading habit (one English editorial a day) and a daily news habit for general knowledge.

Weeks 3–6: Targeted practice

• Mon/Wed/Fri (90 min): your weakest area
• Tue/Thu (90 min): your second-weakest area
• Saturday (3 hrs): mixed timed practice across all four areas
• Sunday: rest

For math, drill algebra, geometry and word problems without a calculator. For English, drill grammar, vocabulary and reading. For abstract reasoning, practise series, analogies and figure patterns until they feel routine. For general knowledge, keep up with current events and review Philippine history, government and geography.

Weeks 7–10: Timed practice and essay writing

Two full timed practice sets a week, with a review day after each. Use the weekends for the essay:

• Week 7: first draft, no editing
• Week 8: get one round of feedback from a teacher or trusted reader
• Week 9: revise hard — cut, add specifics
• Week 10: final pass for grammar and clarity

Also practise timed essays, because the ACET includes an essay segment written under time pressure.

Weeks 11–12: Final review

Cut review hours by about a third. Re-do the items you got wrong. The day before the test: rest and sleep properly.

4. Scholarships and financial aid

Ateneo offers scholarships and financial aid, and applying is a separate step from the ACET — for SY 2027–28 the scholarship application deadline is 15 October 2026. If cost is a concern, apply on time rather than waiting for your admission decision. Check the current programmes and requirements on Ateneo's admissions site.

5. ACET vs UPCAT vs DLSU's DCAT

Many applicants take several tests. The key differences:

Math and English preparation carries across all of them. See the ACET vs UPCAT vs DLSU DCAT vs USTET guide for more.

6. If you're not admitted

• Apply elsewhere in parallel. DLSU's DCAT and the USTET run later in 2026 and into early 2027.
• Consider transferring later. Ateneo admits transferees through a separate transfer ACET (this cycle's is on 16 January 2027, with registration by 12 December 2026). If you start college elsewhere, check Ateneo's transfer requirements for a later cycle.

Where Super Tutor fits

Super Tutor's ACET reviewer is built on the same college-entrance chapters as our UPCAT reviewer — mathematics, science, language proficiency, abstract reasoning and general information — with every chapter in 11 study formats, practice quizzes at three difficulty levels, an AI tutor that explains questions step by step, and a study planner. It doesn't include full ACET mock exams or essay feedback, so time your own practice sets and have a teacher read your essay.

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