DOST-SEI Scientific Ability: Bio, Chem, Physics, Earth Review

DOST-SEI Scientific Ability: Bio, Chem, Physics, Earth Review

DOST-SEI Scientific Ability is the second STEM-weighted subtest. The 50 items skew heavier on physics and chemistry than UPCAT Science — DOST-SEI is screening for STEM scholarship candidates, so the items push toward the deeper end of SHS science.

For STEM-strand SHS graduates, this subtest should be a strength. For HUMSS or GAS strand candidates, the gap to a 70%+ score is real but bridgeable in 8 weeks.

This post is the topic-by-topic plan that the DOST-SEI 2026 pillar guide hands off to.

What DOST-SEI actually asks

Approximate item distribution across the 50 Scientific Ability items:

Notice the physics and chemistry weighting (32 of 50 items). UPCAT Science is more balanced across the four domains. DOST-SEI's tilt toward physical sciences reflects its STEM scholarship mandate.

Physics — heaviest single block

Drill list:

Mechanics (10-12 items per cycle):

• Kinematics in one and two dimensions: displacement, velocity, acceleration, projectile motion at conceptual + computational level
• Newton's three laws applied to single-body and two-body systems
• Work, energy, power; conservation of mechanical energy
• Momentum and collisions (elastic vs inelastic)
• Circular motion: centripetal acceleration and force
• Simple machines and mechanical advantage
• Rotational motion at conceptual level (torque, angular momentum)

Waves and sound (2-3 items):

• Wave properties: frequency, wavelength, speed, reflection, refraction
• Sound: speed in different media, Doppler effect at conceptual level
• Standing waves and resonance

Electricity and magnetism (3-4 items):

• Electric charge, Coulomb's law at conceptual level
• Electric field, electric potential
• Ohm's law, simple series/parallel circuits
• Magnetic field basics, electromagnetic induction at conceptual level

Modern physics (1-2 items):

• Photons, photoelectric effect at conceptual level
• Radioactive decay at conceptual level
• Atomic structure beyond chemistry coverage

Don't drill projectile motion algebra for hours — DOST-SEI's projectile items lean toward conceptual ("which trajectory shows X?"). Mechanics items reward strong free-body diagram skills. Practise drawing them.

Chemistry — periodic table fluency required

Drill list:

Atomic structure and bonding (4-5 items):

• Atomic structure: protons, neutrons, electrons, isotopes, ions
• Periodic trends: atomic radius, ionisation energy, electronegativity, metallic character
• Chemical bonding: ionic vs covalent, polar vs non-polar
• Lewis structures, formal charge, resonance basics

Stoichiometry (3-4 items):

• Mole concept, molar mass
• Balancing equations
• Limiting reagent calculations
• Yield calculations
• Empirical and molecular formulas

States of matter and gas laws (2-3 items):

• Phases of matter, phase changes
• Boyle's, Charles's, ideal gas equation
• Real gas behaviour at conceptual level

Solutions and acids/bases (2-3 items):

• Solubility, concentration units (molarity, molality, mass percent)
• pH scale, neutralisation
• Strong vs weak acids/bases
• Buffer solutions at conceptual level

Thermochemistry and kinetics (2-3 items):

• Endothermic vs exothermic
• Heat of reaction, calorimetry basics
• Reaction rate factors
• Catalysts at conceptual level

Organic chemistry (1-2 items):

• Hydrocarbons (alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, aromatic basics)
• Functional groups (alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids)
• Isomerism at conceptual level

Periodic table fluency is the foundation. Memorise the first 20 elements' atomic numbers, group, period, valence behaviour. About 60% of chemistry items can be approached via periodic-table reasoning alone.

Biology

Drill list:

Cell biology and processes (4-5 items):

• Cell structure: organelles and functions, prokaryote vs eukaryote
• Cell membrane transport: diffusion, osmosis, facilitated diffusion, active transport
• Cell division: mitosis, meiosis at conceptual level
• Photosynthesis and cellular respiration as input-output diagrams

Genetics (3-4 items):

• Mendelian genetics: monohybrid and dihybrid Punnett squares
• Sex-linked inheritance
• DNA structure, transcription, translation at conceptual level
• Mutations and basic biotechnology vocabulary

Ecology and evolution (2-3 items):

• Food webs, energy flow, biogeochemical cycles
• Population dynamics
• Natural selection: four conditions, examples, common misconceptions
• Biodiversity and conservation

Human systems (2-3 items):

• Major body systems: circulatory, respiratory, digestive, nervous, endocrine — function-level
• Reproduction at high level
• Immunity basics

DOST-SEI biology items reward conceptual reading + diagram interpretation. Less rote memorisation than chemistry; more application.

Earth science

Drill list:

• Plate tectonics: types of boundaries and what each produces
• Rock cycle: igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic
• Layers of the Earth (crust, mantle, outer/inner core)
• Atmospheric layers and weather basics
• Climate vs weather; greenhouse effect at conceptual level
• Water cycle, ocean currents, tides
• Solar system structure
• Phases of the moon, eclipses, seasons (axis tilt)
• Stars and basic stellar lifecycle

Earth science is small (5 items) but high-yield per study hour because the scope is finite and memorisable.

An 8-week Scientific drilling plan

Within the 60-day DOST-SEI review, allocate 4 weeks of focused Scientific attention plus 4 weeks of mixed mock + remediation.

The "I'm not in STEM strand" play

Most HUMSS / GAS / ABM SHS graduates skip DOST-SEI assuming the science block is too steep. Many would qualify if they invested 8 weeks of focused Scientific Ability drilling.

If you're applying to DOST-SEI from a non-STEM strand:

1. Start with biology and earth science — these reward reading more than strand background
2. Periodic table reasoning before chemistry computation — open to anyone who memorises the table
3. Physics mechanics only — skip the deeper waves and modern physics blocks if time-constrained
4. Take the diagnostic mock honestly — if your Scientific score is below 30%, the gap might be too large in 8 weeks

A non-STEM-strand candidate with strong overall academics can realistically reach 60-65% on Scientific Ability with 8 weeks of focused work. Combined with strong Quantitative + Abstract Reasoning + Reading, that may be enough for the top 6,000 cutoff.

Realistic Scientific scores

For a candidate running the 8-week Scientific plan above:

Where Super Tutor fits

Super Tutor's DOST-SEI Scientific Ability track covers physics, chemistry, biology, and earth science with item drilling. Free tier opens biology and earth; the Focused plan (₱49/week, ₱249/month, ₱1,999/year) opens chemistry and physics blocks plus mocks.

What to read next

The DOST-SEI 2026 pillar guide anchors the full review. The Quantitative Ability review covers the other STEM-weighted subtest. The Abstract Reasoning and Reading Comprehension cover the remaining two subtests.