PUPCET vs UPCAT vs USTET: Should You Take All Three?
PUPCET vs UPCAT vs USTET: Should You Take All Three?
Many applicants take several college entrance tests rather than betting on one. PUPCET, UPCAT and USTET are three of the most common — and they complement each other.
At a glance
| PUPCET | UPCAT | USTET | |
|---|---|---|---|
| University | Polytechnic University of the Philippines | University of the Philippines | University of Santo Tomas |
| Eligibility highlight | GWA of at least 82%; apply to one campus only | Grade 11 in the school year before; one UPCAT per lifetime | Grade 12 students and graduates (see UST's rules) |
| Fee | No payment step on PUP's iApply procedure | Free for Filipino citizens | ₱600 for local Filipino applicants |
| What's tested | Not published (reported: language in English and Filipino, reading, math, science, abstract reasoning) | Language Proficiency, Science, Mathematics, Reading Comprehension (English and Filipino) | Mental Ability, English, Mathematics, Science |
| Last or current cycle | Tests 18 Jan – 8 Mar 2026 (Sta. Mesa); results 26 May 2026 | Held 1–2 Aug 2026; results expected first half of 2027 | 18 Oct 2026, 6 Dec 2026, 24 Jan 2027 (UST Manila); results Q2 2027 |
| Reported volume | About 135,000 registered (AY 2026–27) | 147,437 examinees, 12.44% qualified (UPCAT 2026) | About 36,700 college applicants, 11,236 passers (AY 2025–26) |
PUP hasn't announced the AY 2027–28 PUPCET yet. Last cycle, applications opened in November and testing ran from January to March.
The content overlaps
All three draw on math, English and science; the UPCAT and (by reviewers' accounts) the PUPCET also test Filipino, while the USTET adds a Mental Ability section. A shared foundation covers most of the work:
- Core base: mathematics, English grammar and reading, and Grade 7–10 science
- Filipino language and reading for UPCAT and PUPCET
- Mental ability and abstract reasoning for USTET and PUPCET
The calendar
Because the tests are spread across the year, you can prepare once and sit them in sequence:
- UPCAT: early August (the next one hasn't been announced)
- USTET: October to January
- PUPCET: recently January to March (next one not yet announced)
Why take all three
- Different strengths. Each is the door to a different university.
- Low cost. The UPCAT is free for Filipinos, PUP's procedure shows no payment step, and the USTET fee is ₱600 (waivable for eligible applicants).
- Shared preparation. Most of your review counts for all three.
Cost after admission
UP and PUP are state universities; under RA 10931, eligible Filipino students don't pay tuition there. UST is a private university — check its current tuition for your programme and its scholarship options.
Where Super Tutor fits
Super Tutor has reviewers for PUPCET, UPCAT and USTET, all built on the same college-entrance chapters — each in 11 study formats with practice quizzes, an AI tutor and a study planner. Full mock exams are available for UPCAT only. Paid plans cover one exam each. Start free — 5-day trial, no card needed.
What to read next
The PUPCET pillar guide, UPCAT pillar guide and USTET pillar guide cover each test in depth.
Start your PUPCET review free
Super Tutor's PUPCET reviewer has every chapter in 11 study formats, practice quizzes at three difficulty levels, an AI tutor for the questions you get stuck on, and a study planner. Start with a 5-day free trial, no card needed.
Related reading
Entrance Exams
PUPCET Guide: Eligibility, Timeline, Coverage, 60-Day Plan
The PUP College Entrance Test is one of the most-taken entrance tests in the country. Here's who can apply, how the last cycle ran, when to expect the next one, and a 60-day plan.
Entrance Exams
PUPCET Math Review: Topics to Practise
Mathematics is one of the areas reviewers report on the PUPCET, and it's often where non-STEM applicants can gain the most. Here's the scope and a 4-week plan.
Entrance Exams
PUPCET Science Review: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth Science
Reviewers report a science section on the PUPCET. Here's the Grade 7–10 science scope to review and a 4-week plan, including for non-STEM applicants.