USTET Guide: Dates, Sections, Fees and a 90-Day Plan

USTET: The Complete Guide for Filipino Applicants

The University of Santo Tomas Entrance Test (USTET) is how most first-year applicants get into UST. For AY 2025–26, about 36,700 college applicants took it (around 46,700 including basic-education applicants), and 11,236 freshmen passed, according to UST's student paper, The Varsitarian.

This guide covers the current dates, what the USTET tests, fees and waivers, and a 90-day prep plan.

AY 2027–28 dates: college registration and payment run 8 August 2026 – 8 January 2027 (LEAPMed applicants: until 27 November 2026). At UST Manila, the USTET is on 18 October 2026 (pay by 9 October), 6 December 2026 (pay by 27 November) and 24 January 2027 (pay by 8 January). Results are due in the second quarter of 2027. Check ustet.ust.edu.ph for the latest.

1. Where and when you can test

The system assigns your testing date and time. For AY 2027–28:

The USTET is taken in person at these centres, not online. UST's advisory says only transparent bags are allowed.

2. What the USTET tests

UST's official FAQ says the USTET is composed of:

1. Mental Ability
2. English
3. Mathematics
4. Science

There's no Filipino section. UST also says that part of your USTET result comes from your grades, which you submit through a Grades Form.

UST doesn't publish the number of items or the duration. Figures like "150 items in 3.5 hours" come from past takers, not UST.

LEAPMed applicants take an additional LEAPMed Entrance Test in the afternoon, covering anatomy, botany, chemistry, physics, physiology and zoology.

3. Fees and waivers

The fee is waived for public-school applicants graduating with Highest Honors and for applicants eligible under RA 12006, the Free College Entrance Examinations Act (natural-born Filipinos in the top 10% of their class from families below the poverty threshold).

4. How UST decides

Your USTET result — which already includes a portion from your grades — is the main factor. UST doesn't publish programme cutoffs or admission rates. See USTET cutoffs and admission for how to plan your programme choices.

5. The 90-day prep plan

About three hours a day for 12 weeks before your assigned date.

Weeks 1–2: Diagnose

A full timed practice set across Mental Ability, English, Mathematics and Science. Many students find Mental Ability the least familiar, because no high-school subject teaches it directly.

Weeks 3–6: Targeted practice

• Mon/Wed/Fri (90 min): Mental Ability — series, analogies, spatial reasoning, logic
• Tue/Thu (90 min): your weaker of Mathematics and Science
• Saturday (3 hrs): mixed timed practice across all four sections
• Sunday: rest

Weeks 7–10: Timed practice

Two full timed sets a week, with a review day after each. Track accuracy by section.

Weeks 11–12: Taper

Cut hours by about half. Re-do the items you got wrong. Rest before test day.

6. USTET alongside UPCAT, ACET and DLSU's DCAT

Math, English and science preparation carries across all of them.

7. If you're not admitted

• Keep parallel applications open — other schools' tests run on their own calendars.
• Consider transferring later after a strong first year elsewhere; check UST's transfer requirements.

Where Super Tutor fits

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