100+ Free UPCAT Practice Questions

Pass your University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

✓ No registration✓ No credit card✓ No hidden fees✓ Start practicing immediately

100+ Questions

100% Free

1 / 100

Question 1

Score: 0/0

The Philippines experiences frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity largely because it lies along the:

Equator

Tropic of Cancer

Pacific Ring of Fire

Prime Meridian

to track

Same family resources

Explore More Philippines University Entrance Tests

Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: UPCAT Exam

The UPCAT is a roughly five-hour, paper-based, multiple-choice entrance exam with four subtests (Language Proficiency, Reading Comprehension, Mathematics, Science); admission is by UPG ranking that weights UPCAT scores about 60% and high school grades about 40%.

Sample UPCAT Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your UPCAT exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1If 3x - 7 = 2x + 5, what is the value of x?

A.12

B.2

C.-12

D.6

Explanation: Collect the x-terms on one side: 3x - 2x = 5 + 7, so x = 12. Substituting back, 3(12) - 7 = 29 and 2(12) + 5 = 29, confirming the solution.

2What is the value of 2^5 - 3^2?

A.16

B.23

C.32

D.1

Explanation: Evaluate the powers first following the order of operations: 2^5 = 32 and 3^2 = 9. Then 32 - 9 = 23.

3A shirt originally priced at PHP 800 is sold at a 25% discount. What is the sale price?

A.PHP 775

B.PHP 1000

C.PHP 600

D.PHP 200

Explanation: A 25% discount means the buyer pays 75% of the price: 0.75 x 800 = 600. Equivalently, the discount is 0.25 x 800 = 200, and 800 - 200 = 600.

4Factor completely: x^2 - 9.

A.(x - 3)^2

B.(x - 9)(x + 1)

C.(x + 3)^2

D.(x - 3)(x + 3)

Explanation: The expression is a difference of two squares, x^2 - 3^2, which factors as (x - 3)(x + 3). Expanding (x - 3)(x + 3) gives x^2 - 9, confirming the result.

5What is the slope of the line passing through the points (1, 2) and (4, 11)?

A.3

B.1/3

C.9

D.-3

Explanation: Slope equals the change in y over the change in x: (11 - 2) / (4 - 1) = 9 / 3 = 3. The line rises 3 units for every 1 unit moved to the right.

6Solve for x: 2(x + 3) = 4x - 2.

A.2

B.4

C.-4

D.1

Explanation: Distribute on the left: 2x + 6 = 4x - 2. Subtract 2x from both sides and add 2: 8 = 2x, so x = 4. Checking, 2(4 + 3) = 14 and 4(4) - 2 = 14.

7The angles of a triangle are in the ratio 2:3:4. What is the measure of the largest angle?

A.60 degrees

B.90 degrees

C.80 degrees

D.40 degrees

Explanation: The angle sum of a triangle is 180 degrees. The ratio parts total 2 + 3 + 4 = 9, so each part is 180/9 = 20 degrees. The largest angle is 4 x 20 = 80 degrees.

8A right triangle has legs of length 6 and 8. What is the length of the hypotenuse?

A.14

B.48

C.7

D.10

Explanation: By the Pythagorean theorem, the hypotenuse c satisfies c^2 = 6^2 + 8^2 = 36 + 64 = 100, so c = 10. This is the well-known 6-8-10 right triangle.

9What is the area of a circle with radius 7? (Use pi approximately 22/7.)

A.154

B.44

C.49

D.22

Explanation: The area of a circle is pi times r squared: (22/7)(7^2) = (22/7)(49) = 22 x 7 = 154 square units.

10If f(x) = 2x^2 - 3x + 1, what is f(2)?

A.11

B.3

C.-1

D.5

Explanation: Substitute x = 2: f(2) = 2(2)^2 - 3(2) + 1 = 2(4) - 6 + 1 = 8 - 6 + 1 = 3.

About the UPCAT Exam

The University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT) is the entrance examination used to select first-year undergraduate students across the seven constituent universities of the UP System. It consists of four multiple-choice subtests: Language Proficiency (in English and Filipino), Reading Comprehension (in English and Filipino), Mathematics, and Science, taken over roughly five hours. UPCAT results are combined with the composite of an applicant's Grade 8 to 11 final grades to form the UP Admission Grade (UPG), which ranks applicants for each campus and degree program. For 2026 the test returned to fully paper-based administration after a 2023 computer-based pilot, and UPCAT 2026 results were released on 22 April 2026 while UPCAT 2027 applications opened on 3 March 2026. The exam is free for Filipino citizens and is one of the most competitive admission tests in the country, with only about 12 to 13 percent of examinees qualifying.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

Approximately 5 hours for the full four-subtest exam

Passing Score

No fixed cutoff; admission is by UP Admission Grade (UPG) ranking, combining about 60% UPCAT scores and 40% high school grades. About 12 to 13 percent of examinees qualify.

Exam Fee

Free for Filipino applicants; non-Filipino (foreign) applicants pay an application fee set by the UP Office of Admissions. (University of the Philippines Office of Admissions (UP System))

UPCAT Exam Content Outline

30%

Mathematics

Arithmetic and number sense, basic and intermediate algebra, geometry, statistics and probability, with some trigonometry.

30%

Science

Biology, chemistry, physics, and earth science including astronomy, applied to core high school concepts.

20%

Language Proficiency

Vocabulary, grammar, usage, and spelling in English and Filipino, including idioms and figures of speech.

20%

Reading Comprehension

Main idea, detail, inference, author's purpose, and vocabulary in context, with passages in English and Filipino.

How to Pass the UPCAT Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: No fixed cutoff; admission is by UP Admission Grade (UPG) ranking, combining about 60% UPCAT scores and 40% high school grades. About 12 to 13 percent of examinees qualify.
Exam length: 100 questions
Time limit: Approximately 5 hours for the full four-subtest exam
Exam fee: Free for Filipino applicants; non-Filipino (foreign) applicants pay an application fee set by the UP Office of Admissions.

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

UPCAT Study Tips from Top Performers

1Review the entire senior high school curriculum, not just your strongest subjects; each subtest carries weight in the overall UPG computation.

2Prioritize algebra in the Math subtest, which dominates, then geometry, statistics, and basic trigonometry.

3Spread science review evenly across biology, chemistry, physics, and earth science, including astronomy and rock and weather cycles.

4Practice reading both English and Filipino passages quickly, since Filipino items appear in both Language Proficiency and Reading Comprehension.

5Drill vocabulary, grammar, idioms, and figures of speech (tayutay and sawikain) in both languages.

6Take timed full-length mock exams to build the mental and physical endurance needed for the roughly five-hour test.

7Because of right-minus-wrong scoring, eliminate distractors first and guess strategically rather than blindly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What subtests are on the UPCAT?

The UPCAT has four multiple-choice subtests: Language Proficiency (English and Filipino), Reading Comprehension (English and Filipino), Mathematics, and Science. Questions may appear in either English or Filipino.

How long is the UPCAT and what is its format?

The full four-subtest exam takes about five hours. It is a paper-based (OMR) multiple-choice test with no essay; for 2026 it returned to fully paper-based administration after a 2023 computer-based pilot.

Is there a fee to take the UPCAT?

No. The UPCAT is free for Filipino applicants. Only non-Filipino (foreign) applicants pay an application fee, and UP also offers free tuition to qualifiers under RA 10931.

How is admission to UP determined?

Admission is based on the UP Admission Grade (UPG), which combines standardized UPCAT scores (about 60%) with the composite of Grade 8 to 11 final grades (about 40%). Socioeconomic and geographic factors are also considered. The top-ranked applicants per campus and program are admitted.

How competitive is the UPCAT?

Very competitive. Recent cycles drew over 140,000 examinees, and only about 12 to 13 percent qualified for admission. UPCAT 2026 had 147,437 examinees with 18,350 passing, or about 12.4 percent.

Does the UPCAT use right-minus-wrong scoring?

Yes. A fraction of a point is deducted for each incorrect answer, so reckless guessing can lower your score. Answer items you can reason through and weigh whether to guess on the rest.

When was the UPCAT 2026 held and when were results released?

UPCAT 2026 was administered in August 2025 for AY 2026-2027 admission, and results were released on 22 April 2026. UPCAT 2027 applications opened on 3 March 2026.