THE UNIVERSITY of the Philippines is considering options for its college admission test for the next academic year.

In an online meeting, UP Office of Admissions Director Francisco De Los Reyes said school officials are deliberating on five options.

These include a pen-and-paper examination, subject to quarantine protocols and regulations, an online examination, a mix of physical and online, a no examination situation wherein applicants are chosen based on their high school performance and a moratorium on accepting freshmen admissions.

“Ultimately, planning for our next round of admissions will be inclusive, with the acknowledgment that some applicants do have the economic privilege, and with empathy for the marginalized,” he said.

The Admissions Office, along with the UP Board of Regents through consultations from the UP faculty, various high schools, UP College Admission Test contact persons, testing centers, and volunteers, will decide on the issue tomorrow, October 29.

Once decided, the university may open applications in November and release the list of passers in April 2021.

The premier state university expects to receive about 100,000 freshmen applicants.

Recently, the possible cancellation of UPCAT became a topic of discussion on social media websites.

Reactions ranged from shock to anger after screenshots from the Admissions Office meeting were leaked online.

Some aspiring state scholars opposed the possible cancellation of the exam, saying it might be unfair as different schools have different grading systems.