The National Competitive Examination (NCE) for School Year (SY) 2024 to 2025 in the Philippine Science High School (PSHS) is back three years after the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a statement on Tuesday, April 25, the Philippine Science High School System stated that the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Science High School System (DOST-PSHSS) announced the comeback of the NCE on December 2, 2023, to assess the scientific ability, quantitative ability, abstract reasoning, and verbal aptitude of aspiring "Pisay" scholars.
According to PSHS, the application period for the 2023 NCE will begin on July 3 while the deadline for applications is on October 27.
A current Grade 6 (SY 2023-2024) elementary pupil from a duly recognized school by the Department of Education who meets the following criteria is eligible to apply for the PSHS National Competitive Examination:
- has a final grade of 85% or better in Science and Mathematics, evidenced by the student's report card; (If the student's grades in Science or Math are below 85%, then, he/she must provide evidence that he/she belongs to the upper 10% of the batch.)
- a Filipino citizen with no pending or approved application as immigrant to any foreign country;
- not be more than 15 years-old by June 30, 2024;
- has at least a satisfactory rating (or its equivalent) in his/her Character Rating in his/her report card in Grade 5 or on S.Y. 2022-2023);
- has not previously applied for admission in PSHS; and,
- preferably in good health and fit to undergo a rigorous academic program.
- Interested student applicants to the Philippine Science High School may apply directly to the nearest PSHS campus, DOST Regional Offices, and Provincial Science and Technology Offices or apply via online platform through https://nce.pshs.edu.ph/
Requirements for walk-in applicants include:
- Fully accomplished application form, download at https://pshs.edu.ph/ (incomplete form will not be processed);
- Recent 1x1 ID pictures;
- Non-refundable PHP 300 processing fee for private school students (based on the applicant's Grade 5 school);
- Free or no processing fee for public school students and students with full scholarship from private schools;
- Certified true copy of report card in Grade 5 (S.Y. 2022-2023) by the class adviser or principal
- If the final grades in Science or Math are below 85%, certification or proof that the child belongs to the upper 10% of the batch; and,
- Certification from the private school if the pupil-applicant is on full scholarship.
Requirements for online applicants:
- Scanned/Digitized copy of most recent 1x1 ID pictures;
- Scanned/Digitized copy of Proof of Payment of the PHP 300 processing fee for students who were admitted on a private school on fifth Grade (payment can be made on https://nce.pshs.edu.ph/);
- Free or no processing fee for public school students and students with full scholarship from private schools;
- Scanned/Digitized file of the certified true copy of report card in Grade 5 (S.Y. 2022-2023) by the class adviser or principal;
- Scanned/Digitized copy of certification or proof that the child belongs to the upper 10% of the batch if the final grades in Science or Math are below 85%; and,
- Certification from the private school if the pupil-applicant is on full scholarship.
PSHS said that the examination permit will be issued to the applicants upon completion of all documents by the PSHS campus where the application was processed.
For applications filed in the DOST offices, the exam permits will be mailed to the applicant, or to the School Principals for distribution to student applicants from their schools. To those who applied via online platform, the exam permits will be auto-generated at the end of the application.
In case the exam permits are not received two weeks before the examination day, the applicants should check with the nearest PSHS campus, DOST Regional Office, DOST Provincial Science and Technology Office, or the PSHS System Admissions Office.