THE UNIVERSITY assured stakeholders of its readiness for the return of the UST Entrance Test (USTET), saying that it would follow the ‘no mask, no test’ policy as one of its protocols in ensuring the safety of its test-takers.
Office for Admissions (OFAD) director Dr. Imelda Dakis told The Flame that it would implement several health and safety protocols “in coordination with the UST Health Service.”
Other health safety measures are physical distancing and mandatory temperature screening upon entering the test centers. The number of examinees per testing room will be limited, while examinees from abroad must isolate for seven days.
During the USTET information session on Tuesday, Sept. 6, officials said that both vaccinated and unvaccinated applicants would be allowed to take the test.
“This was discussed very thoroughly with the UST Health Service. For those who have proof of vaccination cards, they are supposed to have uploaded these beforehand as they apply and upload their required documents,” said Dakis.
In the case of a COVID-19 surge, the University would be depending on the protocols which the government’s Inter-agency Task Force will implement.
“We will follow whatever they will be implementing at that time if ever that happens,” said Dr. Maria Cristina de Leon.
The University is expecting around 40,000 examinees for this year’s USTET.
Application requirements
Assoc. Prof. Ryan Francis Cayubit, the assistant director of OFAD, said they “simplified” the requirements for USTET 2023.
Cayubit also said they would include additional assessments for selected academic units, some of which would be conducted during the USTET examination.
For one, the Faculty of Arts and Letters (AB) will include an essay-type exam in its application process.
“[The essay portion of the exam] will be included in the USTET schedule,” said Dakis.
However, Dakis said the details regarding the nature of the questions are still in discussion with the AB administration.
“We need to discuss [the nature of the questions] very well with them before we deploy the examination,” she said.
Other additional assessments include spatial relations and drawing tests for programs under the College of Fine Arts and Design. College of Architecture will also be conducting spatial relations examinations for its applicants.
Meanwhile, the examination for the LEAPMed applicants under the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery will cover botany, chemistry, physiology, physics, anatomy, and zoology subjects.
Other colleges will be administering additional assessments after qualification. These include audition sessions for the applicants of the Conservatory of Music, and additional interviews for programs under the College of Nursing, the College of Rehabilitation Sciences, and the College of Tourism and Hospitality Management.
The University will administer the USTET on Oct. 23 and Dec. 4 and Dec. 11, 2022, and Jan. 22, 2023.
The last in-person USTET was administered on Dec. 2, 2019. F
