Thousands of High School Students Join the Tryout at IPB

Approximately 1500 high school students (SMA) participated in the Tryout of the Joint Selection of State Higher Education Admission (SBMPTN) held by the Student Family of Student Executive Board (BEM KM) of the Bogor Agricultural University (IPB). The scoring system for next year's SBMPTN will be different from the previous years'. This latest system has just been discussed at the SBMPTN press conference by the Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education (Kemristekdikti) last October. This was stated by Aris Ahmad Wiratama as the Chief Executive at the Graha Widya Wisuda Building, Dramaga Campus of IPB, Bogor (18/11).

"In the previous system the students must register first, choose majors and universities, then test. Next year it will be started from the test. The results of this test will be the ticket to register to State Universities (PTN). The types of the exam questions also change. The Academic Ability and Potential Test (TKPA) and the Basic Science and Technology Ability Test (TKD) will become a Scholastic Potential Test (TPS) and Academic Competency Test (TKA) in 2019. The standard score of acceptance at PTN is returned to the respective campus policies," he said.

By joining this collaborative activity between IPB and the University of Esa Unggul and the Quin Tutoring Agency, tryout participants gained new insights about the scoring system at SBMPTN 2019. They were also enthusiastic during the motivational and talk sessions with outstanding IPB students who attended the event.

"These high school students generally come from Jabodetabek and Banten. But there are also students who come from East Java and Medan. We hope that the students will prepare better for the new SBMPTN system if this system is truly implemented and they will be more optimistic about choosing a campus," he concluded.

In addition to using the SBMPTN track, the IPB undergraduate program also accepts students through other tracks, namely the National Selection of State Higher Education Admission (SNMPTN) track, Dikti Affirmation and independent tracks. There are four types of independent tracks, namely the Talent Entrance Examination (UTM), Regional Envoy Scholarship (BUD), International and National Achievement Track, or commonly called PIN (including the Hafiz Quran track) and the Student Council Chairman Track. The portion of each track is 40 percent for SNMPTN, 40 percent for SBMPTN and the rest for independent tracks. (AMA/ZSP/Zul)