Strategizing what test to take this year - PEPT, PVT, A&E

By Maria Mercedes Arzadon on Sunday, 31 May 2015 at 13:30

I just attended a weeklong meeting organized by DepEd to review policies on various learning assessments (like NAT,
PEPT etc). I joined the group that reviewed PVT/PEPT/PEPT. There were some recommendations to change some
policies which might take effect next year. Some of the present policies are advantageous to homeschoolers though
some are not. It was sad to feel a sense of aversion against homeschoolers and the privileging of formal schooling.
So I suggest that you take advantage of the affordances of the present policies because next year things will change
because of K-12. Here are my recommendations
1. Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) Test of Bureau of Altenative Learning System (for more info, see separate file on
A&E in the file section). This is the fastest and easiest way to get an elementary and high school diploma. If your kid is
11 years old (elementary level) or 15 (hs level) on or before the date of exam (usually October) then you let him take the
A&E exam... It is easy (except that the medium is Tagalog) multiple choice and essay writing. If he can write a good
essay in Tagalog then he would easily pass. There are ALS reviewers in the file section. If interested, enrol your kid in a
nearby ALS learning center (usually in a nearby public school). There's one near ADMU at the Loyola Heights Bgy
Center. Ask for ALS E-Skwela handled by Ms. Angelyn Malabanan. There are some homeschooled kids there and the
facility is quite nice (put up by Loyola Heights people)... A&E will be offered this year and might not be available next
year. Most colleges accept ALS passers (exceptions for UP where only UP Open U accepts ALS passers).
2. Phil Validation Test (PVT) c/o NETRC, DepEd. If your kid is enrolled in a foreign/local homeschool or any regular
school not accredited by DepEd , you should obtain his report card and DepEd will validate the grades and determine
his grade level using PVT. It does not matter if the grade level is higher than his age level. This is best for kids who
perform better than their age level. The results would be computed based on averaging so even if he gets a failing grade
in one or two subjects, if the rest of the subjects have high scores then it is still possible that he passes that level. If the
average is 75% or better then he will be placed the next grade. The medium is English for Math and Science, Filipino for
Social Studies.
PVT is held at the NETRC office, DepEd Central Office Pasig. Walk in examinees are immediately given an exam as
long that you can present a report card and - birth certificate issued by the NSO or Local Civil Registrar, duly
authenticated (original and 2 photo-copies); - 2 recent ID pictures (size 1 x 1)
Unlike PEPT, PVT can be taken only once so determine when is the best time to take this exam. If you fail to get the
desired grade level then your only option is PEPT or A&E. PVT results can be used for college admission. You can take
PVT and PEPT together but PVT can place your kid better.
You cannot take PVT if your kid is enrolled with an accredited homeschool outfit like TMA or CFA. Your only option is
PEPT (if your kid is one year above the grade for his age level) or A&E if your kid is 11 (elem) and 15 (hs)
3. Phil Education Placement Test (PEPT) - (for more info, see separate file on PEPT in the file section) you take this test
if you are an independent homeschooler and not affiliated with any accredited or non-accredited homeschooling outfit.
The test is similar to PVT. The main disadvantage of the this test is the interpretation of test results. The placement is
based on your kid's weakest area. So if your kid scored 4th year level in 4 subjects and one at 1st year, he will be placed
at 1st year. They do not use averaging like PVT (I proposed to DepEd that they change the test interpretation system but
it might take a while before it is approved and implemented). Another disadvantage is they place your kid at his age
level, even if he scores higher than his age. The only advantage of PEPT is that it can be taken many times and it is a bit
easier than PVT.