PLM Admission Test
PLM receives thousands of applications from all over the Philippines every year. Graduates or senior students of the Division of City Schools-Manila and private high schools recognized by the Department of Education, provided they are qualified residents of Manila, may be admitted as freshmen to PLM based on the following:
- General Weighted Average (GWA) obtained in the Fourth Year level in high school of 85% or its equivalent
- Performance in the PLM Admission Test (PLMAT)
Qualifying Criteria
When PLM opened its doors in 1967, it exclusively admitted the top 10% of the graduating class of then-29 public high schools under the Division of City Schools-Manila (DCS-Manila).
Many years after, applicants for admission came from any high school in Manila (public and private) who could either be a Manila resident or Manila-born, or both. Qualification was extended to high school students from other cities and provinces who belong to the upper 4% of the graduating class.
In 2005, only high school graduates who were Manila residents had been allowed to take the PLMAT. Honor graduates (Valedictorian, Salutatorian, First to Third Honorable Mentions) of Manila's public high schools have automatically qualified for admission.
At present, Manila residents who are graduates of DCS-Manila, and other high schools in and outside Manila recognized by the Department of Education (DepEd) may be accepted as applicants for PLMAT. Additionally, PLM has permitted non-Manila-resident honor graduates (valedictorians and salutatorians) of all high schools in Manila, including those from high schools outside of Manila, to take the PLMAT.
Who are qualified to take the PLM Admission Test?
1. Manila residents who are graduates of public high schools of the Division of City Schools-Manila (DCS-Manila)
2. Manila residents who are graduates of private high schools in Manila
3. Manila residents who are graduates of public and private high schools outside Manila
4. Prospective Valedictorians and Salutatorians from all over the country's private and public high schools may take the examinations (to be scheduled/announced later) upon presentation of proofs, like documents certifying honors received by their duly constituted school authorities
Acceptance Rate
For SY 2006-2007, the acceptance rate is mere 3 percent. PLM admitted approximately 2,000 high school graduates who met the cut-off scores required by the college in which they applied for, out of 5,000 pre-selected applicants from more than 40,000 college applications nationwide.
In the recent years, there had been a decrease in the number of students from low-income families that pass the PLMAT and an increase in the number of students from middle-income families that enroll at PLM. Because of this, the administration carried out the "PLM Big Brother" project in 2008 and 2009 which aimed to provide review classes to graduating high-school students who come from poor families in Manila and enable them to be on equal footing with students coming from middle-income families, who normally perform better in the PLMAT. This is also a way of upholding the university's life purpose and mission.
Admission Privileges
1. Manila residents who are honor graduates of public high schools of the Division of City Schools-Manila (Valedictorians, Salutatorians, 1st to 3rd Honorable Mentions) shall automatically qualify for admission upon presentation of a certification issued by a duly authorized school official indicating the honor received.
2. Graduates of other high schools recognized by the Department of Education (DepEd) who are either Valedictorians or Salutatorians may qualify for admission upon passing the PLMAT.
3. Children/direct descendants of PLM employees may qualify for admission upon passing the PLMAT.
Qualifying Requirements
Bring the original copy and photocopy of the following:
- Fourth-year high school report card with a general weighted average (GWA) of at least 85% or better for the 2nd grading period
- Parent's latest Voter's Registration with voting record, and/or SK Voter's ID of the applicant (as primary proof of Manila residency)
- Parent's Income Tax Return/Real Property Tax receipt (2012) (as primary proof of Manila residency)
- NSO-certified birth certificate (to establish the applicant's relation with the parent)
- Barangay certification of residency, or the parent's company ID (as secondary proofs in support of the primary proofs above)
- It is incumbent for an applicant to bring a verifiable identification as adjunct to the above submittals so as to establish proof of ownership of the documents so submitted (high school ID).
Upon satisfaction of the qualifying criteria, submit the following requirements:
- Correctly and completely accomplished PLMAT Form No.1 (Application Form)
- Two (2) 1.5" x 1.5" identical photographs taken within the last six months
- Official Receipt bearing the payment of application fee of PhP550
The PLMAT is a 2-hour examination consisting of sub-tests on language proficiency, reading comprehension, mathematics, science and reasoning, written in English and Filipino. It is usually administered in November or December of every year. Applicants' scores upon taking the PLMAT are weighted against a standardized PLMAT score. If their score satisfies the suggested cut-off score, they will qualify for enrollment. The range of cut-off scores approximates the applicant's expected performance in the University. PLM reserves the right to accept or reject applicants on the basis of their performance scores in the admission test and other factors as deemed appropriate by PLM.
The PLMAT Examinees Report is a system-generated output which indicates that the applicant is qualified to enroll at PLM. PLMAT passers are advised to see the Office of the University Registrar for enrolment purposes.
From 2005-2008, PLMAT passers were admitted under the General Education Program (GEP) where there was no course assigned.
Starting SY 2009-2010, PLM reverted to the regular system of admitting the new freshmen to the specific colleges that they qualified to.
Important Reminders:
1. Students who took the PEPT, the Non-Formal Education (NFE) test and the Alternative Learning System are also eligible to apply.
2. As a matter of policy dictated by good norms, fine bearing and deportment expected of a PLM scholar, no applicant with body tattoo shall be admitted to the University.
3. Required credentials filed in support of the application become the property of the PLM and will not be returned to the applicant.
4. Previous applicants who did not qualify for admission may not apply again.
5. If a PLMAT passer, for any valid reason, will not be able to enroll in the current school year, he/she shall submit a letter of deferment to the University Registrar for approval. Approved request is valid only for one school year. Failure to enroll in the succeeding school year would mean the cancellation of the admission privilege.
PLM Admission Test (PLMAT)
for School Year 2013-2014
• Beginning November 2012, the printed version of the PLMAT Primer will be available at the PLM campus, Intramuros, Manila. Some copies will be provided the public high schools of the City of Manila under the Department of Education.
• 15 November 2012 - Start of processing of applications for PLMAT. The application form, which costs PhP500, is security coded and is available only at PLM.
• Admission tests will be administered on the following dates:
• 02 December 2012 • 13 January 2013
• 09 December 2012 • 27 January 2013
• Valedictorians and Salutatorians will be scheduled tentatively by 3rd week of April 2013.
Exact date is usually announced in mid-February. PLM starts to accept PLMAT Form No. 1 when the honors are determined.
Upon confirmation of honor received, please submit all verifiable credentials for the processing of your PLMAT application.
• Test results for regular applicants will be released on 22 February 2013. Should there be any change, a prior notice will be announced.
For more information, pls. visit the FAQ section.
For updates, pls. visit the Announcements section.
For queries or concerns not addressed in the FAQ section, pls. post on the wall of the official FB page of PLM.
For a copy of the 2012 PLMAT primer, pls. download the electronic version here.
Previous announcement:
For SY 2013-2014: |
Note:
Upon passing the PLMAT, all freshmen are ascribed a Good Standing scholastic status.
Graduates of DCS-Manila and graduates of any school in and outside of Manila who are residents of Manila shall be admitted as full (non-paying) scholars. All other PLMAT passers shall be admitted as highly-subsidized (minimal-paying) scholars.
PLM scholars (upperclassmen) are categorized as follows:
Category I: Full (Non-Paying) scholar
Bonafide Manilans who have maintained a Good Standing scholastic status.
Category II: Full (Minimal-Paying) scholars
A non-paying Manilan who failed to maintain a Good Standing scholastic status (under Probation or lower, like ASA).
Category III: Highly-subsidized (Minimal-Paying) Scholars
Non-Manilans (Valedictorians and Salutatorians) shall be under the minimal-paying program while enrolled at PLM.
Freshmen are categorized as follows:
Category I: Full (Non-Paying) scholar
Bonafide Manilans who have satisfactorily complied with all the requirements.
Category III: Highly-subsidized (Minimal-Paying) Scholars
Non-Manilans (Valedictorians and Salutatorians) who have satisfactorily complied with all the requirements.
Note that Category II of the Upperclassmen is not a category
under the Freshmen.