The written qualifying examination for applicants seeking admission to the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), the service academy that trains and commissions officers for the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Passing the entrance examination is the first major hurdle in a multi-stage selection process that also includes physical, medical, and neuropsychiatric evaluations.
Who it's for
Filipino citizens who meet PMA's eligibility requirements — typically unmarried applicants within the academy's specified age range, holding the required educational attainment, and meeting height, physical, and medical standards — who wish to pursue a commissioned officer career in the Philippine Army, Navy, or Air Force by way of a four-year cadetship at Fort del Pilar, Baguio City.
What's covered
- Verbal Reasoning — vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure, analogies, and reading comprehension
- Numerical Reasoning — arithmetic, percentages, ratios, and word-problem style calculations
- Abstract Reasoning & General Information — pattern recognition, logical deduction, and general knowledge of Philippine history, geography, government, and military organization
What to expect
The PMAEE is a general academic aptitude examination rather than a test of prior military training. Candidates who pass move on to further evaluation stages, including physical fitness testing, medical examination, and psychological assessment, before a final cadetship offer. Because PMA cadetships are highly competitive with a limited number of slots each year, a strong entrance exam score matters both for passing and for standing out among applicants.
How to prepare
Because the exam blends general academic skills with Philippine civic and historical knowledge, an effective study plan covers both: refreshing English and math fundamentals for the verbal and numerical sections, and reviewing key facts about Philippine history, government structure, and the organization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines for the general information portion. Since logical and abstract reasoning questions reward pattern recognition more than memorized facts, timed practice with sequences, analogies, and logical deduction problems builds speed for exam day.