PNPA Cadet Admission Test (PNPACAT) Reviewer
Your first step to a free four-year scholarship and a commission as a Police, Fire or Jail Lieutenant.
Overview
The PNPA Cadet Admission Test (PNPACAT) is the written entrance exam of the Philippine National Police Academy in Silang, Cavite. It is the first phase of the Cadet Admission Process. Passers move on to later screening (physical, medical and dental exams, a neuro-psychiatric exam and a physical agility test, among others) before the final list of cadet candidates is approved.
Cadets who are admitted join a four-year residential scholarship and earn a Bachelor of Science in Public Safety (BSPS). The government pays for it, and cadets receive pay and allowances while training. Graduates are appointed in permanent status as Police Lieutenants or as Fire or Jail Inspectors in the PNP, BFP and BJMP.
It is very competitive. In 2023, 1,031 of 25,418 examinees passed, or 4.06%. In 2024, 1,413 of about 22,437 passed. Treat the test as a ranking exam: the goal isn't just to pass but to place as high as you can.
Who should take it
- Senior High School graduates (or college students and graduates) aged 18–22 who want to become police, fire or jail officers
- Students looking for a fully government-funded college scholarship with a guaranteed career after graduation
- Single applicants with no children who meet the height and BMI standards and are ready for rigorous military-style training
- Previous PNPACAT takers who want to try again: many passers have taken the test before
Exam format
Who can apply (eligibility)
- Natural-born Filipino citizen
- 18 to 22 years old before May 1, 2027 (the PNPACAT 2026 rule)
- At least a Senior High School graduate with a General Weighted Average (GWA) of at least 85%
- Single, never married, never pregnant (for females), and with no legal obligation to support a child or children
- Minimum barefoot height of 5'2" for males and 5'0" for females
- Normal BMI for your age, height, weight and gender
- Physically and mentally fit to undergo rigorous training
- Good moral character, with no conviction in any criminal, administrative or civil case
- No pending complaint or case involving moral turpitude or crimes against the State
- Not a former cadet of the PNPA or another service academy
- Never dismissed for cause from any private employment or government position
Requirements
- Clear scanned copy (JPG, JPEG or PNG) of your PSA Birth Certificate
- Passport-size or 2×2 photo with name tag (scanned)
- Latest Form 137/138 showing a GWA of at least 85% (scanned)
- An active, verified PNPACATOAS (online application system) account
- On exam day: the items listed in your Notice of Examination (NOE) and PNPA's exam-day reminders
- If you are already in government service: a resignation letter from your current job before appointment as a cadet
Fees
How to apply
- 1Watch PNPA's official website (pnpa.edu.ph) and Facebook page (facebook.com/OfficialPNPA) for the yearly announcement. In 2025 and 2026, online applications opened June 1 and closed September 30.
- 2Check that you meet every qualification, especially age, height, BMI, civil status and the 85% GWA.
- 3Prepare clear scans (JPG/JPEG/PNG) of your PSA Birth Certificate, 2×2 or passport photo with name tag, and Form 137/138.
- 4Create and verify your account at www.pnpacatoas.com. PNPA recommends using a computer; on a phone, open the site in an external browser.
- 5Fill out the online form completely, choose your preferred test center, and upload your documents before the deadline. Incomplete applications are not processed.
- 6Look for your name in the Initial and Final Lists of Qualified Examinees posted by batch on PNPA's site and Facebook page, and confirm your test center and room.
- 7Take the PNPACAT on the scheduled date. If you pass, wait for instructions on the next phases (medical, physical, neuro-psychiatric and agility tests).
Schedule
As of October 2026
PNPACAT 2026 (for applicants aged 18–22 before May 1, 2027) was scheduled for October 25, 2026, after online applications ran June 1 to September 30, 2026. As of late October 2026, PNPA has not posted the results. In 2024 it said results come out about a month after the exam, so watch PNPA's official pages in November–December 2026. PNPACAT 2027 has not been announced; in 2025 and 2026, applications opened on June 1.
Where to apply & take the exam
Applications are filed online through PNPACATOAS (www.pnpacatoas.com). You take the exam at the test center assigned to you in the final list of qualified examinees. Test centers are spread across the regions (33 in 2024, 37 in 2023).
Tips to pass
Study all six areas, not just math and English. PNPA has named communication skills, mathematics, general science, logical and abstract reasoning, general information and current events, and service aptitude.
Since passers are ranked, aim for your highest possible score. Spend most of your review on your weakest area, since that's where you'll gain the most points.
Make a 6–8 week plan: one area per day on weekdays, then a full timed mock exam every weekend to build stamina for a 3-hour sitting.
Master the math basics: percent, ratio, fractions, work, speed–distance–time and simple algebra. Write the formula first, then plug in.
For series and coding questions, write the differences or letter positions (A = 1 ... Z = 26) in the margin. Most patterns show up within 10 seconds.
Review Philippine history, the 1987 Constitution (branches, terms, age requirements) and key laws like RA 6975 and RA 8551. Read the news daily for current events.
In service aptitude items, choose the answer that shows integrity, respect for the chain of command and service to the public, never shortcuts.
Don't leave blanks unless your exam instructions say wrong answers are penalized. Read the instructions on your answer sheet carefully.
Days before the exam, check the final list for your test center and room. Lists were updated as late as October 21 for the 2026 exam.
Bring everything your Notice of Examination requires and arrive early. In past years, gates opened about 3 hours before the test.
Get only your information from pnpa.edu.ph, facebook.com/OfficialPNPA and www.pnpacatoas.com. PNPA warns against unofficial pages posting unverified PNPACAT news.
Train physically while you review. Passing the written test leads straight to the physical agility test and medical exams.
PNPA CAT sample questions with answers
Try these, then tap to reveal the answer. Want more? Take the full free practice test.
1. Communication Skills
Choose the word closest in meaning to the word in CAPITAL letters: The witness gave a CANDID account of what happened at the checkpoint.
- A.Brief
- B.Confusing
- C.Frank
- D.Rehearsed
Show answer
Answer: C. Frank — Candid means open, honest and straightforward, so a candid account is a frank one.
2. Mathematics
A patrol car travels 180 km in 2 hours and 30 minutes. What is its average speed?
- A.72 km/h
- B.60 km/h
- C.75 km/h
- D.90 km/h
Show answer
Answer: A. 72 km/h — 2 hours 30 minutes = 2.5 hours. Speed = 180 ÷ 2.5 = 72 km/h.
3. General Science
Which gas do green plants take in from the air to make food through photosynthesis?
- A.Oxygen
- B.Carbon dioxide
- C.Nitrogen
- D.Hydrogen
Show answer
Answer: B. Carbon dioxide — In photosynthesis, plants use carbon dioxide, water and sunlight to make glucose, releasing oxygen as a by-product.
4. Logical & Abstract Reasoning
What number comes next? 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ___
- A.40
- B.44
- C.36
- D.42
Show answer
Answer: D. 42 — The differences grow by 2: +4, +6, +8, +10, so the next is +12. 30 + 12 = 42.
5. General Information & Current Events
In what year was the present Philippine Constitution ratified?
- A.1935
- B.1973
- C.1987
- D.1986
Show answer
Answer: C. 1987 — The current Constitution was ratified in a plebiscite on February 2, 1987. 1986 was the year of the EDSA People Power Revolution.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a fee to take the PNPACAT?
PNPA's official 2026 announcement doesn't list any application or exam fee. Apply only through www.pnpacatoas.com, and be careful with anyone asking for payment to 'process' your application.
When is the next PNPACAT?
The 2026 exam was scheduled for October 25, 2026. PNPACAT 2027 has not been announced. In 2025 and 2026, online applications opened June 1 and closed September 30, but PNPA asks applicants not to assume dates from previous years, so watch its official pages.
What is the passing score?
PNPA doesn't publish a fixed passing score. Passers are the top-ranked examinees, recently around the top 1,000+, depending on the number of cadet slots set by PNP National Headquarters.
Can I take the PNPACAT while still in Grade 12 or in college?
For 2026, PNPA requires at least a Senior High School graduate with a GWA of at least 85%, aged 18–22 before May 1, 2027. College students and graduates may apply if they meet the age and other rules. Many past passers were college undergraduates.
What happens after I pass?
Passers move on to the next phases of the Cadet Admission Process, such as physical, medical and dental exams, a neuro-psychiatric exam and a physical agility test. Successful candidates report to the academy for orientation before oath-taking. For the 2025 exam cycle, oath-taking was on May 1, 2026.
What do PNPA graduates become?
Graduates earn a Bachelor of Science in Public Safety and are appointed in permanent status as Police Lieutenants or as Fire or Jail Inspectors in the PNP, BFP or BJMP.
My name is misspelled on the list of qualified examinees. What should I do?
PNPA says minor errors like misspelled names or wrong gender entries may be corrected on exam day after proper verification. If your name is missing entirely, check that your online application and uploads were complete before the deadline.
Official sources
- PNPA — PNPACAT Online Application 2026 is now open (qualifications, requirements, dates)
- PNPA — 2 days left before online application closes (exam date October 25, 2026)
- PNPA — Initial List of Qualified Examinees, PNPACAT 2026 Batch A
- PNPA — Initial List of Qualified Examinees, PNPACAT 2026 Batch D
- PNPA — Advisory: PNPACAT 2026 exam time changes due to room reassignments
- PNPA — PNPACAT Online Information Drive 2026
- PNPA — Press release on PNPACAT competency areas (2022)
- PNPA — PNPACAT 2022 results (subject areas, next phases)
- PNPA — PNPACAT 2023 advisory (AM/PM session times)
- PNPA — PNPACAT 2023 results (passing rate)
- PNPA — PNPACAT 2024 conducted in 33 test centers (cut-off, results timing)
- PNPA — PNPACAT 2025 announcement (June 1 opening)
- PNPA — Successful cadet candidates, Class 2030 (oath-taking May 1, 2026)
- PNPA — Cadetship Program (BSPS, benefits, appointment)
- PNPA — Contact Us
- PNPA — Official Facebook page
LearnDigitalPH is an independent review platform, not affiliated with or endorsed by Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA). Practice questions are original and are not actual exam items. Requirements, fees and schedules can change — always confirm with the official agency before applying.