Philippine Military Academy Entrance Examination (PMAEE) Reviewer
Your first step to a free PMA education, a monthly salary as a cadet, and a career as an AFP officer.
Overview
The PMA Entrance Examination (PMAEE) is the written test that opens the door to the Philippine Military Academy in Fort General Gregorio H. del Pilar, Baguio City — the premier school for future officers of the Philippine Army, Navy, and Air Force. PMA calls it the initial phase of its Cadet Procurement Program.
Passing the PMAEE does not make you a cadet yet, but it is the gate you must clear first. Passers then go through a Complete Physical Examination, Medical Assessment, Neuropsychiatric Evaluation, a Physical Fitness Test, and an Aptitude for the Service interview. Those who make it join the Cadet Corps Armed Forces of the Philippines and receive free college education, Salary Grade 19 pay and allowances, and a guaranteed career as a commissioned officer.
It is also very competitive: in 2026, 25,452 qualified examinees took the test at 48 centers nationwide and only 1,216 (4.78%) passed. Serious, early preparation in math, English, and reasoning really pays off.
Who should take it
- Grade 12 students and senior high school graduates with a general average of 85% or higher
- Single Filipinos aged 17 to 22 (on the day of admission) who want a career as an officer in the Army, Navy, or Air Force
- College students or graduates who still meet the age and civil-status rules and want to start over as PMA cadets
- Young people looking for a free, high-quality college education with monthly pay and a guaranteed job after graduation
Exam format
Who can apply (eligibility)
- Natural-born or naturalized Filipino citizen
- Physically fit and of good moral character
- Never been married, never been pregnant, and with no legal obligation to support a child or children
- At least a high school graduate (Grade 12) with a general average of 85% or higher
- No administrative or criminal case
- Not less than 17 and not a day older than 22 years old on the day of admission
- Barefoot height of at least 5'0" and not more than 6'4" (same for male and female)
- Must pass the PMA Entrance Examination, the Complete Physical and Medical Examination by AFP Medical Board Nr 1, the Physical Fitness Test, and the Aptitude for the Service interview
Requirements
- Online application: a computer or smartphone with internet, a valid working email, and scanned copies (JPEG, all pages saved as one file) of your PSA birth certificate and Form 137/138 showing at least 85% GWA
- On exam day (online/mail applicants): printed exam permit, 1 pc 2"x2" ID photo (white background, taken within the last six months), 2 pcs #2 pencils, and a valid ID
- On exam day (walk-in applicants): duly accomplished PMAEE Application Form, photocopy of PSA birth certificate, photocopy of Form 137 (SHS graduates) or Form 138 (current Grade 12) showing your latest GPA, 2 pcs 2"x2" ID photos (white background, within six months), 2 pcs #2 pencils, and a valid ID
- Dress code: white t-shirt, pants, and rubber shoes
- Bring your own food, drinking water, and an umbrella — PMA reminds examinees that food at venues may be limited
Fees
How to apply
- 1Check that you meet every qualification (age on admission day, 85% GWA, height, single with no children, no pending case).
- 2Watch PMA's official channels (www.pma.edu.ph and the Facebook page "Philippine Military Academy 'Face-bok'") for the opening of the PMA Online Cadet Application System — in 2026 it opened on February 20.
- 3Scan your PSA birth certificate and Form 137/138 as JPEG files (all pages of each document saved as one file).
- 4Apply online through the PMA admission portal (linked as 'Admission' on www.pma.edu.ph), choose your testing center, and upload your documents.
- 5Wait for your exam permit, then print it and attach a recent 2"x2" photo.
- 6No permit or missed the online deadline? PMA has accepted walk-in applicants at testing centers, subject to available test booklets — bring the printed application form and the walk-in documents.
- 7On exam day, arrive by 7:00 AM for processing (the exam starts 12:00 NN), in a white t-shirt, pants, and rubber shoes.
- 8If you pass, wait for official instructions from OCRA by mail/email for the physical, medical, and neuropsychiatric screening.
Schedule
As of October 2026
PMAEE 2026 is finished: it ran in five legs from July 11 to September 6, 2026 at 48 testing centers, and PMA released the 1,216 passers on October 1, 2026. Passers are now in screening (October 2026 to April 2027) for PMA Class 2031, which is tentatively set to convene in May 2027. The next exam cycle has NOT been announced yet. As a guide, PMA opened online applications on February 20 in 2026 and held the exams from July to September — so watch pma.edu.ph and the official PMA Facebook page from early 2027.
Where to apply & take the exam
Applications are handled by PMA's Office of Cadet Recruitment and Admission (OCRA) in Baguio City. The exam itself is given in legs at about 48 testing centers nationwide; venues are announced per region a few weeks before each leg and can change every year.
Tips to pass
Start with math. Algebra and Geometry is listed first in PMA's official coverage — drill linear and quadratic equations, factoring, exponents, radicals, angles, triangles, and area/volume formulas until they're automatic.
Make a 12-week plan: weeks 1–4 rebuild basics (math facts, grammar rules), weeks 5–8 practice by topic, weeks 9–12 take full timed mock exams and review every mistake.
Learn the grammar rules that show up again and again: subject-verb agreement (neither/nor, 'the number of'), pronoun case (me vs. I), subjunctive 'were,' parallelism, and commonly confused words like affect/effect.
For reading passages, read the question first, then scan for the line that answers it. Don't pick a choice just because it 'sounds true' — it must be supported by the passage.
For number and letter series, write the differences (or ratios) between terms. Memorize letter positions (A=1 … Z=26) so coding questions become simple arithmetic.
Use process of elimination. Crossing out two clearly wrong choices doubles your odds when you must guess.
Practice shading answer sheets with a #2 pencil. Shade fully, erase cleanly, and check that your item numbers match.
Prepare your exam-day kit the night before: printed permit (or walk-in documents), 2"x2" photos, two sharpened #2 pencils, eraser, valid ID, food, water, and an umbrella.
Follow the dress code — white t-shirt, pants, and rubber shoes — and arrive by 7:00 AM. Processing takes hours, and the exam starts at 12:00 NN, so eat a proper meal before noon.
Train your body while you review. If you pass, you'll face a Physical Fitness Test (3.2 km run, push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups for males / flexed-arm hang for females), so start running now.
Get your PSA birth certificate and Form 137/138 early, and double-check your GWA is at least 85% — applications without these can't move forward.
Only trust official announcements from www.pma.edu.ph and PMA's official Facebook page. PMA advises passers not to report anywhere without official instructions.
PMA Entrance Exam sample questions with answers
Try these, then tap to reveal the answer. Want more? Take the full free practice test.
1. Algebra and Geometry
If 3x − 7 = 2x + 5, what is the value of x?
- A.−12
- B.−2
- C.12
- D.2
Show answer
Answer: C. 12 — Subtract 2x from both sides: x − 7 = 5. Add 7: x = 12. Check: 3(12) − 7 = 29 and 2(12) + 5 = 29.
2. Grammar and Composition
Neither the captain nor the cadets ___ aware of the schedule change yesterday.
- A.has been
- B.was
- C.were
- D.is
Show answer
Answer: C. were — With 'neither…nor,' the verb agrees with the nearer subject. 'Cadets' is plural and 'yesterday' needs past tense, so 'were' is correct.
3. Reading and Comprehension
Read the passage: "Mangroves line much of the Philippine coastline. Their tangled roots slow down waves, trap sediment, and shelter young fish. When mangroves are cleared for fishponds, coastal towns lose a natural barrier against storm surges, and fishers often report smaller catches within a few years." What is the main idea of the passage?
- A.Fishponds are more profitable than mangrove forests.
- B.Young fish can survive only among mangrove roots.
- C.Storm surges are caused by the removal of mangroves.
- D.Mangroves protect coasts and support fisheries, so clearing them has real costs.
Show answer
Answer: D. Mangroves protect coasts and support fisheries, so clearing them has real costs. — The passage lists what mangroves do (slow waves, shelter fish) and what is lost when they are cleared. The other choices overstate or are not stated.
4. Verbal and Numerical Reasoning
COMPASS is to DIRECTION as THERMOMETER is to ___.
- A.temperature
- B.weather
- C.fever
- D.mercury
Show answer
Answer: A. temperature — A compass is an instrument that measures direction; a thermometer measures temperature. The relationship is instrument : what it measures.
5. Pattern Analysis
What number comes next? 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ___
- A.40
- B.36
- C.44
- D.42
Show answer
Answer: D. 42 — The differences are 4, 6, 8, 10, so the next difference is 12: 30 + 12 = 42. (Each term is n × (n + 1).)
Frequently asked questions
How much is the PMA entrance exam fee?
PMA's official 2026 announcements and the PMAEE application form do not list any examination fee, and the exam is widely reported as free. To be sure, confirm with OCRA at (074) 442-5520 or (0945) 351-9757. Beware of anyone asking for payment to 'guarantee' a slot.
What subjects are covered in the PMAEE?
According to the official PMAEE application form, the exam covers Algebra and Geometry, Grammar and Composition, Reading and Comprehension, Verbal and Numerical Reasoning, and Pattern Analysis.
What is the age limit for PMA?
You must be not less than 17 and not a day older than 22 years old on the day of admission (the day the class convenes), not on the day of the exam. Compute your age based on the admission date, which was tentatively May for Class 2031.
What is the height requirement?
PMA's application form requires a barefoot height of at least 5'0" and not more than 6'4" for both male and female applicants.
Can I take the exam if I'm still in Grade 12?
Yes. Current Grade 12 students may apply using Form 138 that shows their latest GPA, as long as their general average is at least 85% and they meet the other qualifications.
When is the next PMA entrance exam?
As of October 2026, PMA has not announced the next exam cycle. In 2026, online applications opened on February 20 and the exams ran in five regional legs from July to September. Watch www.pma.edu.ph and the official PMA Facebook page.
I passed the PMAEE. Am I already a cadet?
Not yet. Passers still go through a Complete Physical Examination, Medical Assessment, Neuropsychiatric Evaluation, Physical Fitness Test, and Aptitude for the Service interview. Wait for official instructions from OCRA before reporting anywhere.
Are there medical conditions that disqualify applicants?
The PMAEE application form lists color blindness, any communicable disease, physical deformities, scoliosis, tattoos, and other medical conditions as determined by AFP Medical Board Nr 1.
Official sources
- PMA — PMA announces online application for PMAEE 2026 (qualifications and online requirements), Feb 20, 2026
- PMA — PMAEE Cadetship Application Form (qualifications, coverage, PFT events, medical disqualifications, testing center codes)
- PMA — Proctor training and five-leg schedule of PMAEE 2026, Jun 28, 2026
- PMA — First leg of PMAEE 2026 (Eastern Mindanao), exam-day requirements
- PMA — Second leg of PMAEE 2026 (Western Mindanao and General Santos City)
- PMA — Third leg of PMAEE 2026 (Visayas)
- PMA — Final leg of PMAEE 2026 (Central and Northern Luzon)
- PMA — Advisory for Baguio City leg of PMAEE 2026
- PMA — PMA concludes nationwide Entrance Examination 2026
- PMA — PMA announces passers of the Entrance Examination 2026, Oct 1, 2026
- PMA — 2025 Western Mindanao exam guidelines (walk-in policy, OCRA contact numbers)
- Philippine Military Academy — official website
LearnDigitalPH is an independent review platform, not affiliated with or endorsed by Philippine Military Academy (PMA) — Office of Cadet Recruitment and Admission (OCRA). Practice questions are original and are not actual exam items. Requirements, fees and schedules can change — always confirm with the official agency before applying.