The Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), in collaboration with the Center for Education Standards and Policy (PSKP) of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen), conducted monitoring and evaluation (Monev) of the 2025 Academic Ability Test (TKA) implementation across six regions: Maluku, Special Region of Yogyakarta, West Sumatra, Gorontalo, East Kalimantan, and Banten. The Monev aims to ensure TKA implementation complies with national standards while gathering input for the improvement of academic ability-based selection policies.
The team directly observed the examination process, assessed technical and administrative aspects, and conducted structured interviews with school/madrasah principals, teachers, proctors, students, and parents to capture infrastructure readiness, system reliability, and psychological support for participants. The same methodology was applied across all regions.
At MAN 3 Padang, West Sumatra, the Faculty of Psychology UGM team led by Rohmah Itsnaini, together with PSKP Kemendikdasmen, observed the TKA on Monday (3/11). A total of 304 grade XII students participated in the TKA, which was divided into three sessions per day and preceded by a dry run to ensure technical and mental readiness. The Principal of MAN 3 Padang, Marliza, appreciated the Monev as a momentum for improving the quality of TKA implementation. PSKP Kemendikdasmen emphasized that Monev findings will serve as constructive input to make TKA-based selection more objective and equitable.
Also in West Sumatra, SMAN 14 Padang received a Monev visit on Wednesday, November 5, 2025. The visit was led by Mrs. Kristin Citra N., S.Psi. from the Faculty of Psychology UGM, focusing on SOP compliance, participant experience during login and time management, as well as strengthening psychological support before and after the test. In East Kalimantan, Monev was conducted at SMA Negeri 2 Loa Kulu on Monday, November 3, 2025, led by Dr. Yuli Fajar Susetyo, S.Psi., M.Si., Psychologist. The activity included validation of device and network readiness, observation of the test in examination rooms, and technical feedback for the school committee.
The offline Monev activities in six regions will be followed by online Monev with broader coverage, encompassing 32 provinces, 320 schools, and 320 teachers. In addition, the online Monev will also involve 17 provincial education offices, 11 district education offices, and 4 regional offices of the Ministry of Religious Affairs. This two-tier approach (offline and online) is designed to obtain a comprehensive picture of TKA implementation at the national level, while ensuring input from various stakeholders can be accommodated equitably and representatively.
As a partner of PSKP Kemendikdasmen, the Faculty of Psychology UGM focuses on psychometric studies and user experience of students, as well as developing practical recommendations applicable to educational institutions across various regional contexts. The Monev in six regions is expected to strengthen implementation orderliness while enriching policy recommendations to make academic assessments more inclusive, objective, and supportive of students’ psychological readiness for the next educational level.
Documentation
Local media publication: TKA observation by UGM and PSKP Kemendikdasmen at MAN 3 Padang, West Sumatra. See coverage at Koran Padang.
Visual materials of the activities are also available on social media channels featuring observation and field reflection highlights:
- https://www.instagram.com/p/DQnwIj_EzPT/?igsh=ZjFkYzMzMDQzZg%3D%3D&img_index=4
- https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQrRLswjKlL/?igsh=MXI3NXZmeGdxZ3oydw==
Writer: Raden Roro Anisa Anggi Dinda