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DOST Scholarship Exam 2027: Complete Guide

Everything you need to know about the DOST-SEI Undergraduate Scholarship Exam: key dates, who can apply, how the exam works, and how to prepare.

What is the DOST-SEI Scholarship Exam?

It is the national qualifying exam for the DOST-SEI Undergraduate Scholarship. There is no fixed passing score. DOST-SEI ranks all examinees and fills the available slots from the top scorers down.

The scholarship has two tracks, and both use the same exam:

• RA 7687: for students whose household income is below the cutoff DOST-SEI sets each cycle.
• Merit: no income requirement, but the same academic, citizenship, health, and character standards.

Scholars are expected to render return service after graduation: working full time in the Philippines, in their field, for as many years as they held the scholarship.

Who can apply

For the 2027 scholarship, applicants had to be:

• Natural-born Filipino citizens.
• Grade 12 students graduating in SY 2026–2027 in the STEM strand, or in the top 5% of their non-STEM graduating class.
• Or previous Grade 12 graduates who have not yet enrolled in college and meet the same requirements.
• Free of any college or post-high-school vocational units.

Each track also has its own academic, health, and character requirements. See the full list on the official DOST-SEI website.

Practice for the exam with SciScholar A daily challenge, study cards, and full mock exams, on your phone.

What to review

SciScholar organizes its practice into four areas, each split into topics:

• Creative Reasoning: Mechanical-Technical Reasoning, Spatial Reasoning, and Verbal Reasoning.
• Language & Literature: Grammar & Syntax, Vocabulary, and Reading Comprehension.
• Science: Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, and Physics.
• Mathematics: Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, and Statistics.

Want to see what the questions look like? Try our free sample questions, each with an explanation.

How to prepare

1. Find your starting point. Take a full practice test early to see which subjects need the most work.
2. Practice a little every day. Short daily sessions add up and keep the material fresh.
3. Focus on your weakest topics. Spend more time where your scores are lowest, not on what you already know.
4. Learn from every mistake. Go back over the questions you missed until you understand why the right answer is right.
5. Practice under time pressure. Timed mock exams build the pacing you need on exam day.
6. Get ready for exam day. Read your test permit carefully for the venue, time, and what to bring.