Overview
The PMA Entrance Examination (PMAEE) is the written test for admission to the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in Baguio City, which trains future officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The written exam is only the first step. Passers then go through physical, medical and neuropsychiatric screening before they can join an incoming PMA class.
The PMAEE 2026 was held in several regional legs at 48 testing centres from 25 July to 6 September 2026. Passers of this cycle are screened for PMA Class 2031, which is tentatively set to convene in May 2027.
Who can apply
According to PMA's 2026 announcement and its application form, an applicant must:
be a natural-born or naturalised Filipino citizen
be physically fit and of good moral character
never have been married or pregnant, and have no legal obligation to support a child
have finished at least Grade 12 (senior high school) with a general average of 85% or higher. Students still in Grade 12 can apply using their Form 138.
have no administrative or criminal case
be at least 17 and not older than 22 on the day of admission
have a barefoot height of at least 5'0" and not more than 6'4" (the same limits for men and women)
The form also lists medical disqualifications, including colour blindness, communicable diseases, physical deformities, scoliosis and tattoos. Other conditions are decided by AFP Medical Board Nr 1.
Levels or stages
Written entrance examination
The PMAEE tests algebra and geometry, grammar and composition, reading comprehension, verbal and numerical reasoning, and pattern analysis. Answers are marked with a No. 2 pencil. In 2026, applicants were processed from 7:00 AM and the exam started at 12:00 noon.
Complete physical and medical examination
Passers must pass a complete physical and medical examination by AFP Medical Board Nr 1. PMA describes the screening after the written exam as covering physical, medical and neuropsychiatric tests.
Physical fitness test
The physical fitness test has four events:
| Event | Applies to |
|---|---|
| 3.2 km run | All |
| Push-ups | All |
| Sit-ups | All |
| Pull-ups | Men |
| Flexed-arm hang | Women |
Aptitude for the service interview
Applicants must also pass an Aptitude for the Service Interview before admission.
Important dates
For the 2026 cycle:
20 February 2026: PMA opened its Online Cadet Application System for PMAEE 2026
11 to 12 July 2026: first leg (Eastern Mindanao cluster)
25 to 26 July 2026: second leg (Western Mindanao cluster and General Santos City)
8 to 9 August 2026: third leg (Visayas cluster)
5 to 6 September 2026: final leg (Central and Northern Luzon cluster)
1 October 2026: results announced
October 2026 to April 2027: screening of passers
May 2027 (tentative): PMA Class 2031 convenes
How to apply
Online applicants apply through the PMA Online Cadet Application System, linked from the PMA website. You need a working email address and scanned copies of your PSA birth certificate and Form 137 or Form 138 (showing a general average of at least 85%), each saved as a single JPEG file.
On exam day in 2026, online and mail applicants had to bring:
their exam permit
one 2x2 ID photo with a white background, taken within the last six months
two No. 2 pencils
a valid ID
Walk-in applicants had to bring a completed application form, photocopies of their PSA birth certificate and Form 137 or 138, two 2x2 ID photos, two No. 2 pencils and a valid ID. The dress code was a white t-shirt, pants and rubber shoes, and applicants were told to bring their own food.
After the exam
In 2026, PMA received 36,596 online applications. Of these, 25,452 applicants qualified to take the exam, and 1,216 passed, a passing rate of 4.78% (5.28% in 2025). All passers go through the full screening, and the incoming class is chosen from those who clear every stage.
PMA's form lists these benefits for cadets: free college education, Salary Grade 19 plus allowances, and a career as an officer in the Army, Navy or Air Force.
Preparation tips
Fewer than 5 in 100 qualified examinees passed in 2026, so practise across every tested area: algebra, geometry, grammar, reading, verbal and numerical reasoning, and pattern analysis. Start training for the physical fitness events early too, because passing the written exam does not get you in on its own. Check the medical disqualifications on the application form before you apply.
What subjects are in the PMA Entrance Examination?
Algebra and geometry, grammar and composition, reading and comprehension, verbal and numerical reasoning, and pattern analysis.
What is the age limit for the PMAEE?
At least 17 and not older than 22 on the day of admission.
Is passing the written exam enough to get into PMA?
No. Passers must also pass the complete physical and medical examination, the neuropsychiatric evaluation, the physical fitness test and the Aptitude for the Service Interview.
How many people passed the PMAEE in 2026?
1,216 of the 25,452 applicants who qualified to take the exam, a passing rate of 4.78%.