Overview
Saber Pro is Colombia's national exit exam for undergraduate students, run by ICFES (Instituto Colombiano para la Evaluación de la Educación), the government testing body. It is required under Decree 3963 of 2009 and is used to measure the competencies students have developed by the end of their professional undergraduate programme, and to build quality indicators for programmes and institutions, not to certify individual pass or fail.
Who can take it
Students who have completed at least 75% of the academic credits of their professional undergraduate programme are eligible to sit Saber Pro.
Structure or exam pattern
| Part | Modules |
|---|---|
| Generic competencies (all students) | Lectura Crítica, Razonamiento Cuantitativo, Competencias Ciudadanas, Comunicación Escrita, Inglés |
| Specific competencies | Vary by field of study (for example, separate modules exist for programmes such as Social Work or Business Administration) |
What it covers
The five generic modules test skills expected of any higher-education graduate: critical reading, quantitative reasoning, citizenship competencies, written communication, and English. The specific modules add content tied to the student's own professional field.
Scoring and results
Results are reported on a scale of 0 to 300 for each module. ICFES does not set a pass/fail cut-off; the exam is designed to give an overview of student, programme and institution performance rather than to certify individual competence. Students consult their individual report, with module-by-module scores, through the official ICFES platform.
Dates and fees
For 2026, ICFES set application and testing cycles twice a year. Fees for 2026 are tiered by institution type and, for private institutions, by tuition bracket: for example, public institutions and the lowest private tuition bracket pay a standard (ordinaria) fee of 224,000 COP; a late (extraordinaria) fee applies at roughly 50% more in each bracket. Graduates re-taking the exam and international test-takers pay separate, higher fees. Exact fee tiers and cycle dates are published each semester on the ICFES site.
How to register
Registration is done through the official ICFES platform during the announced registration window for each cycle (an ordinary period and a later extraordinary period at a higher fee). Higher education institutions typically coordinate registration for their own students.
Preparation tips
Review the official orientation guide (guía de orientación) ICFES publishes for the current cycle, since it explains the exact question types and timing for each module.
Practise the generic modules broadly, since they apply to every student regardless of programme.
Check the specific module list for your own field early, since not all programmes share the same specific module.
Is there a passing score for Saber Pro?
No. ICFES does not set a score that means a student passed or failed; the exam produces a 0–300 score per module used for quality and comparison purposes.
When can a student take Saber Pro?
Once they have completed at least 75% of the academic credits in their undergraduate programme.
Does Saber Pro cost the same for everyone?
No. The 2026 fee depends on whether the institution is public or private and, for private institutions, on the tuition bracket, plus whether registration is done in the ordinary or extraordinary (late) window.
What does Saber Pro test besides subject knowledge?
Every student is tested on five generic competencies — critical reading, quantitative reasoning, citizenship competencies, written communication and English — in addition to modules specific to their field.