First batch of more than 80,000 UPCAT hopefuls sit in exams

The first batch of from 85,000 to 88,000 applicants finished taking the University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT) after five hours of grueling work on Saturday.

GMA News' "Balitanghali" estimated on Saturday that more examinees are taking the UPCAT against last year's at 83,000 for Academic Year 2013-2014 and 75,000 for AY 2012-2013.



The report also showed the lines of examinees and parents trudging off to various locations in the Diliman campus where examinations were being held.

Students in the second batch, or those taking the exams from 12:30pm to 5:30pm, were on campus as early as 8 a.m.

At least 31,000 students are expected to take their exams at UP Diliman on Saturday and Sunday. Due to the volume of applicants, the campus is open to traffic from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Because of the high volume of cars, UP Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs Nestor Castro issued a traffic advisory as early as Tuesday to mitigate the inconvenience. — Rie Takumi/JDS, GMA News