All About NCAE Ms. Janelle R.

Ramos
What is National Career Assessment Examination
National Career Assessment Examination 2012

Source: google.com
The Department of Education (DepEd) is all set to administer the National
Career Assessment Examination (NCAE) to all third year students of public and private schools on August
29, 2012.
NCAE 2012 is an aptitude test geared toward providing information through test results for self-assessment,
career awareness and career guidance of high school students for their post-secondary courses
and application for scholarship. The NCAE test is mandatory and held annually usually in August.
NCAE 2012 Format and Coverage
NCAE is a paper and pencil test using multiple choices format, on scannable answer sheets which can be
checked electronically. NCAE also measures a senior high school students potentials or inclination in such
areas as general scholastic aptitude (GSA), technical vocational aptitude (TVA), entrepreneurial skills,
nonverbal ability and occupational interest. The test components are:

Scientific Ability
Mathematical Ability
Reading Comprehension
Verbal Ability
Manipulative Skills
Clerical Ability
Non-Verbal Ability
Entrepreneurial skills
NCAE Results
NCAE result is a requirement in college but still recommendatory in nature. There is still no passage of law that
makes the NCAE mandatory prior to enrollment in college/university. NCAE results will give the students and
the parents an idea on the career path most suited to the graduating students thus, allowing for better decision on
their choice of courses. Usually results are releases 3-4 months after the exam.
What is NCAE?
The NCAE was developed to improve the quality of secondary education graduates entering college. It aims to
maintain the highest quality of education in the Philippines by leading the flow of students to courses in post-
secondary institutions of learning matching their aptitude to promote national development.

Commonly Asked Questions

1. Why was NCAE created and what are its objectives?
minimize indiscriminate wastage of manpower and other resources which otherwise could be directed
towards more productive ventures, i.e. supplying manpower needs of vocational, agricultural, technical, and
entrepreneurial fields.

assess the abilities the students has developed through the years which are essential for successful college or
becoming an entrepreneur.

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 All About NCAE Ms. Janelle R. Ramos
serve as basis for the selection of scholars in the Commission on Higher Educations (CHED) scholarship
program.

2. Is NCAE a pre-requisite for entry to college?

recommendatory in nature for the first two years, i.e. to guide each examinee in choosing which course or
career option to take after high school. This is the second year of its implementation.

On its third year of implementation subject to the passing of an appropriate law, the NCAE will be a
prerequisite for enrolment in any four- or five-year college and university courses as well as in two-year
vocational/technological courses and other short entrepreneurial courses

3. How often will the NCAE be administered?

August every year to all third year high school students in public and private secondary schools.

4. Who are covered by the NCAE?

Third year high school students in public schools

Third year high school students in private schools with existing permit to operate from DepEd .

Out-of-school youths applying for CHED scholarship in coordination with DepEd Regional Offices.

5. Is NCAE different from NCEE?

Both are general scholastic aptitude tests

Both intend to measure the potential or inclination of a senior high school

NCAE is different for having three additional domains: technical-vocational aptitude and entrepreneurial
skills; and interest inventory and nonverbal ability

6. How will NCAE guide graduating students and their parents in determining the career track they
should take?
results of the three domains of the test namely: General Scholastic Aptitude, Technical-Vocational Aptitude,
and Entrepreneurial Skills intend to provide information to help outgoing high school students make wise career
decisions.

interest inventory shows the inclinations of the students in a particular occupational field.

The test results will validate the previously thought career choice by showing the students strengths and
weaknesses in the aforementioned domains.

7. How have the parents responded to the results of the exam? Are they willing to follow the results of
the exam in the planning of their childrens careers?

No survey has been conducted as of this time

There, however, exists public affirmation of the implementation of the NCAE as it is regarded useful in
minimizing job mismatch in the world of work.

8. Given the results of the exam, will these results change policy directions of DepEd in its focus on the
basic education curriculum?
Based on the results of the NCAE, majority of our high school graduates have inclinations toward technical-
vocational (tech-voc) occupations. The strengthening of 261 tech-voc high schools being carried out by DepEd
undergo improvement in their curriculum, training, physical and policy support. The results validate DepEds
decision to put great stress on the tech-voc program, that is, to equip high school students with technical-
vocational skills that can empower them to find meaningful employment, whether or not they pursue college
education.

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The tech-voc curriculum is being aligned with the training regulations of the Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority (TESDA). This will allow tech-voc high school graduates to acquire TESDA.

It is also DepEds goal to improve the abilities of students in the general scholastic domain.

9. How can the results of the exam help solve the problem of job mismatch?

DepEd desires to minimize, if not avoid, career mismatch among high school students entering college. With
the results of the NCAE, the students will be directed to occupational fields where they would be potentially
productive.
10. What does DepEd plan for NCAE in the future?

passage of appropriate law to make the test result serve as a prerequisite for enrolment in any four- or five-
year college and university courses as well as in two-year vocational/technological courses and other short
entrepreneurial courses.
Source: deped.gov.ph (https://danrogayan.wordpress.com/tag/what-is-national-career-assessment-
examination/)

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YOU ARE HERE: HOME / TEACHING & EDUCATION / NATIONAL CAREER

ASSESSMENT EXAMINATION (NCAE) OVERVIEW
National Career Assessment Examination (NCAE) Overview

JANUARY 7, 2016 BY MARK LLEGO 244 COMMENTS

Read:

1. NCAE Examiners Handbook

2. NCAE Test Administration Guidelines

1. What is the NCAE?

NCAE = National Career Assessment Examination

It is an aptitude test geared toward providing information through test results for self-assessment, career
awareness and career guidance of junior high school students of the K to 12 Basic Education Program (BEP).

Test-taking is mandatory.
Test results are recommendatory.
For K to 12 Program: career guidance for choosing the tracks in Senior High School

2. What other features characterize the NCAE?

A locally developed test which was standardized and validated using Filipino respondents
A paper-and-pencil test which utilizes scannable answer sheets that are processed electronically
A multiple-choice type of test
Culture fair and sensitive
Provides an end-user-friendly report format (COR)

3. Why was NCAE developed?

The NCAE was developed to:

To foster the highest quality of education in the Philippines by regulating and monitoring the flow of
students to post secondary institutions of learning and their potential contribution to national
development.
To minimize indiscriminate wastage of manpower and resources by working for a match between
manpower skill outputs and job market demands.

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4. What are the specific objectives of the NCAE?

To assess the skills of Grade 9 students planning to proceed to senior HS, toward providing relevant
information on their skills, abilities and readiness for academic and non-academic courses;
To provide information that will help high school students make wise career decision; and

5. How is NCAE different from NCEE?

Similarities

Both are general scholastic aptitude tests (GSAT)

Differences

NCAE includes scientific ability as an area in GSAT

Still recommendatory without cut-off score
Includes technical-vocational aptitude, logical reasoning ability, occupational interest inventory, aptitude
on academic tracks

6. Who are the target examinees of the NCAE?

All enrolled Grade 9 students in public and private high schools operating with permit.

2015 NCAE Occupational Interest Inventory for Students in Secondary Schools (OIISSS)

Clusters of Occupational Fields*

Science
Natural Sciences
Aquaculture and Agriculture/Forestry
Engineering
Business and Finance / Commerce
Professional Services
Personal Services
Computers and Technology
Media and Communication
Community Services
Architecture and Construction
The Arts
Fashion: Garments, Hairstyle/Cosmetics/Parlor Services, Jewelry and Accessories
Military and Law Enforcement
Spiritual Vocation

*As per consultation with Dr. Annadaisy J. Carlota, Consultant, Department of Psychology, UP Diliman (2014)
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7. What are the domains measured in the NCAE?

A. General Scholastic Aptitude (GSA) 155 items

Scientific Ability (SA) 40 items
Reading Comprehension (RC) 30 items
Verbal Ability (VA) 30 items
Mathematical Ability (MA) 40 items
Logical Reasoning Ability (LRA) 15 items

B. Occupational Interest Inventory for Students in Secondary Schools (OIISSS) 215 items

C. Aptitude for Academic Tracks _150 items*

Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) 50 items

Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) 50 items
Accountancy, Business and Management (ABM) 50 items

D. Technical-Vocational Aptitude (TVA) 60 items

*Revised 2014

OCCUPATIONAL INTEREST INVENTORY OF STUDENTS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS (OIISSS)

This is an inventory / checklist of occupational interests which provides an assessment on inclinations /

preferences for comprehensive career guidance.

The students are provided with a profile chart of their occupational inclinations and preferences thru the
identified cluster occupations.

8. What information is derived from the NCAE COR?

COR = Certificate of Rating

The COR contains the report on how the examinees performed in the test which is presented in a graph
alongside the Standard Scores and Percentile Ranks.
The descriptive rating of the Percentile Rank is also included.
The overall GSA and TVA scores are reported along with scores in the subtests.
The GSA score is the average of the standard scores in these areas: SA, RC, VA, MA and LRA.
Reporting of results for HUMSS, STEM and ABM will be in Standard Score and Percentile Rank.
Likewise, the TVA score is the composite of the CA and VMS scores.
OIISSS: The level of preference for each area of occupational interest is displayed based on percentage
score which is as follows: high (76-100), moderate (51-75), low (26-50) and very low (0-25)
Examinees can gauge their individual strengths and weaknesses in every domain/area measured based
on the test results.

9. How are the NCAE scores reported and interpreted?

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The scores are reported in Standard Scores and Percentile Ranks.
Standard Score where the mean is 500 and the standard deviation is 100. The highest scores are in the
700s; the lowest scores are in the 300s.
Percentile Rank shows the test takers position among all the examinees. If an examinee scores at
percentile rank 99+, it means that he scored above the other 99 percent of the examinees.

12. Is there a testing fee required in taking the NCAE?

None.
The cost in the preparation of test materials and administration of the test does not entail any amount
from the schools, parents and students.
All expenses are shouldered by the Department.

13. How long does it take for an examinee to receive his/ her individual COR (test results)?

3-4 months

14. How will the NCAE guide high school students and their parents in determining the career track they
should take?

The NCAE intends to provide information that will help high school students make wise career
decisions based on the results of the domains of the test.
It also provides an interest inventory that will show the inclinations of the students in a particular
occupational field.
The test results will validate the previously thought career choice by showing the students strengths and
weaknesses in the aforementioned domains.

15. How has the general public responded to the results of the exam? Are parents willing to follow the test
results for their childrens career plans?

In 2007, DepED-NETRC conducted a survey on the utilization of the NCAE results for SY 2006-2007.
Nineteen (19) higher education institutions and TESDA accredited schools in twelve (12) schools
divisions participated in the survey.
The NCAE annual administration was viewed positively by 81.31% of the students.
80% of their parents affirmed in the necessity to administer the NCAE yearly.
85% of the school officials favored the annual administration of the NCAE.
Across the four groups of respondents (students, parents, school officials and CHED/TESDA
institutions), the NCAE elicited high acceptance level.
All groups manifested agreement on the yearly administration of the NCAE.

16. Based on the results of the test, what are the policy directions of DepED on the basic education
curriculum?

Policy Directions:

Based on the results of the NCAE over the years, majority of our high school graduates have inclinations
toward technical-vocational (tech-voc) occupations.
The strengthening of 261 technical-vocational high schools is being carried out by the Department
wherein improvements are being made in their curriculum, training, physical and policy support.

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The results validate DepEDs decision to put great stress on tech-voc program, that is, to equip high
school students with technical-vocational skills that can empower them to find meaningful employment,
whether or not they pursue college education.
DepEDs tech-voc curriculum is being aligned with the training regulations of TESDA. This will allow
tech-voc high school graduates to acquire TESDA certificates.
It is also the Departments goal to improve the abilities of students in the general scholastic domain.
Moreover, the Department is currently working on intensifying the career guidance programs in public
national high schools and in orienting the guidance staff in the schools and division offices on how to
maximize the utilization of the NCAE results in order to properly guide students in making wise career
decisions.

17. How can the results of the exam help solve the problem of job mismatch?

With the results of the NCAE, the students will be directed to occupational fields where they would be
potentially productive and successful.

18. Can the results of the NCAE be used in ranking schools?

No.
The results of the NCAE should NOT be used for other purposes other than career guidance.

References: (https://www.teacherph.com/national-career-assessment-examination-ncae-overview/)

Dr. NELIA V. BENITO, CESO IV

Director III

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