Adjustments to upcoming University Selection Tests correspond to curricular adjustments promoted by Mineduc

The executive vice president of the Council of Rectors, Juan Manuel Zolezzi, stated that "this change in the PSU is beneficial for students because it is about the test measuring the mandatory content that educational establishments must teach today.".

The CRUCH warned that this adaptation process will be carried out gradually, between this year and the 2017 Admission Process.

At the end of 2014, the first generation of students graduated after being exposed to the implementation of the changes established in the 2009 Curriculum Update, so it is necessary to adapt the battery of tests to reflect the current curriculum.

The Single Admission System (SUA) of the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities (CRUCH), taking into account the curricular changes in Secondary Education implemented by the Ministry of Education for the past five years, presented the adjustments for the University Selection Tests (PSU).

Since their creation in 2003, the PSU (University Selection Test) has been aligned with the curriculum, so whenever modifications are made, the test battery must be adapted to reflect the educational experience of graduating seniors. To adapt this year's test, it was necessary for the first generation of students exposed to the 2009 Curriculum Update throughout their four years of secondary education to graduate.

“This change in the PSU is beneficial for students because it ensures that the test measures the mandatory content that educational establishments must currently teach,” said Rector Juan Manuel Zolezzi, Executive Vice President of the Council of Rectors.

It is important to note that this adaptation process will be carried out gradually, between this year and the 2017 Admission Process.

Changes to mandatory tests

The changes to the PSU Language and Communication exam contemplated in the Curriculum Update imply transformations in its structure.

Therefore, Section I («Basic Knowledge and Skills in Spanish Language and Communication»), which contained 15 questions, will be eliminated. To compensate for the elimination of this section, the number of questions in the sections on connectors, writing plans, and reading comprehension will be increased. Specifically, the number of connector questions will increase from 5 to 10; the number of writing plan questions will increase from 10 to 15; and the number of reading comprehension questions will increase from 35 to 40.

The Mathematics test, for its part, will measure content that is common to the 1998 Curriculum Framework (previous curriculum) and the 2009 Curriculum Update. In relation to the past test, the thematic axes of 'Numbers' and 'Data and Chance' will acquire greater importance, while the axis of 'Geometry' maintains its relevance and that of 'Algebra' decreases.

Elective tests

The History, Geography, and Social Sciences test features a reorganization of content compared to the previous curriculum. The greatest emphasis on this test is on Chilean History, which is covered in two years of secondary education (grades 10 and 11). In addition, a new thematic axis, 'Democracy and Development,' is included. Furthermore, since World History content prior to 19th-century imperialism is covered in primary education, it will no longer be included in the PSU (University Selection Test).

The Science Test presents a content matrix that has been established as temporary for this process (Admission 2015). Therefore, any content from the adjustment that does not correspond to any content in the previous curriculum framework at any level of Secondary Education will be excluded from this year's test.

The above implies that Scientific Thinking Skills will be evaluated starting from the 2016 Admission Process (PSU 2015).

Other considerations for this year

One change that was announced last year and is important to keep in mind is that in the next PSU there will be no discount for incorrect answers.

On the other hand, pilot questions will again be included in the tests, meaning that the Language and Communication, History, Geography and Social Sciences, and Mathematics tests will each have 80 questions. Of these, 75 questions will be valid for scoring purposes.