TKA Scoring 2026: End of 0-100 Scale

The Indonesian Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) has officially announced a groundbreaking overhaul of the Academic Potential Test (TKA) for Senior High School (SMA) and Vocational High School (SMK) students, scheduled to be fully implemented in 2026. This comprehensive policy shift introduces fundamental changes to the national scoring system and brings updated grids for both mandatory and elective subjects. The move is widely recognized as the government's latest effort to elevate the quality of national education, prioritizing fairness, deep comprehension, and analytical prowess over rote memorization.

The Shift Away from the 0-100 Scoring Scale

The most striking element of the 2026 TKA policy is the complete abolition of the traditional 0-100 scoring scale. According to the Ministry, flat-percentage scoring often fails to accurately reflect a student’s true analytical capability and conceptual understanding. In its place, the education board is transitioning to a weighted scoring model closely resembling Item Response Theory (IRT).

Under this sophisticated evaluation system, the weight of each question is dynamically determined by its difficulty level and the statistical probability of students answering it correctly. If a candidate successfully solves a complex problem that most peers miss, they will earn significantly more points compared to answering a simple question. Educational experts praise this modern approach, noting it provides a highly objective measurement of a student's literacy, numeracy, and critical reasoning abilities without relying solely on memorized facts.

Will Primary and Junior High Schools Be Affected?

Following the public announcement, concerns quickly surfaced regarding whether these extensive changes would eventually trickle down to the Primary (SD) and Junior High School (SMP) levels. The Ministry provided a swift clarification, stating that the current structural reforms are exclusively targeted at the senior secondary level. Evaluation for foundational education will continue to rely on the established National Assessment (AN) framework.

However, officials have not entirely ruled out future integration. Should the 2026 TKA modifications yield positive educational outcomes at the high school level, similar progressive evaluation methods might be carefully adapted and introduced for younger students in the coming years.

Updated Subject Grids: Mandatory and Elective Options

Alongside the scoring revolution, the Ministry has also published the new structural blueprint for the exam subjects. The updated TKA simulation guidelines reveal a clear division between mandatory core subjects and targeted elective courses, designed to better align with a student's specific career trajectory and personal academic interests.

Mandatory Subjects: All students will be rigorously tested on linguistic literacy, encompassing both the Indonesian and English languages, alongside mathematical reasoning (numeracy). These core competencies are universally required to navigate the modern workforce and higher education environments, regardless of the student's chosen academic field post-graduation.

Elective Subjects: To accommodate diverse talents, the remainder of the test will focus on elective subjects tied to the students' specialized tracks. Whether a student is focusing on applied sciences, social humanities, or specialized vocational skills, the new exam format heavily prioritizes real-world case studies over abstract theories.

Preparing for the Next Era of Education

As the 2026 implementation date approaches rapidly, the government strongly encourages schools nationwide to initiate TKA simulations immediately. Transitioning away from a standard 100-point scale requires a massive paradigm shift for educators, students, and parents alike. By deploying this dynamic, adaptive evaluation framework, Indonesia aims to produce resilient high school graduates who are fully prepared to compete on the global stage. The ultimate success of this policy will depend heavily on seamless execution and the unified support of the educational ecosystem.