Note: This post is based on the application process for SY 2025–2026. Requirements and deadlines may change each school year — check the Duscian Gateway Facebook page or call the school directly to confirm the latest details before submitting anything.
Getting Xavy into Ramon Teves Pastor Memorial Dumaguete Science High School — RTPM Science High, as most people call it — had been the plan for a while. J and I are both Science High alumni, so there was never really a question of where we wanted him to go for high school. The school meant something to both of us. We wanted it to mean something to him too.
But wanting it and preparing for it are two different things.
The entrance exam is no joke. And as a solo parent managing most of the day-to-day on my own, I had to figure out the application process, gather the requirements, and find review materials — all while keeping up with everything else. So I’m putting it all in one place here, in case it helps someone else going through the same thing.
He got in, by the way. More on that at the end.
What you need to know before applying for RTPM Dumaguete Science High.
RTPM Science High is a local science high school under the Dumaguete City Schools Division. It is not part of the Philippine Science High School (PSHS) system, which is a separate national network of residential schools. They are different institutions with different entrance exams and application processes — though the academic rigor is comparable, and PSHS reviewer books are still useful for preparing for RTPM’s exam.
Applications are typically announced early in the calendar year, with the entrance exam following a few weeks later. The school usually posts official announcements through the Duscian Gateway Facebook page, so that’s the best place to watch for updates.
Application requirements for SY 2025–2026
Based on the official announcement for the 2025–2026 school year, here is what you need to prepare:
- Report card (Form 138) — Grade 5 or first quarter of Grade 6
- Birth certificate (PSA copy)
- Good moral character certificate from your child’s current school
- 1×1 or 2×2 ID photo (check the announcement for the exact size required)
- Accomplished application form (available at the school or through the official Facebook page)
Solo parent note: If you’re filing the application without the other parent present, bring your Solo Parent ID and a copy of your Solo Parent Certificate if you have one. It isn’t always required, but it helps to have it on hand in case anyone at the school asks about the other parent’s absence on the form.
Submission is done in person at the school. The announcement will specify the exact submission window, which is usually only a week or two — so once the post goes up, move quickly.
The entrance exam
The exam covers Science, Math, and English. Based on the reviewer books I went through, the level is roughly aligned with PSHS qualifying test preparation material — which means it’s genuinely challenging for a Grade 6 student. Topics include:
- Science: Earth science, life science, physical science, basic scientific reasoning
- Math: Word problems, number theory, basic algebra, geometry
- English: Reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, logical reasoning
Exam day is usually held at the school. Bring two or more pencils, a non-programmable calculator if allowed (confirm with the school), and make sure your child has eaten — it’s a long exam.
Free entrance exam reviewers
When I was preparing Xavy, I bought physical reviewer books from Shopee — the PSHS qualifying test preparation series — and converted them into Google Forms so he could practice more easily. Lisod kaayo ang Math ones because the symbols and drawings don’t render well in Google Forms, but the Science and English ones came out fine.
These are free to use. If you find them helpful, feel free to share.
Take them, see where you get stuck, then go back and review those topics. That’s basically how we used them. The point isn’t to finish them quickly — it’s to find the gaps.
How we prepared
We started reviewing about six to eight weeks before the exam. Nothing too rigid — maybe 30 to 45 minutes on school nights, a bit longer on weekends. I’d sit with Xavy while he worked through the Google Form reviewers, and we’d go over the ones he got wrong together.
The Science questions were the ones that needed the most work. Some of the Earth science topics weren’t covered in his Grade 5 lessons yet, so we had to do a bit of supplemental reading. For Math, we focused on word problems — those tend to be the most time-consuming during the actual exam.
English was where he was most comfortable, so we spent less time there and used the extra time for Science.
If you have a child who tends to freeze under pressure, it helps to talk about the exam casually ahead of time — not as a high-stakes make-or-break event, but just as a test that shows what they know and what they’re still learning. That framing helped Xavy go in without too much anxiety.
He got in.
Results came out a few weeks after the exam. Xavy passed.
I’m not going to pretend I wasn’t relieved — I was. Not because it would have been a failure if he didn’t, but because I knew how much he’d worked for it and how much the school meant to both J and me. Seeing him get in felt like something coming full circle.
If your child is preparing for the RTPM Science High entrance exam, I hope this helps. The reviewers are there, the checklist is above, and the process is straightforward once you have everything ready. Dili scary — just take it one step at a time.
More posts in this series:
- Enrollment requirements checklist for RTPM Dumaguete Science High (with a solo parent note) — coming soon
- What to expect on RTPM Science High exam day — coming soon
- Our study plan: how we prepped for the entrance exam — coming soon
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