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The exam will be administered at 360 testing sites in more than 110 municipalities across the country. Abroad, 1,113 students have been scheduled to take the exams electronically in more than 40 countries.
This Sunday, October 18, more than 180,000 higher education students will take the Saber Pro and Saber TyT exams for the second semester of 2026. In Colombia, the exams will be administered in paper-and-pencil format at 360 sites across more than 110 municipalities. An additional 1,113 students in more than 40 countries will take the exam electronically.
Of the total number of people registered to take the exam nationwide, more than 122,000 will take the Saber Pro exam, designed for students in professional programs, while approximately 58,000 will take the Saber TyT exam, for those enrolled in technical and technological programs. The exam will also provide support for 1,300 people with disabilities and will include the participation of approximately 650 foreign nationals. The tests will assess general competencies in quantitative reasoning, written communication, critical reading, civic competencies, and English. The results provide information about students’ skills and serve as input for analyzing the quality of higher education.
The Director General of the Colombian Institute for the Evaluation of Education (Icfes), Elizabeth Blandón Bermúdez, highlighted the importance of these evaluations both to understand the skills of those who are about to complete their studies and to guide evidence-based decisions.
“Beyond being a graduation requirement, these tests are a standardized instrument that measures the quality of higher education and provides test-takers with valuable information about the key competencies for their career prospects. Our decisions are based on evidence. Therefore, their application is fundamental: it allows us to develop technical, methodological, operational, logistical, and technological analyses that guide continuous improvement and enable us to respond more effectively to the realities of each population, considering factors such as their context and socioeconomic conditions,” stated Elizabeth Blandón Bermúdez, Director General of the Entity, who emphasized that those summoned should check their appointment in advance on the Icfes website.
Recommendations for the day
To take the exam, ICFES recommends checking your appointment beforehand, verifying your assigned location, and, if possible, familiarizing yourself with the route to get there to avoid any problems. The exam will be administered in two sessions: the morning session will begin at 7:00 a.m. and the afternoon session at 1:30 p.m. The exam will have a maximum duration of four hours and 40 minutes, so it is important to arrive on time and follow the instructions of the staff.
Each student must present a valid form of identification: a physical or digital national identity card, identity card for minors, certificate of identity document in process, valid passport, or national driver’s license. Foreign residents in Colombia may identify themselves with a foreign resident identification card or Temporary Protection Permit, accompanied by their national identity document. Digital documents authorized by the National Registry must be submitted through the official application; photographs or printouts will not be accepted. Students must also bring a No. 2 mechanical pencil, a kneaded eraser, and a pencil sharpener; these items may not be shared or lent during the test.
The use of cell phones and other electronic devices is prohibited during the exam. Those who bring them must store them in the designated security bag and may only retrieve them at the end of the test. Failure to comply with these instructions and rules may result in the exam being invalidated; therefore, students must follow the instructions of the proctors throughout the day.
Attendance certificates can be downloaded from Monday, November 9, 2026, while individual results will be available from Friday, February 19, 2027 on the Icfes website .
Communications Advisory Office,
Ministry of National Education
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