PLMAT Coverage: Topics and Exam Format

The PLMAT is the entrance exam for Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM). It is known for strict time limits across five distinct sections: 190 items in roughly 110 minutes.

Where this coverage comes from: Coverage is compiled from PLM's published admissions information and reports from past PLMAT takers (student discussions on Reddit and Facebook groups). Item counts, time limits, and difficulty remarks are student-reported.

Exam Format at a Glance

Section	Items	Time	Time per item
Communication Arts (English)	50	20 min	about 24 sec
Integrated Science	40	25 min	about 37 sec
Integrated Mathematics	40	40 min	1 min
Communication Arts (Filipino)	30	15 min	30 sec
Abstract Reasoning	30	10 min	20 sec

I. Communication Arts (English)

50 items in 20 minutes.

• Correct grammar usage
• Vocabulary
• Idiomatic expressions
• Word analogy
• Reading comprehension

II. Integrated Science

40 items in 25 minutes.

General Science

• General science
• Cells
• Law of Universal Gravitation

Physics

• Newtonian mechanics
• Optics
• Waves, motion, and acoustics
• Thermodynamics and heat
• Electromagnetism and electronics

Chemistry and Question Types

• Chemistry
• Analysis and application
• Comprehension and knowledge

III. Integrated Mathematics

40 items in 40 minutes. At one minute per question (student-reported), this is tight.

• Basic operations
• Statistics
• Algebra
• Geometry
• Trigonometry
• Verbal problem analysis
• Unit circle

IV. Communication Arts (Filipino)

30 items in 15 minutes, about 30 seconds per question (student-reported as difficult).

• Wastong gamit ng salita
• Istruktura ng pangungusap
• Pagtukoy sa salitang ugat
• Idyoma at talasalitaan (malalalim na salita at salawikain)
• Pagsunod-sunod ng talata
• Pag-unawa sa binasa

V. Abstract Reasoning

30 items in 10 minutes. Students report this as the hardest section, with only about 20 seconds per question.

• Mentally rotating images
• Solving figure sequences

How to Use This Coverage

• Train with a timer. Speed matters more here than in most entrance exams.
• Don't skip Filipino. Thirty items is a meaningful share of the exam.
• Practice mental rotation. Abstract Reasoning rewards quick image manipulation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many items and how long is the PLMAT?

Student reports put it at 190 items in about 110 minutes across five sections: Communication Arts (English), Integrated Science, Integrated Mathematics, Communication Arts (Filipino), and Abstract Reasoning.

Which PLMAT section is the hardest?

Students report Abstract Reasoning as the hardest, with only about 20 seconds per question, and Communication Arts (Filipino) as difficult too, at about 30 seconds per question.

How much time do I get per question on the PLMAT?

It varies by section: about 24 seconds in English, 37 in Science, 1 minute in Mathematics, 30 in Filipino, and 20 in Abstract Reasoning (student-reported).

Is there a Filipino section on the PLMAT?

Yes. Communication Arts (Filipino) has 30 items in 15 minutes, covering word usage, sentence structure, idioms and salawikain, paragraph sequencing, and reading comprehension.

How do I prepare for PLMAT Abstract Reasoning?

It tests mentally rotating images and solving figure sequences. Practice with a timer, since speed matters more than in most entrance exams.

Ready to test yourself? Try the free PLMAT reviewer and mock exam questions.