According to preliminary data, more than 252 thousand applicants took at least one of the PAES Higher Education Access Tests for admission in 2024. In general terms, “it was a process that was developed in complete tranquility, which demonstrates the great work carried out jointly between the Undersecretary of Higher Education, DEMRE and all the application personnel who participate in the implementation of this test,” said the Undersecretary of Higher Education.
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With the surrender of the Mathematical Competence 1 (M1) test in the morning, and in the afternoon the History and Social Sciences test, this Wednesday, November 29, the surrender of the Mathematical Competence Test was completed. This year's Access to Higher Education (PAES), valid for admission 2024. Already in its second year of implementation, the PAES represents an effort by the State to move towards more equitable access to higher education and focused on the skills of the applicants.
On balance, the process occurred without setbacks and was normal throughout the national territory. According to preliminary data, more than 252 thousand applicants took the tests, which is equivalent to a participation of 88%, similar to that which occurred the previous year. When broken down by test, the most attended was the mandatory Mathematical Competence 1 (M1) test, with more than 243 thousand people who took it, closely followed by the mandatory Reading Competence test, with nearly 237 thousand participants.
For the Undersecretary of Higher Education, Víctor Orellana, “it was a process that was developed in complete tranquility, which demonstrates the great work carried out jointly between the Undersecretary of Higher Education, DEMRE and all the application personnel participating in the implementation of this test. Furthermore, I would like to tell the students to rest now and wait for the results in peace. As the application process approaches, we invite students to explore and discover their interests. There are more than 2,000 programs at universities across the country and it is possible that there is a career, even one that is not as well-known or popular, that could be your true calling.”
Regarding the results, the undersecretary pointed out that it is essential that students can be informed, “so that they take advantage of the opportunities that the Access System and their academic results give them.” In case the results are not as expected, the undersecretary recalled that "life does not end there, there are more ways to enter higher education and, on the other hand, next year they will be able to register and take the test again at any of its two instances.”
Meanwhile, Leonor Varas, director of Demre at the University of Chile, agreed with Orellana that it was an application without setbacks and insisted on the importance of information on the part of young people. “Next week an application simulator will be available so that they can begin to practice how to apply to universities in a good way. On Wednesday, December 6, in fact, there will be an online talk that we will broadcast on YouTube showing how to use this simulator, which will allow you to familiarize yourself with the platform that you will use in the application next January, when you already have your test scores." .
Other important dates
Prior to the delivery of results, between December 4 and 29, applicants will be able to enter the application simulator, which will allow them to explore the career offerings and practice their applications, being able to choose up to 20 preferences from among more than 2,000 courses offered by universities affiliated to the Access System.
The results of the tests will be announced on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, starting at 8:00 a.m., on the access.mineduc.cl and demre.cl sites.
One hour later, at 9:00 a.m., the application process for universities will begin, which will be open until Friday, January 5, at 1:00 p.m. It is very important that students remember that they can select up to 20 majors and that the application must be made following the order of preferences, from the major of greatest interest to the one of least interest, among those in which they want to enroll. The selection will use this order when granting vacancies; If an applicant is selected in a career, all the careers that follow further down the list will automatically be discarded.
On January 16, 2024, at noon, the application results will be released, to give rise, between January 17 and 19, to the first registration period for selected candidates. The second registration period, exclusively for waiting lists or re-applications, will be from January 20 to 26.
Academic Offer
For the 2024 admission process, the 45 universities that are part of the Access to Higher Education System will offer a total of 2,048 careers or study programs throughout the country. Together, they will offer more than 127,000 places in these programs through regular admission, which are added to 5,000 supernumerary places for students who have the Academic Excellence Scholarship and more than 10,000 places for students qualified through the PACE Program.
In addition, this year the More Women Scientists Program (+MC) begins as part of the new policy of the Undersecretariat of Higher Education, together with the Technical Committee for Access to the University Subsystem. This year, 39 of the 45 universities affiliated to the Access System will have additional places for women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers, with the aim of promoting the participation of women in historically masculinized careers, thus enhancing productivity, integration labor and economic development.
Access to these places will be automatic, within the regular admission process, and does not require an additional application by interested students.