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Uji Kemahiran Berbahasa Indonesia (UKBI)

Find the current format, timing, scoring, fees, eligibility, and testing options for UKBI, with direct links to official sources.

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QuestionsAdaptive — variable per examinee; optimal counts: Seksi I Mendengarkan 40 items, Seksi II Merespons Kaidah 25, Seksi III Membaca 40, Seksi IV Menulis 2 tasks, Seksi V Berbicara 2 tasks (109 items/tasks at optimum)

Testing timeSection-timed, roughly 150-155 minutes at maximum: Seksi I 30 min (optimal), Seksi II 20 min (optimal; the Tentang page cites a 25-min maximum for its 5 optimal teslet), Seksi III 45 min (optimal), Seksi IV Menulis max 35 min (two tasks: 15 + 20 min), Seksi V Berbicara max 25 min (two tasks: 10 + 15 min); actual time varies by examinee under the adaptive algorithm

ScoringNo pass/fail cut score; results are mapped to seven proficiency ranks (peringkat I–VII) with predicates from Istimewa (highest) down to Terbatas (lowest)

Exam feeIDR registration fee per PP 22/2023, by participant category — Indonesian citizens (WNI): Rp300,000 general public / Rp100,000 university students / Rp0 school students; foreign nationals (WNA): Rp1,000,000 general public / Rp500,000 university students / Rp250,000 school students; paid via bank billing code / e-banking / e-wallet (MPN state-revenue channel)

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Exam overview

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Who runs it: Badan Bahasa
Category: World Language Proficiency
Current version: UKBI Adaptif — the current adaptive online specification (multi-stage adaptive teslet algorithm; UKBI evolved 'dari berbasis kertas hingga bersistem adaptif' from its former paper-based form), grounded in Permendikbud No. 70 Tahun 2016
Where it applies: ID — national
Exam languages: Indonesian
Score scale: 251–800, banded into seven predicates: Istimewa 725—800, Sangat Unggul 641—724, Unggul 578—640, Madya 482—577, Semenjana 405—481, Marginal 326—404, Terbatas 251—325
Testing provider: Badan Pengembangan dan Pembinaan Bahasa on its own platform (ukbi.kemendikdasmen.go.id); provincial Balai Bahasa / kantor bahasa offices and Indonesian embassies (KBRI) abroad act as contact/support points
Format: Fully online computer-based adaptive test taken from the candidate's own location (daring), requiring a camera-equipped PC/laptop, current browser, headset, microphone for the speaking section, and stable internet of at least 15 mbps
Availability: Scheduled sessions on working days Monday–Thursday; five 2-hour test zones per day (08.00–10.00, 10.00–12.00, 13.00–15.00, 16.00–18.00, 19.00–21.00 WIB), capacity 1,000 participants per zone — roughly 20 sessions per week when open (a maintenance closure of registration until 4 January 2026 was announced on the registration page)
Results: Paket 2/3 candidates: written and spoken responses assessed within a maximum of 14 working days; digital certificate signed by the Head of Badan Pengembangan dan Pembinaan Bahasa is delivered automatically by e-mail or to the participant's account once results are complete
Credential validity: UKBI certificate is valid for two years
Remote testing: Available

Exam structure

Five sections — Seksi I Mendengarkan (listening: 4 dialogues + 4 monologues, 5 items each), Seksi II Merespons Kaidah (grammar-error identification, 4-option multiple choice), Seksi III Membaca (reading: up to 8 passages, 5 items each), Seksi IV Menulis (2 writing tasks from prompts with images/infographics, min 100 and 150 words), Seksi V Berbicara (2 speaking/presentation tasks with preparation and recording); offered in packages — Paket 1 is the mandatory core, Paket 2 and 3 add the assessed Menulis and Berbicara sections

Where rules vary

Indonesia's official national Indonesian-language proficiency standard, grounded in PP 57/2014 and Permendikbud 70/2016 and run as government non-tax revenue (PNBP); open to Indonesian citizens, foreign nationals, and foreign speakers sitting online from abroad (assisted by KBRI), but the exam identity is the national standard of Indonesia

Eligibility

None — open to any speaker of Indonesian, native or non-native; registration types cover individuals (mandiri), institutions (kolektif), the Wiyata Kinarya program, and deaf/disabled participants (Disabilitas Rungu variant with its own section set)

Retake policy

May be retaken 15 days after the previous attempt, as many times as desired