Uji Kemahiran Berbahasa Indonesia (UKBI) Test at Medan Independent School
By Anne Irma Tobing (French and Bahasa Indonesia Teacher)
On October 7, 2025, Medan Independent School (MIS) successfully held the Uji Kemahiran Berbahasa Indonesia (UKBI), or the Indonesian Language Proficiency Test, for students in MYP 2 to MYP 5. This event marked the first time MIS organized the UKBI for both Indonesian and international students.
The idea of implementing the UKBI at MIS was proposed at the beginning of the 2025/2026 academic year and was warmly supported by the School Principal and the MYP Coordinator. The main goal of this initiative is to measure students’ Indonesian language proficiency, focusing on skills such as listening, grammar, reading, writing, and speaking.
Collaboration with Balai Bahasa Sumatera Utara
To conduct this test, MIS collaborated with Balai Bahasa Sumatera Utara (the North Sumatra Language Center). The school submitted a formal request and received access to register its students for the examination.
For Indonesian students, the UKBI was conducted online and assessed listening, grammar, and reading skills. Upon completion, each participant received an official certificate issued by the Agency for Language Development and Cultivation, Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, showing their individual scores for each skill area. This program was free of charge for students.
For international students, they participated in the UKBI Adaptive Simulation, which assessed listening, grammar, reading, writing, and speaking skills. Their scores were displayed at the end of the test; however, according to official policy, certificates are only available upon payment of a registration fee.
Results and Future Plans
The UKBI at MIS was conducted smoothly and successfully. This activity provided valuable insight for Indonesian language teachers to evaluate the language proficiency progress of MYP students, and it also served as a self-assessment opportunity for students to improve their Indonesian language skills.
For the students, this experience offered a meaningful opportunity to better understand their language abilities and to be motivated to enhance them further.
Medan Independent School hopes that the UKBI can become an annual program, allowing the school to continuously monitor and develop Indonesian language proficiency among all MIS students.
