The National Qualifying Examination for School Heads (NQESH), also known as the Principals’ Test, is one of the biggest milestones for aspiring school leaders. If you are preparing for the 2025 NQESH, having the right reviewer can make a huge difference. To help you get started, we’ve prepared a free 2025 NQESH Reviewer that you can download and use as your study guide.
DepEd NQESH is the Department of Education’s examination for all teachers who aspire to become school heads someday. It is commonly known as the National Qualifying Examination for School Heads, which is conducted annually. It is an assessment that aims to identify and select competent and effective school heads in the Philippines. The exam covers various domains such as school leadership, instructional supervision, human resource management, and community partnership.
Passing the NQESH is a requirement for aspiring school heads to become eligible for the Principal position. The NQESH is part of the Department of Education’s efforts to improve the quality of education in the country by ensuring that school heads are equipped with the necessary competencies to lead and manage their respective schools.
See Also: Results of National Qualifying Examination for School Heads (NQESH) July 2024

DepEd Memorandum 69 s. 2025
DepEd Memorandum No. Q69, s. 2025 announces the administration of the National Assessment for School Heads (NASH), formerly NQESH, as a developmental tool to evaluate the readiness and growth areas of aspiring principals. The NASH, aligned with the Philippine Professional Standards for School Heads, is required for promotion or appointment to School Principal positions under the Expanded Career Progression System. The updated qualification standards for Principal I include a master’s degree, at least five years of teaching experience with one year in leadership roles, 32 hours of recent relevant training, and RA 1080 eligibility.
For FY 2025, NASH will be held in two batches: August 31 and September 7 for prioritized Head Teachers, Assistant School Principals, and Teachers-in-Charge, and November 30 and December 7 for other qualified personnel and previous NQESH takers. Also, results will be released with Certificates of Rating and Individual Development Reports, and candidates are encouraged to join mentoring with experienced principals. DepEd also warns against fraudulent review offers and requires permits for personnel engaging in private review sessions outside official work hours.
Requirements for NQESH
On Field Experience
Has acquired ANY of the following experience requirements:
- a. One year as Head Teacher; or
- b. Two years as Teacher-in-Charge; or
- c. Two years as Master Teacher; or
- d. Five years as Teacher III or SPED Teacher; or
- e. Five years as an incumbent public-school teacher who has five years of managerial and supervisory experience in a DepEd-recognized private institution or Commission on Higher Education (CHED) recognized higher education institution.
Documentary Requirements
- a. Approved Individual Performance Commitment and Rating Form (IPCRF) with a rating of at least Very Satisfactory (VS) in the last two (2) consecutive rating periods, duly certified by the authorized personnel in the Schools Division Office.
- b. Service Record duly certified by the Administrative Officer of the Schools Division Office; and
- c. If applicable:
- Designation or Special Order as Teacher-In-Charge (TIC) or Officer-In-Charge, signed by the Schools Division Superintendent.
NQESH 2025 Reviewer Free Download
Prepare for the DepEd NQESH exam with our free reviewer download. Ace the assessment and take the next step in your education career!
- NQESH 2025 Reviewer Set 1
- NQESH 2025 Reviewer Set 2
- NQESH 2025 Reviewer Set 3
- NQESH 2025 Reviewer Set 4
FAQs
No, the reviewer is not official from DepEd. The Department of Education (DepEd) does not release or endorse any official NQESH reviewer.
Yes, the reviewer is free. You can emphasize that clearly in your blog so readers feel confident to download without hesitation.
According to DepEd Memorandum No. 69, s. 2025, the National Qualifying Examination for School Heads (NQESH) will be held in two batches this year.
Batch 1
Mock Exam: August 31, 2025
Actual Exam: September 7, 2025
Batch 2
Mock Exam: November 30, 2025
Actual Exam: December 7, 2025
Examinees are advised to coordinate with their respective Regional Testing Centers and keep checking DepEd announcements for further details and updates.
Related Teaching Resources
To fully support you, we’ve included links to additional teaching resources below. We’d love to hear from you—feel free to message us at ict@alapan1es.com.
- 3rd Periodical Test Questionnaire and TOS
- Daily Lesson Log (DLL)
- Lesson Exemplars (LE)
- Modules and LEAP
- Learning Activity Sheets (LAS)
- Lesson PowerPoint (PPT)
- Reading Materials for Remediation

