Data mining applied to Saber 11 and Saber Pro tests: Analytics, predictive modeling and data-driven decision making in Colombian higher education

The document presents a comprehensive analysis of the application of data mining and advanced educational analytics techniques in the study of academic performance in the Saber 11 and Saber Pro tests between 2020 and 2025, contextualizing the results within Colombian public policies, particularly the CNA 2022 Guidelines and the National Development Plan 2022–2026. In this period, higher education experienced significant transformations driven by accelerated digitalization, the need to strengthen quality, and the incorporation of digital competencies and computational thinking in ICFES assessments. The report highlights the positive evolution of the competencies evaluated in both exams, with sustained improvements in Critical Reading and English, although challenges persist in Quantitative Reasoning. Specifically, the trajectory of the Popular University of Cesar is examined, an institution that shows gradual progress in its results and an intermediate position in the regional context of the Colombian Caribbean, where structural gaps related to infrastructure, equity and access to resources persist.