New state-certified English test to replace CSAT in 2015 at the earliest

SEOUL, May 26 (Yonhap) -- A new English aptitude test developed and certified by the government will replace the nation's standardized college entrance test, known as the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) or Suneung, starting in 2015 at the earliest, the education ministry said Thursday.
The full-scale introduction of a new state-certified English test will come in 2015 after periods of its trial run over the coming years, said ministry officials.
If all goes well, the new homegrown English test will be added to the list of the existing exams such as the TOEFL, TOEIC and TEPs, they added.
Starting next year, the ministry will begin administering the new test in the selection of new college students at a limited number of colleges.
The ministry unveiled the plan to develop the exam, tentatively titled the State-Certified English Aptitude Test, in December 2008 after Lee Myung-bak's presidential transition team said the English portion of the university entrance exam was limited in its ability to gauge students' speaking and writing skills.