New state test to assess college applicants' English proficiency

SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Yonhap) -- A new state-administered English aptitude test to be
put in place in 2012 will be used to gauge domestic college applicants' English
language capabilities, the education minister said Thursday.

"Starting in the 2013 school year, local universities and colleges will be
encouraged to reflect scores of the new state-certified English test in their
special screening for applicants," said Minister of Education, Science and
Technology Ahn Byong-man at a press conference.
In the long run, said the minister, the new state test will likely replace the
English portion of the state-administered College Scholastic Aptitude Test
(CSAT), starting in 2015 at the earliest.
The government unveiled the plan to develop the new state English test in 2008,
seeking to more accurately evaluate students' English proficiency in speaking and
writing as well as in reading and listening. It then conducted three trial tests
last year.
Most college applicants in South Korea are currently required to take the CSAT,
held once a year, usually in November, while roughly a third of entrance quotas
are filled by a special screening process based on interviews or high school
achievements rather than CSAT results.
The minister said the government will push to encourage universities and colleges
nationwide to utilize the new state English test scores as a key criterion in
their special screening procedures from the 2013 school year.
The government also hopes that the new state English test, which will be divided
into three parts -- one for adults and two others for students -- will help deter
rising domestic demand for exams formulated abroad, including the TOEIC and
TOEFL.
Over 110,000 South Koreans took the TOEFL in 2008, while some 2 million sat for
the TOEIC.
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)