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Gov't reveals master plan for 2002 SAT

Posted November. 29, 2000 19:23,   

한국어

The scholastic aptitude test (SAT) for entrance into colleges and universities for the year 2002, which will be taken by current second-year high school students, will be held Nov. 7, one week earlier than this year. In addition, the SAT will be permitted on demand during the first semester in addition to the ongoing second semester. The new plan will virtually pave the way for colleges and high schools to stage entrance exams throughout the year.

As the SAT scores will be divided into nine grades, the test results will not be fully reflected in the choosing of successful applicants. Therefore, extracurricular activities and oral tests are expected to become more significant for college admissions.

In the past, the SAT was conducted annually on the third Wednesday of November, but beginning next year, the test will be held on the second Wednesday of the same month.

The new plan also calls for multi-stage exams and in-depth personal interviews. In addition, students' special talents will become variables in the entrance competitions.

As for the optional screening, the colleges will be asked to conduct the tests between the midterm and final exams during the first semester, or between May 20 and June 20, and between Sept. 1 and Dec. 6 in the second semester. But the number of the students to be recruited through special tests will be limited to 10 percent of the total enrollments.

The test groups will be reduced from the present four to three, but the periods for the examinations will be extended from six days to 14-18 days.

The Education Ministry has decided to ban written tests for the selection of freshmen and will mete out punitive measures against schools that write written exams in violation of the decision, including the suspension of government subsidies.

The ministry also directed colleges and universities to announce the exam guidelines for 2002 by the end of the year. The ministry will make the aggregate exam guidelines for all schools public by the end of January next year.



Lee In-Chul inchul@donga.com