By Kim Bo-eun
More universities will be using National English Ability Test (NEAT) scores as a measurement of English skills in selecting students starting next year, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology said Thursday.
According to the ministry, 34 universities across the nation will use NEAT scores in the early admissions process, up from seven this year. Those schools will be accepting NEAT scores for a special admission method which selects students who have outstanding English skills.
Students will be able to submit NEAT scores along with those of other standardized English tests such as TOEFL, TOEIC or TEPS.
Among the schools, 25 are four-year universities and nine are two-year colleges. These schools are located in regions across the nation.
The government created NEAT in order to replace the English subject in the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT). One of the main reasons behind the plan was to supplement the current test which is based on reading comprehension and a bit of listening, to include writing and speaking sections as well.
But as it will take several years until the replacement takes place, the education ministry is trying to first implement the test through the early admissions process, a ministry official said.
"Through having schools admit students based on their NEAT scores, we are undergoing a trial period through which we can fix shortcomings of the test until it is officially introduced," said Park Sang-hwa, senior supervisor at the ministry's English education policy division.
"We plan to continue increasing the number of schools that utilize NEAT scores in the early admission process until it officially takes its place in the CSAT," he said.
The ministry is offering information about NEAT and programs through which the students can study for the test, on the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation's NEAT portal website as well as the Educational Broadcasting Service's website for English educational broadcasts.
More universities will be using National English Ability Test (NEAT) scores as a measurement of English skills in selecting students starting next year, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology said Thursday.
According to the ministry, 34 universities across the nation will use NEAT scores in the early admissions process, up from seven this year. Those schools will be accepting NEAT scores for a special admission method which selects students who have outstanding English skills.
Students will be able to submit NEAT scores along with those of other standardized English tests such as TOEFL, TOEIC or TEPS.
Among the schools, 25 are four-year universities and nine are two-year colleges. These schools are located in regions across the nation.
The government created NEAT in order to replace the English subject in the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT). One of the main reasons behind the plan was to supplement the current test which is based on reading comprehension and a bit of listening, to include writing and speaking sections as well.
But as it will take several years until the replacement takes place, the education ministry is trying to first implement the test through the early admissions process, a ministry official said.
"Through having schools admit students based on their NEAT scores, we are undergoing a trial period through which we can fix shortcomings of the test until it is officially introduced," said Park Sang-hwa, senior supervisor at the ministry's English education policy division.
"We plan to continue increasing the number of schools that utilize NEAT scores in the early admission process until it officially takes its place in the CSAT," he said.
The ministry is offering information about NEAT and programs through which the students can study for the test, on the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation's NEAT portal website as well as the Educational Broadcasting Service's website for English educational broadcasts.
