Students get belated good news in Onet exam drama

MORE THAN 200 famous schools across the country will take in more Mathayom 4 students weeks after the new academic year began to help those adversely affected by incorrect scoring in the Ordinary National Educational Test. 

The Onet scores were used as the admission criteria for Mathayom 4 students at 228 popular schools. However, only after the scores were announced and the student-recruitment process completed did the public find out that the English test for the 2015 Onet contained wrong choices as correct answers for three questions, accounting for six scores in total. 

The National Institute of Education Testing Service (NIETS), which organises Onet, admitted to the mistake. 

Education Minister Dapong Ratanasuwan yesterday announced that the scores of all relevant Onet test-takers had been revised. 

“This means some students will get higher scores and get the right to enrol at the famous schools they had initially applied for but might have initially lost the chance because of the wrong scoring,” he said. 

He said students whose scores were revised down but had already been accepted to schools would retain their places. 

Dapong announced the decision at a press conference alongside NIETS director Samphan Phanphruk, who offered to resign over the mistake. 

The education minister only said the mistake should not happen again. 

Samphan said 656,701 students had sat the 2015 Onet for Mathayom 3, the majority of whom were affected by the revised scoring. 

“Scores remain unchanged for just 37.76 per cent of the test-takers,” he said. 

He said scores were reduced by 4 points for 6.54 per cent of students and 2 points for 26.75 per cent. 

“About 22.31 per cent of test-takers will see their scores increase by 2 points, 6.03 per cent will get 4 more points, and about 0.60 per cent will earn 6 more points after the revision,” Samphan said. 

NIETS announced the new scores yesterday. 

Karoon Sakulpradit, secretary-general of the Office of the Basic Education Commission, instructed all schools that used Onet as the criteria for Mathayom 4 student admissions to use the new scores when recruiting more students. 

“Students should immediately check their new scores. If they get higher scores and become qualified to enrol at their favourite school, please immediately contact that school,” he said.