Gov`t unveils plan to reform state-run exams

The government announced a plan Tuesday to reform state-administered examinations, with highlights of the plan including the elimination of multiple-choice questions on primary tests and the introduction of a preliminary scholastic aptitude test (PSAT) for civil servants.

According to the reform plan, tests conducted by private institutes such as TOEIC, TOEFL and TEPS will replace the English tests on all state-administered examinations, and those scoring over 530 points on the TOEFL, 700 points on the TOEIC and 625 points on the TEPS will be exempted from English exams on the primary tests.

Moreover, the number of subjects for secondary tests will be decreased and more weight will be placed on the results of interviews.

The Civil Service Commission and the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs plan to hold a public hearing on the reform plan Thursday and revise related laws during the first half of next year. The plan would go into effect in 2003.

Currently, the test for seventh-grade government officials has questions based on six and seven curricular subjects, but this number will be reduced to six. And the test for ninth-grade officials will be given on five subjects, down from the present five to six. In addition, English tests will be newly included in the tests for both levels of civil servants.

Yang Ki-Dae kee@donga.com