"Even though the written-answer question is generally better for testing students' thinking skills, we decided to use all multiple-choice questions in the 2007 A-Net test," Professor Pratya Wesarach, UPCT's chairman said.

"The main reason is that we are not ready for grading [to the same standard] a written-answer test. Lessons from this year's chaos should be learnt," he said.

"I agreed with this idea," said Professor Wirun Tangcharoen, rector of Srinakharinwiroj University, "but the multiple choice could be equal to written answers if the question-design team really understand the aim of testing."

This year's A-Net test included both multiple-choice and written-answer questions, and there were problems with the new computer system as well as the difficulty of applying a standard for the marking of papers by various teachers. This led to delays in the announcement of results, affecting the entrance of students into universities.

UPCT members agreed to defer a decision on question styles for the Ordinary National Education Test (O-Net) until a further meeting between the UPCT, the National Institute of Education Testing Service (NIETS) and the Office of Higher Education Commission (OHEC).

"They could follow the decision regarding A-Net or continue using both multiple-choice and written answers," Pratya said.

The implementation of A-Net and O-Net tests, called the "admission system", which is a new method for student entry into universities, followed the 1999 National Education Act. It replaces the "entrance" system which was used for more than 40 years. This year is the first year of its full implementation.

Currently admission scores (O-Net plus A-Net) account for 70 per cent of the overall score for each student's entrance requirement. The remaining 30 per cent is made up of the GPA and GPAX scores gained during grades 10 to 12.

However, the current admission system has allowed each university to admit students directly and set its own standard from the admission score, though at a certain quota.

Pratya said that yesterday's meeting had also agreed to extend the confirmation period of direct recruitment from its previous schedule of April 15 to 17, 2007 to April 15 to 20.