Medical schools to hold separate tests

Under the auspices of the Office of Higher Education Commission (Ohec), a general aptitude test and a professional aptitude test will be held several times next year so test-takers can use their best scores to apply to their favoured higher education institutes.

The move aims to relieve the stress that students face.

"But we don't think different sets of test questions will be fair to all students. We feel we should use the same test for all applicants in the same year," the consortium's secretary general Prof Avudh Srisuki said yesterday.

His consortium represents 12 medical schools. Faculties of dentistry from five universities have taken the same stance.

Other faculties seem to comply with the Ohec wish, though.

The general and professional aptitude tests will replace the Advanced National Educational Test (A-net), the annual test that will be held for the last time this year.

The Consortium of Medical Schools and like-minded dentistry schools will hold their own test when selecting new students next year.

"Our test will cover general subjects, which are science, maths, English, Thai, and social studies," Avudh said, "We will also have a specialised test as always."

Despite the separate tests to be held by medical and dentistry schools, students will still be required to do well enough in the Ordinary National Educational Test (Onet).

"As a prerequisite, qualified candidates must score at least 60 per cent in the Onet," Prof Boonmee Sathapatayavongs said.

She heads a panel in charge of recruiting new students for medical and dentistry schools.

"Qualified candidates must also score at least 30 per cent in the specialised test and at least 70 per cent in the general subjects. If they pass all these criteria, their application will be considered. Available places will go to those who get the highest scores from the tests held by us."

Boonmee said interested students must submit their applications in August and take a specialised test in October. The results of the specialised test would be announced in December.

"Then, we'll hold a general-subject test in January next year," she continued. "After that, the successful candidates must come for an interview and see whether they will finally be recruited. The process will be completed in March next year."

Students wishing to enrol at medical schools this year had already learnt their scores from the specialised test.

"Their Anet and Onet scores will also count," she said.