NIETS reconsiders marking of O-Net papers

Widespread criticism has forced the National Institute of Educational Testing Service's (NIETS) to drop its plan to grant 24 free points to Matthayom 6 (Grade 12) students in order to compensate them for mistakes in the Ordinary National Educational Test (O-Net) papers.

NIETS has now decided to only take into consideration answers for 67 of the 90 items in the science test paper, because 23 items in paper No 200 were either missing or repeated, Prof Somwang Phithiyanuwat, chairman of the NIETS board, told the press yesterday.

He said this decision was viable because the 67 items to be considered were divided equally among five subjects - physics, chemistry, biology, geology and astronomy - included in the test.

NIETS had initially announced that it would grant 24 points to some 400,000 Matthayom 6 students who took the science test.

Somwang explained that if these extra marks were granted, then it would be unfair to students who had taken the test in previous years. Last year, O-Net's average score stood at about 30, but if students are granted 24 additional marks, their total score would rise by a great deal in comparison.

Students wishing to take the test again can inform NIETS and take it on March 6-7 together with students who had to miss the test due to other circumstances.

The Office of the Basic Education Commission will still be including this year's O-Net scores as a condition for graduation.