University and College Admissions - Thailand

Thailand

In general, Thailand uses the centralized admission system. In this system, student hoping to finish secondary school or its equivalent is expected to sit many examinations. The one required for nearly all universities is the Ordinary National Education Test (O-NET) aiming to test basic knowledge across the following subjects required under the Thai law:

• Thai Language and Literature
• English Language
• Mathematics
• Comprehensive Sciences
• Social Studies
• Health Education
• Arts and Culture

Students then may use the O-NET test score to apply to particulat university through the direct admission system by taking tests conducted by particular university. However, most students still use the centralized admission system. In this system, they are expected to take another two aptitude tests, aiming at testing their ability to succeed in university. The first one is General Aptitude Test (GAT). GAT tests the reasoning ability and English proficiency of the candidates. It asks students to link and identity relationships between events. The English section is comparable to the TOEFL test, but is completely objective in nature. Both O-NET and GAT examinations are scored by computer.

The second examination is the Professional Aptitude Test (PAT). Students may choose to take the tests that are required by the program they are applying to. Therefore, they don't have to take all tests like the O-NET. The subjects offered are as follow:

• Advanced Mathematics, testing students ability in discrete mathematics, pure mathematics, and discriptive mathematics, including Calculus and Statistics. The test is completely objective, consisting of multiple choices and student-produced response.
• Sciences. It is divided into three section, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. Students must take all sections. The test is completely objective. It contains mostly multiple choices question but sometimes student-produced response as well.
• Engineering Aptitude. It tests candidates' ability in Physics and Chemistry as well as their ability to apply their knowledge. The test is completely objective, consisting of multiple choices and student-produced response.
• Architecture Aptitude. It tests candidates's ability in non-numerical Physics and aptitude in basic arts and design. There are questions that ask students to design a room with furnitures given. These questions are completely objective and are scored by computer. The test contains a subjective section, testing candidates' ability to sktech and draw
• Education-specific Professional Aptitude. It tests students' moral standard and ability to work with students as teacher.
• Fine and Applied Arts. It tests candidates' knowledge in the visual art, music theory, performance arts. It
• Languages. As English is already tests in GAT, PAT tests candidates' ability in other modern languages. Candidates can choose from French, German, Japanese, Chinese, Arabic, and Pali.

The students are responsible to report all scores to the central admission system. They are required to choose a program or faculty that they want to study in. After that, different mathematical formula is used to weighed students' scores for that program. For instance, Pharmocology requires high scores on Sciences, while Economics requires high score in Mathematics. After the score is weighed, students are offered decision only according to their scores. Some exception might occur in program, such fine and applied arts as students are required to submit porfolio for consideration.

The only exception to centralized admission system and direct admission system is Medicine and Dentistry, which have their own admission system. Students will need to take the following tests to be eligible for consideration:

• Mathematics
• Thai Language and Literature
• English
• Physics
• Chemistry
• Biology
• Social Studies
• Medicine and Dentistry-specific Aptitude Test. This tests include a hard form of reasoning tests as in first part of GAT. It also includes tests of Ethics and reading analysis and synthesis. In Ethics section, students are asked to choose 3 most "ethical" decision based on the situation described. In reading synthesis section, they are given time to read an article, then article is taken away. They are asked to answer multiple choices question on the passage.

Students' scores are also weighed, and admission decision is made accordingly.