What is O-net

[JesseFrank]

My son who is in P5 just told me that from now on he has to go to school every Saturday for O-net. He couldn't give me more information.

I did a search on this forum and it sounds to be like a one time test. Is this correct or is it indeed every Saturday, and is it important that he joins it.

Question is also, if it is an every week event, why they don't do it during regular class hours ? Students have in my opinion already not too much free time, taken in account the hours it takes to get and return from school, so I'm a bit hesitant to sent him to school on Saturdays also.

[JesseFrank]

I found some more info on O-net, and it doesn't sound promising, yet I don't know if it is a one time test or some form of weekly extra class.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/O-Net-test-stuck-in-20th-century-academic-says-30176752.html

O-Net test 'stuck in 20th century', academic says

Dr Utumporn Jamornmann, who is now an adviser to the Ombudsman, chose "b" when presented with the following choices for the question - "If you have a sexual urge, what should you do?" a) Ask friends if you can play football together; Consult family members; c) Try to sleep; d) Go out with a friend of the opposite sex; or e) Invite a close friend to watch a movie together."

According to NIETS director Dr Samphan Phanphrut, the answer was "a".

[Somtamnication]

A difficult test to have. I teach Onet for a full year and they still get low scores. I am sure I am to blame. Every year the scores go up 20%, but they still forget how to spell ELEVEN.

The tests are full of errors as well.

[JesseFrank]

A difficult test to have. I teach Onet for a full year and they still get low scores. I am sure I am to blame. Every year the scores go up 20%, but they still forget how to spell ELEVEN.

The tests are full of errors as well.

So I understand now O-net is not a one time event, but gets taught over the whole year .

Why isn't it taught during regular class hours and is he obligated to take part in O-net ?

As I said already, I'm hesitant to sent him to school on Saturdays just for those few hours, as his free day will be wasted that way, so if it isn't mandatory or important I will skip on it.

Your opinions please.

[Scott]

After all that learning, he will take the test.

How important it is depends on what plans you/he has for the future.

[JesseFrank]

After all that learning, he will take the test.

How important it is depends on what plans you/he has for the future.

Can you elaborate a little more on that last line please ?

I also still try to determine if this is mandatory and if it is going on every Saturday for the complete term.

[laurenrebecca]

After all that learning, he will take the test.

How important it is depends on what plans you/he has for the future.

Can you elaborate a little more on that last line please ?

I also still try to determine if this is mandatory and if it is going on every Saturday for the complete term.

I am a teacher, and we teach ONET for my students at P5 and P6 level. It is the standardized test taken by all students in the country at the end of the year of P6, M3 and M6. This test plays a large part in what secondary school / university they get into, and at the M3 level, whether or not they continue on with M4-6.

In Thailand, the test is extremely important. I teach it every Saturday for 3 hours during the second term to my P6 students. P5 students is substantially less.

The reason it is not taught during class time is that we have a curriculum to follow (at least in my school), that only gently parallels what the ONET tests for.

If you want your child to get into a better secondary school, he will need both high grades and a high ONET score. If you want him at the local secondary school, then it may not be as important.

Hope it helps....

[JesseFrank]

After all that learning, he will take the test.

How important it is depends on what plans you/he has for the future.

Can you elaborate a little more on that last line please ?

I also still try to determine if this is mandatory and if it is going on every Saturday for the complete term.

I am a teacher, and we teach ONET for my students at P5 and P6 level. It is the standardized test taken by all students in the country at the end of the year of P6, M3 and M6. This test plays a large part in what secondary school / university they get into, and at the M3 level, whether or not they continue on with M4-6.

In Thailand, the test is extremely important. I teach it every Saturday for 3 hours during the second term to my P6 students. P5 students is substantially less.

The reason it is not taught during class time is that we have a curriculum to follow (at least in my school), that only gently parallels what the ONET tests for.

If you want your child to get into a better secondary school, he will need both high grades and a high ONET score. If you want him at the local secondary school, then it may not be as important.

Hope it helps....

Thank you for your very complete answer.

The boy unfortunately is challenged in his learning capabilities. I've tried private teachers for him and more, but he fails entrance exams at any half decent primary school.

I suspect he has some minor mental challenges as well, as he is very slow in everything and has no memory at all.

So I actually don't see any future for him in higher education, and therefore can conclude from your comments that O-net will be a waste of time for him.

[atyclb]

I found some more info on O-net, and it doesn't sound promising, yet I don't know if it is a one time test or some form of weekly extra class.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/O-Net-test-stuck-in-20th-century-academic-says-30176752.html

O-Net test 'stuck in 20th century', academic says

Dr Utumporn Jamornmann, who is now an adviser to the Ombudsman, chose "b" when presented with the following choices for the question - "If you have a sexual urge, what should you do?" a) Ask friends if you can play football together; Consult family members; c) Try to sleep; d) Go out with a friend of the opposite sex; or e) Invite a close friend to watch a movie together."

According to NIETS director Dr Samphan Phanphrut, the answer was "a".

Sounds reassuring. Whats wrong with a test from the 20th century as it may help a nation much of which is still in the 19th century ?

One step at a time aka baby steps

[Nickthegreek]

After all that learning, he will take the test.

How important it is depends on what plans you/he has for the future.

Can you elaborate a little more on that last line please ?

I also still try to determine if this is mandatory and if it is going on every Saturday for the complete term.

I am a teacher, and we teach ONET for my students at P5 and P6 level. It is the standardized test taken by all students in the country at the end of the year of P6, M3 and M6. This test plays a large part in what secondary school / university they get into, and at the M3 level, whether or not they continue on with M4-6.

In Thailand, the test is extremely important. I teach it every Saturday for 3 hours during the second term to my P6 students. P5 students is substantially less.

The reason it is not taught during class time is that we have a curriculum to follow (at least in my school), that only gently parallels what the ONET tests for.

If you want your child to get into a better secondary school, he will need both high grades and a high ONET score. If you want him at the local secondary school, then it may not be as important.

Hope it helps....

It ceases to amaze me as Parents how you can have a test in Thailand that the syllabus is not taught during term time, but you supposedly need it for better school options later on..!! sounds like tea money for teachers scheme to me..!!

[pizzachang]

O dinary N ational E ducation T est. For a little while, I thought they were mispronouncing UNIT test. My wife's kids always want to do well on this test - because good scores make it easier to go to good schools. Merit-based rather than race, money or influence based achievement.

[simon43]

"If you have a sexual urge, what should you do?" a) Ask friends if you can play football together; Consult family members; c) Try to sleep; d) Go out with a friend of the opposite sex; or e) Invite a close friend to watch a movie together."

According to NIETS director Dr Samphan Phanphrut, the answer was "a".

Do you have any more examples of questions from that test? I intend to paste them on the wall of my room. If I ever get depressed, I only need look at these questions and answers to realize that there are others in this world with problems waaaaayyyyyy worse than mine

[Scott]

I would second what Laurenrebecca has said.

As for your son, not every child is gifted in the same manner and it sounds like the academic route is probably not going to be the best one for him. I would focus on him learning the basics as well as possible, and that means reading, writing and basic math skills, also any technology that seems to be necessary for the future.

If he has interests that could lead to a decent career path, he can probably pursue a vocational career, but he still needs to have those basic skills.

[thailand49]

I know the school that requires O-Net (A.S.) My son has been going to O-Net from day one... it is not a requirement! but it cost extra money and each term it seems to be a waste just like their summer school. I've concluded it is no more than a extra day for them to hang out with their friends. The worse thing is their grades don't get better and it is not all the school doing. I take responsibility for my lack of action of not wanting to rock the boat and go along with the program.

There is such a push to learn English in this country but I wonder if they did and my son school has their share of Farang yet everything is in Thai, I have to wing it each year as to when I must attend certain events etc...

Personally, If I had to do it all again... the extra time like summer school and O-net I would send them to private tutor as to what they need. Find out in their evaluation what are their low scores and give them private help in that area. As for my son, there was a time his own teacher said he needed him in a particular area and she can help him at her home for 2,000 baht a month on Saturday. End of term his score was still the same <deleted>? Use your Saturdays to take them to private English lessons classes.

Good luck but forget O-net but have a alternative first do not let your wife or son make the decsions in this area!

[orpheus454]

OP, why aren't you discussing this with your child's teacher?

Edited May 30, 2014 by orpheus454

[DrTuner]

Stepdaughter took the O-net at the end of P6. She's the top of her class, but didn't score all that well. I had two suspicions, one the (private) school being far worse than I thought, the other being the test not matching the curriculum they use. Seems it's the second one. Oh well.

[jjablonsky]

A difficult test to have. I teach Onet for a full year and they still get low scores. I am sure I am to blame. Every year the scores go up 20%, but they still forget how to spell ELEVEN.

The tests are full of errors as well.

So I understand now O-net is not a one time event, but gets taught over the whole year .

Why isn't it taught during regular class hours and is he obligated to take part in O-net ?

As I said already, I'm hesitant to sent him to school on Saturdays just for those few hours, as his free day will be wasted that way, so if it isn't mandatory or important I will skip on it.

Your opinions please.

The student's on Saturday's will do practice O'net exams in preparation for the actual exam. The O'net exams are given nationwide and are sort a proficiency exam. And yes your son has to take part in them as long as he is attending a Thai school. The exam’s cover a wide variety of subject English, Math, Science, History, Health, Thai Language, etc… The O'nets are usally given at different times of the year for differnt grade levels. However the grading is a little fishy if you ask me. Each student starts with a grade of 50% so they need only get one question right in order to pass the exam, don’t want any schools looking bad now do we?

[attrayant]

OP, why aren't you discussing this with your child's teacher?

It's possible the OP wants an unbiased answer.

This sounds like the SATs in the USA. But it's up to us to study on our own time and get good scores on them. I'd suggest home study or private study, and save the cost and commute time.

I echo the question of why the material isn't something that's already being covered in the normal school curriculum.

"If you have a sexual urge, what should you do?" a) Ask friends if you can play football together; xcool.png.pagespeed.ic.jz1nB6CMOI.png Consult family members; c) Try to sleep; d) Go out with a friend of the opposite sex; or e) Invite a close friend to watch a movie together."

According to NIETS director Dr Samphan Phanphrut, the answer was "a".

That's hilarious. Football is about the most homoerotic sport there is.

[jjablonsky]

"If you have a sexual urge, what should you do?" a) Ask friends if you can play football together; Consult family members; c) Try to sleep; d) Go out with a friend of the opposite sex; or e) Invite a close friend to watch a movie together."

According to NIETS director Dr Samphan Phanphrut, the answer was "a".

Do you have any more examples of questions from that test? I intend to paste them on the wall of my room. If I ever get depressed, I only need look at these questions and answers to realize that there are others in this world with problems waaaaayyyyyy worse than mine

Just do a search on youtube you can find plenty of Onet practice exams

[SlyAnimal]

ONET is a ridiculous exam, it is unnecessarily hard and only loosely tied to the curriculum which is taught in schools. The English questions are similar to what someone might get in a TOEFL exam, except that they will occasionally have grammatical mistakes in the questions as the people who write the test aren't native speakers.

I think that without doing specific study for ONET, many teachers would struggle to pass for the subject which they teach (I know that most of the Thai English teachers would fail, and assume the difficulty is similar for other subjects as well).

Many schools will run special classes afterschool or on the weekends for students in the leadup to ONET. My school has recently started teaching students in the afternoons from M4 upwards (Even though the ONET exams are only in P6, M3 & M6), as the M6 ONET exam is the most important exam that they'll take in primary/secondary school.

[JesseFrank]

OP, why aren't you discussing this with your child's teacher?

Because his mother pays for his education, but has actually no idea what he's doing in school, and to discuss this with his teacher I would need to speak good Thai to understand what's it about, regardless of the fact that he is in an English program.

[JesseFrank]

A difficult test to have. I teach Onet for a full year and they still get low scores. I am sure I am to blame. Every year the scores go up 20%, but they still forget how to spell ELEVEN.

The tests are full of errors as well.

So I understand now O-net is not a one time event, but gets taught over the whole year .

Why isn't it taught during regular class hours and is he obligated to take part in O-net ?

As I said already, I'm hesitant to sent him to school on Saturdays just for those few hours, as his free day will be wasted that way, so if it isn't mandatory or important I will skip on it.

Your opinions please.

The student's on Saturday's will do practice O'net exams in preparation for the actual exam. The O'net exams are given nationwide and are sort a proficiency exam. And yes your son has to take part in them as long as he is attending a Thai school. The exam’s cover a wide variety of subject English, Math, Science, History, Health, Thai Language, etc… The O'nets are usally given at different times of the year for differnt grade levels. However the grading is a little fishy if you ask me. Each student starts with a grade of 50% so they need only get one question right in order to pass the exam, don’t want any schools looking bad now do we?

Each student starts with a grade of 50% so they need only get one question right in order to pass the exam, don’t want any schools looking bad now do we?

Well that is the whole issue with me.I said already that he has learning challenges, so I know if he got his exam results judged the way it is in the west he would still be in P1, yet he goes up every year.

So why waste any more time and money on a system that doesn't work .

[culicine]

A difficult test to have. I teach Onet for a full year and they still get low scores. I am sure I am to blame. Every year the scores go up 20%, but they still forget how to spell ELEVEN.

The tests are full of errors as well.

So I understand now O-net is not a one time event, but gets taught over the whole year .

Why isn't it taught during regular class hours and is he obligated to take part in O-net ?

As I said already, I'm hesitant to sent him to school on Saturdays just for those few hours, as his free day will be wasted that way, so if it isn't mandatory or important I will skip on it.

Your opinions please.

The student's on Saturday's will do practice O'net exams in preparation for the actual exam. The O'net exams are given nationwide and are sort a proficiency exam. And yes your son has to take part in them as long as he is attending a Thai school. The exam’s cover a wide variety of subject English, Math, Science, History, Health, Thai Language, etc… The O'nets are usally given at different times of the year for differnt grade levels. However the grading is a little fishy if you ask me. Each student starts with a grade of 50% so they need only get one question right in order to pass the exam, don’t want any schools looking bad now do we?

Each student starts with a grade of 50% so they need only get one question right in order to pass the exam, don’t want any schools looking bad now do we?

Well that is the whole issue with me.I said already that he has learning challenges, so I know if he got his exam results judged the way it is in the west he would still be in P1, yet he goes up every year.

So why waste any more time and money on a system that doesn't work .

MY son is also in P5, but he is in (my) english program. Our kids also sit the O-net, but we don't run any special classes for it. The generally do very well in english but not so well in other subjects, so they normally learn in English, and not in Thai which is what the test is written in. Personally I don't worry too much about it. As others said, it is overly difficult and has lots of errors. What's worse is that also seems to not match the curriculum - so that just means kids end up going to extra classes to try and pass the test. That just widens the gap between the have's and have not's. If your son is not all that academic, I wouldn't worry too much. It will just stress him more. Thais are obsessed with passing exams - and hard exams. But look at their results in international exams - it's all rather poor for the work they put in. If you really want him to learn well, just help him with the regular school work. My son likes educational science videos from youtube that you can try also.

[JesseFrank]

Each student starts with a grade of 50% so they need only get one question right in order to pass the exam, don’t want any schools looking bad now do we?

Well that is the whole issue with me.I said already that he has learning challenges, so I know if he got his exam results judged the way it is in the west he would still be in P1, yet he goes up every year.

So why waste any more time and money on a system that doesn't work .

MY son is also in P5, but he is in (my) english program. Our kids also sit the O-net, but we don't run any special classes for it. The generally do very well in english but not so well in other subjects, so they normally learn in English, and not in Thai which is what the test is written in. Personally I don't worry too much about it. As others said, it is overly difficult and has lots of errors. What's worse is that also seems to not match the curriculum - so that just means kids end up going to extra classes to try and pass the test. That just widens the gap between the have's and have not's. If your son is not all that academic, I wouldn't worry too much. It will just stress him more. Thais are obsessed with passing exams - and hard exams. But look at their results in international exams - it's all rather poor for the work they put in. If you really want him to learn well, just help him with the regular school work. My son likes educational science videos from youtube that you can try also.

Thais are obsessed with passing exams - and hard exams.

That probably is because, as far as I'm aware, in Thailand no exams are passed based on their knowledge.

[manzan]

How about the "elite" schools, such as Harrows, Regents, do they also do these ONETS?

[duanebigsby]

Each student starts with a grade of 50% so they need only get one question right in order to pass the exam, don’t want any schools looking bad now do we?

Well that is the whole issue with me.I said already that he has learning challenges, so I know if he got his exam results judged the way it is in the west he would still be in P1, yet he goes up every year.

So why waste any more time and money on a system that doesn't work .

MY son is also in P5, but he is in (my) english program. Our kids also sit the O-net, but we don't run any special classes for it. The generally do very well in english but not so well in other subjects, so they normally learn in English, and not in Thai which is what the test is written in. Personally I don't worry too much about it. As others said, it is overly difficult and has lots of errors. What's worse is that also seems to not match the curriculum - so that just means kids end up going to extra classes to try and pass the test. That just widens the gap between the have's and have not's. If your son is not all that academic, I wouldn't worry too much. It will just stress him more. Thais are obsessed with passing exams - and hard exams. But look at their results in international exams - it's all rather poor for the work they put in. If you really want him to learn well, just help him with the regular school work. My son likes educational science videos from youtube that you can try also.

Thais are obsessed with passing exams - and hard exams.

That probably is because, as far as I'm aware, in Thailand no exams are passed based on their knowledge.

I don't get it. What are you suggesting they are passed on?

You are probably going to say bribes and tea money, but I highly doubt that.

[JesseFrank]

Each student starts with a grade of 50% so they need only get one question right in order to pass the exam, don’t want any schools looking bad now do we?

Well that is the whole issue with me.I said already that he has learning challenges, so I know if he got his exam results judged the way it is in the west he would still be in P1, yet he goes up every year.

So why waste any more time and money on a system that doesn't work .

MY son is also in P5, but he is in (my) english program. Our kids also sit the O-net, but we don't run any special classes for it. The generally do very well in english but not so well in other subjects, so they normally learn in English, and not in Thai which is what the test is written in. Personally I don't worry too much about it. As others said, it is overly difficult and has lots of errors. What's worse is that also seems to not match the curriculum - so that just means kids end up going to extra classes to try and pass the test. That just widens the gap between the have's and have not's. If your son is not all that academic, I wouldn't worry too much. It will just stress him more. Thais are obsessed with passing exams - and hard exams. But look at their results in international exams - it's all rather poor for the work they put in. If you really want him to learn well, just help him with the regular school work. My son likes educational science videos from youtube that you can try also.

Thais are obsessed with passing exams - and hard exams.

That probably is because, as far as I'm aware, in Thailand no exams are passed based on their knowledge.

I don't get it. What are you suggesting they are passed on?

You are probably going to say bribes and tea money, but I highly doubt that.

Face.

You seemingly don't have children in school here. My boy was previously enlisted at a well known private school, which I paid at that time, and for which he didn't need an entrance exam as he was enlisted since kindergarten.

I knew at that time already about his challenges, and at a given time I had a meeting about it with the foreign headmaster and several other administration, where I suggested that real exam results should be quoted and if he failed he deserved to do his year again.

I had the feeling the sky had fallen down when I suggested that.

Edited May 30, 2014 by JesseFrank

[sirchai]

Thought the OP might like to have a look at an O-Net tests in English from last year for grade six.

Biggest problem in my opinion is that many students have to "learn" what the right answer is, Unfortunately, the tests are made out of pretty poor English and change from year to year.All come from Bangkok, just wondering if Yingluck, or her older brother wrote them.

Some Thai teachers teach them only the right answers, without going through all the other- possible- answers.

There're questions, here I'd say the answer is a, b and c, but they've got d in their answer sheet.

The test results show their ability on English, but most of them can't to put a simple spoken sentence together.

My point being is that it doesn't make much sense if kids can master such a humbug test, but neither understand a simple question, nor would they be able to have a basic conversation.

And that after learning English for how many years? Best way to teach your child O'net is to put those questions and answers on a power point and go through each question and answer.

But then you'll have to explain why the other answers are wrong, which could be a big problem sometimes.....

Please see attached files.-

O-Net Part One Tests.docx

O-Net Part two.docx

Edited May 30, 2014 by sirchai

[JesseFrank]

Thought the OP might like to have a look at an O-Net tests in English from last year for grade six.

Biggest problem in my opinion is that many students have to "learn" what the right answer is, Unfortunately, the tests are made out of pretty poor English and change from year to year.All come from Bangkok, just wondering if Yingluck, or her older brother wrote them.

Some Thai teachers teach them only the right answers, without going through all the other- possible- answers.

There're questions, here I'd say the answer is a, b and c, but they've got d in their answer sheet.

The test results show their ability on English, but most of them can't to put a simple spoken sentence together.

My point being is that it doesn't make much sense if kids can master such a humbug test, but neither understand a simple question, nor would they be able to have a basic conversation.

And that after learning English for how many years? Best way to teach your child O'net is to put those questions and answers on a power point and go through each question and answer.

But then you'll have to explain why the other answers are wrong, which could be a big problem sometimes.....

Please see attached files.-

I had a quick look over the questions and seems to know most of the correct answers, but I would like to see what they suggest are the correct answers, because going from the Nation article I posted in post #2 I might be in for a surprise.

[chickenslegs]

The school day is far too long here and the holidays too short. There is too much homework and way too many tests/exams.

On Saturdays and Sundays kids should be allowed to forget about the pressures of school and have some fun (maybe just a few light chores to earn some pocket money).

Life needs to be the correct balance of study, work and play.

Just my opinion.