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The Korean Proficiency Test used to determine the language skills of foreigners and ethnic Koreans abroad has seen a substantial increase in candidates. This year¡¯s test will be given to some 26,569 candidates on Sept. 25 and 26, who can sit it at 62 locations internationally as well as at Seoul National University of Education, Pusan National University, and Chungnam National University, the Ministry of Education announced Thursday.
In 1997, the first year the test was offered, only 2,274 people signed up, but since then the number has been steadily growing, due in no small part to the ¡°Korean wave¡± that has swept across Asia.
The number of people who plan to take the test in China alone doubled from 2,738 last year to 6,002 this year. Japan had the most applicants with 7,981, followed by China with 6,002, Vietnam with 1,278 and the U.S. with 1,219 candidates.
KPT scores are required when foreigners and Koreans living abroad apply to domestic universities or seek employment under the work permit system for foreign workers. The test is categorized into beginner, intermediate and advanced levels and assesses skills in vocabulary, grammar, reading and writing. Most questions are multiple choice, while the remaining 10-30 percent require written answers. Candidates need more than 40 out of 100 points in each area and average at least 60 points overall to pass.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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