In order to better determine six graders' academic skills, more than 27,000 students from 156 schools across Taipei city underwent the basic assessment test yesterday. The result of the exam will also help teachers to make adjustments to student's abilities accordingly.

After 20 minutes, some students have finished the test and lay their head down on the table for a rest. This is not a monthly test, nor an aptitude test, but another sort of test implemented in 2005 to determine the quality of local education.

After taking the test regarding Mandarin Chinese, these sixth grade students say it wasn't too difficult. Comparing the past five years, this test shows that students passing the test in Mandarin both reading and writing is at a new low,

with principals saying this must be because these students did not study calligraphy.

Regarding mathematics, 95% of students can pass the basic level, though in some areas their performance is getting weaker! As for English, special courses were added this year, and if we look to last year's results in this area nearly 80% of students passed in English comprehension though 21% did not pass.

For complete results from this year, one will have to wait for Taipei's Department of Education to publish results in June, providing information to teachers as to which subjects require extra lessons.