30-Second Overview: In July 2026, the Advanced Subjects Test was historically delayed to July 13 due to the impact of Super Typhoon Bavi. Following the release of results, as many as 149 exam appeals were filed. The College Entrance Examination Center (CEEC) ultimately ruled to uphold all original answers without granting any points, sparking harsh criticism from parent groups calling it a "black box agency." The core of the controversy lies in obvious flaws—such as duplicate options in Biology and incorrect charts in Geography—leading legislators and student groups to demand that the CEEC release "answering big data" to prove its claim that these errors "did not affect performance," alongside a nationwide petition for the full digitalization of the appeals process.
The 2026 Taiwan University Entrance Advanced Subjects Test (for the 115th academic year) was destined to be an exam fraught with turbulence. First, due to the impact of Super Typhoon Bavi, the Association of University Admissions Committees decided to postpone the exam—originally scheduled for July 11—to July 13 and 14. This marked the first time in the history of the Advanced Subjects Test that an exam was delayed due to a natural disaster12. However, the true storm began after the results were released on August 3. The College Entrance Examination Center (CEEC) received as many as 149 appeals regarding questionable exam questions, yet ultimately ruled that "all original answers shall be maintained, with no points granted for any question"34.
📝 Curator's Note: Taiwan's entrance examinations have always been viewed as the cornerstone of social equity. When the CEEC responds to obvious layout and chart errors with nothing more than "deep regret," while failing to provide quantitative data to prove that such errors "did not affect performance," this is no longer merely a technical error in item writing; it is a structural collapse of procedural justice.
Core Controversial Questions and Official Rulings
The flaws in the exam questions that triggered this public outcry were primarily concentrated in Biology, Geography, and Civics & Society. Although the CEEC emphasized the rigor of its review process, its justifications failed to quell public anger[^5]:
- Biology, Question 24: The text for Option A and Option D in this multiple-choice question was identical5. Examinees wasted significant time repeatedly comparing them in the exam hall. The CEEC determined that since both A and D were incorrect options, the duplication actually "reduced the difficulty," and thus no points would be granted6.
- Geography, Question 35: The question stem required observing a "line graph," but the charts in the options were all "histograms"7. The CEEC argued that histograms can also present trends and that examinees could still select the correct answer (D), therefore maintaining the original ruling8.
- Civics & Society, Question 2: This question explored the rights of children with disabilities; external critics questioned whether both (A) and (C) were equally valid. The CEEC insisted that Option (A) better aligned with the curriculum spirit regarding the limitations on self-development within social norms9.
Five-Tier Score Data and Elective Trends Across Subjects
According to data released by the CEEC on August 3, the total number of registrants for this session was approximately 39,213, similar to previous years10. Notably, the number of students choosing the "Math B + History/Geography/Civics" track (Humanities) and the "Math A + Chemistry/Physics/Biology" track (Science) were nearly equal, reflecting a stable structure in interdisciplinary subject selection11.
115th Academic Year Advanced Subjects Test: Five-Tier Statistics Table
| Subject | Top Tier | High Tier | Mid Tier | Low Tier | Bottom Tier | Trend Observations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Math A | 44 | 36 | 25 | 15 | 10 | All five tiers hit 3-year lows12. |
| Math B | 50 | 41 | 25 | 13 | 8 | Largest decrease across all subjects; Mid and Low tiers dropped by 5 grade levels1213. |
| Physics | 49 | 42 | 31 | 20 | 15 | High difficulty; high-scoring group is concentrated12. |
| Chemistry | 50 | 43 | 32 | 23 | 17 | Similar to previous year; stable discrimination12. |
| Biology | 54 | 49 | 38 | 27 | 21 | Top tier reached a 5-year high1213. |
| History | 52 | 48 | 41 | 33 | 27 | Stable distribution; no significant fluctuation12. |
| Geography | 52 | 47 | 40 | 32 | 25 | Low tier declined slightly due to controversial questions12. |
| Civics | 50 | 45 | 37 | 29 | 23 | Consistent with previous year data12. |
📝 Curator's Note: As a subject that has been reinstated in recent years, Math B saw a significant drop in grade levels this session, reflecting that item-writing stability still needs improvement. Meanwhile, the surge in Biology's Top Tier means the cost of losing points on flawed questions is even higher: in high-stakes competition where every point counts, a single misleading question can determine one's university placement.
Reform Demands: From "Emotional Appeals" to "Data Verification"
In late July 2026, Legislators Luo Ting-wei (羅廷瑋), Ye Yuan-zhi (葉元之), and parent representative Hsu Tai-ying (許泰英) held a press conference to propose specific institutional reforms14. Unlike previous simple demands for "awarding points," this movement emphasizes scientific evidence:
- Public Disclosure of Answering Data: Requiring the CEEC to appropriately disclose "answer distribution," "option selection ratios," "correct answer rates," and "discrimination indices" for controversial questions. If the correct answer rate among high-ability examinees is abnormally low on flawed questions, it would prove the presence of interference, rather than relying solely on the committee's subjective claim that it "did not affect performance"1415.
- Strengthening Cross-Verification: Establishing an independent three-party verification mechanism involving item writing, review, and proofreading to prevent low-level errors like duplicate text14.
- Modernizing the Appeals Process: Abolishing paper-based registered mail appeals in favor of full digitalization and face-to-face discussion mechanisms to increase review transparency15.
The "Ti-Dian-Zi" Petition: The Obligation to Provide Reasoning
A petition initiated by a proposer known as "xin" on the "Participatory Public Policy Online Platform" (Case No. 4f22b2cc) is one of the few channels through which this controversy has entered formal institutional processes16. The proposal contains three points: digitizing appeals, forming an external review committee composed of university professors and high school teachers unrelated to the item writers, and requiring that responses must cite specific curricula, textbooks, or academic literature rather than using abstract terms like "relatively appropriate"16.
The third point is the sharpest part of the proposal: it demands the obligation to provide reasoning. When the CEEC states that an error "did not affect performance," it must present verifiable evidence rather than just a conclusion. At the press conference held by legislators on July 31, the students, teachers, and parent representatives in attendance raised this exact same point17.
Currently, the CEEC's re-examination process is set to conclude on August 6; university preference registration will take place from August 5 to 8, with official results expected on August 1718. This upheaval, triggered by 149 appeals, may serve as a critical turning point in pushing Taiwan's university entrance examination system toward an era of big-data-driven auditing.
Further Reading
- Education System and College Entrance Culture — The position of the Advanced Subjects Test within the overall admissions system.
- Expansion and Contraction of Taiwan Higher Education — How changes in university supply determine pressure on the examination side.
- Taiwan's Low Birth Rate Crisis — The long-term curve of examinee numbers.
References
- Threads: Advanced Subjects Test delayed due to typhoon; Association announces rescheduling to 7/13 — Reports on the impact of Super Typhoon Bavi on the exam schedule, marking the first recorded delay in the history of the test.↩
- The Epoch Times: Advanced Subjects Test postponed to July 13 and 14 due to Typhoon Bavi — Details the process of the Association's decision to postpone and the subsequent impact on result announcement dates.↩
- Yahoo News: Controversial questions in Advanced Subjects Test ruled "no points granted"; Parents call CEEC a "black box agency" — Reports on the rejection of all 149 appeals and the questioning of the CEEC's credibility by parent groups.↩
- FTV News: 149 appeals in Advanced Subjects Test ruled "no points granted"; Documentation of on-site protests — Records the protest speeches by parents and students at the July 31 press conference, showing strong social backlash against the review results.↩
- CNA: Duplicate options in Biology questions; CEEC responds — Describes the specific error regarding duplicate text in Question 24 of the Biology exam and the reactions of examinees.↩
- udn: Duplicate options in Biology may make test easier; CEEC expresses deep regret — Cites the CECC's view that duplicated options do not affect the determination of correct answers and might actually reduce difficulty.↩
- Liberty Times: Geography questions suspected of mismatched charts; Teachers' Association recommends awarding points — Reports on the professional analysis by the National Teachers' Association regarding the chart error in Geography Question 35, calling for exam fairness.↩
- CEEC: Response document to feedback on Geography subject for 115th Advanced Subjects Test — Official response providing academic basis and expert review conclusions for the Geography controversy.↩
- CEEC: Response document to feedback on Civics & Society subject for 115th Advanced Subjects Test — Official detailed analysis and curriculum alignment explanation regarding the Civics controversy.↩
- udn: Advanced Subjects Test begins this weekend; 39,000 registrants; Math A most popular — States that there are 39,213 registrants for the 115th academic year (32,825 group, 6,388 individual), an increase of 23 from the 114th academic year.↩
- All-Taiwan Teachers' Union: Preliminary comments on 115th Advanced Subjects Test and demands for error-correction mechanisms — Professional statements and reform suggestions from teacher groups regarding the quality of this session's exam.↩
- Vista Magazine: Five-tier scores announced for 115th Advanced Subjects Test; Math A and Math B scores both decline — Analyzes the trend changes in the five tiers for each subject, particularly the difficulty challenges in Mathematics.↩
- FTNN News: Results of 115th Advanced Subjects Test announced; Math B five-tier scores all decline — Reports on the significant drop in Math B during this exam and the abnormal performance in Biology's Top Tier.↩
- Upbeat: CEEC item writing and supervision mechanisms questioned; Blue legislators call for transparent regulations — Detailed record of Legislator Luo Ting-wei's specific proposal to disclose big data, correct answer rates, and discrimination indices.↩
- Yahoo News: Focus on CEEC item-writing quality; Blue legislators call for improved grievance handling mechanisms — Reports on the full argument by legislators to introduce big data as an objective basis for "no impact on performance."↩
- Participatory Public Policy Online Platform: Petition for handling exam question doubts in university entrance exams, Case No. 4f22b2cc — Proposer identified as "xin"; the original proposal includes three demands: digitalization, external review committee avoidance of item writers, and requiring citations of curricula or academic literature in responses.↩
- Liberty Times: Legislators call for CEEC to disclose decision standards; Parents criticize item quality — Reports on the July 31 press conference attended by Legislators Luo Ting-wei, Ye Yuan-zhi, Ministry of Education representatives, and parent representative Hsu Tai-ying (student quotes unnamed).↩
- TKB Study Guide: Schedule for preference registration and results release for 115th Advanced Subjects Test — Provides key dates for re-examination, preference registration, and result release following the 2026 Advanced Subjects Test.↩