Over 9,500 final year students of University Grants Committee-funded undergraduate degree programmes have registered for the International English Language Testing System under the fourth round of the Common English Proficiency Assessment Scheme, up 10% over the same cohort last year.

The University Grants Committee said the high participation shows students attach importance to their English proficiency.

In 2005-06 the committee offered summer testing sessions to help students and employers, and provide them more options.

Thirty-four testing sessions will be organised in 2005-06, including the nine summer ones.