Thailand O-NET exams are the equivalent of A Levels in the UK, SAT in the US and the Diploma Programme in International Baccalaureate (IB) schools. As such they not only measure educational attainment but they also come to define those academic programmes.
For example; A-levels are academically rigorous, the equivalent of the 1st year of university in many countries, the IB Diploma is excellently rounded including everything from volunteer work to team projects to individual research and America's SAT assesses critical reading, mathematics and writing, measuring skills that are essential for success in college.