It is with seriousness and determination that the students begin the exam. In addition to landing a place at one of South Korea’s top universities, “suneung” is seen as a gateway to high social status, lucrative careers and even good marriage prospects.
This exam is so important that authorities have taken drastic measures to prevent any disruption during the exam.
No theft or traffic jams
To reduce noise pollution while listening to the English test, the Seoul Ministry of Transportation announced a nationwide ban on all aircraft takeoffs and landings for thirty-five minutes, except in emergency situations. emergency.
With the exception of aircraft in distress, all aircraft in flight must maintain an altitude above 3,000 meters during this short period. More than 90 flights had to be postponed because of the review.
Public services and large businesses have been asked to adjust their opening hours to ease traffic jams and ensure students arrive on time for the national exam, which started at 8:40 a.m. local time. The Seoul Stock Exchange also opened an hour later than usual.
A more accessible exam
For this year’s exam, authorities have abandoned “killer questions”, i.e. those that cannot be answered by studying only the curriculum taught in public schools, in an effort to reduce dependency towards expensive private schools.
“Questions of appropriate difficulty were selected… to ensure that (students) could demonstrate their aptitude based solely on the content covered in the public education curriculum,” Jeong Moon-seong, a professor at he university that oversaw the administration of the exam this year.
Dangerous pressure for students
If this exam can allow students to reach the top of the social ladder, its preparation is strongly criticized. The enormous pressure placed on students in South Korea’s ultra-competitive education system has been blamed for fueling teenage depression and suicide, the rates of which are among the highest in the world.
South Korean households spent more than $20 billion on private lessons for primary, middle and high school students last year, according to official statistics.