Students across South Korea received the results of their college entrance exam on December 12. According to the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation 531,327 took the examination this year, 11,397 more than last year. The exam, known as Suneung, is the culmination of 12 years of elementary, middle and high school education.

Korean society places a high value on examination results, however ‘diversified admission criteria’ has been introduced at universities to reduce the burden on students from a single high stakes exam. This includes performance appraisals during high school, in which teacher discretion plays a part, however questions are being raised about the fairness of this system.

Commentary by Hyunjung Oh, Director Education and Society, British Council Korea:

The slight increase in the number of students taking Suneung this year was because most of the ‘millennial babies’ (born in 2000) took the test, and there was a slight increase in the birth rate in 2000. But the number of young people in Korea is in steady decrease, which remains to be a  major concern in Korea. 

The recent concern around the fairness of the appraisal system is reflective of the high commitment to university education, and recent scandals brought some frustration and call for action on the robustness of the school education system. This should not however significantly affect interest in studying overseas, since this is an expensive option for many families, and Korean higher education system is a well performing system.

Sources:

http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20171212000853

http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20181115000665&ACE_SEARCH=1

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2018/11/181_258696.html