Military Academy Entrance Exam Registration in June... This Year, Reduced Number of Questions and Time

Common and Elective Subjects System for Mathematics
Reduced Number and Time of Korean and English Questions
Application Starts from June 25

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] From June, applications for the Army, Navy, Air Force Academies, and the Armed Forces Nursing Academy will begin. Starting from the 2022 academic year, the number of questions and exam time for Korean and English will be reduced, and Mathematics will change to a system with common and elective subjects similar to the CSAT.

The service academies are not included in the number of early or regular admissions applications, so applicants can take the exams regardless of their application or acceptance status at general universities. Since there are gender ratio restrictions on the number of recruits and the eligibility criteria are strict, it is necessary to check the qualifications in advance. The exam is divided into two stages: the first stage assesses academic ability, and the second stage evaluates physical condition, fitness, personality, security awareness, and values.

Depending on the selection process, school records, CSAT scores, Korean History Proficiency Test, and physical fitness bonus points are reflected in the evaluation. For the 2022 academic year, applicants must submit a 'statement of purpose' as in the previous year. All service academies conduct artificial intelligence (AI) interviews, which are used as reference materials for the interviews.

This year, the first exam will reduce the number of Korean questions from 45 to 30 and the exam time from 80 minutes to 50 minutes. Mathematics has changed to common and elective subjects; humanities students must choose one from Probability and Statistics, Calculus, or Geometry, while natural science students must choose one from Calculus or Geometry. English questions are also reduced from 45 to 30, and exam time is shortened from 70 minutes to 50 minutes.

The Army Academy will select candidates this year through priority selection divided into high school principal recommendation and aptitude excellence. For the principal recommendation track, each school can recommend up to 3 current students and 2 graduates. Starting this year, the self-introduction letter required for first-stage exam passers and the teacher recommendation letter before the second exam have been eliminated.

The Air Force Academy has abolished the history and security essay in the second exam starting this year and increased the weight of the interview. The number of successful candidates selected has also changed; last year, it was 4 times the number of male candidates per track and 6 times for females, but this year it will be 4 times for male humanities, 6 times for male natural sciences, 8 times for female humanities, and 10 times for female natural sciences.

The Navy Academy operates the general selection by distinguishing between the high school principal recommendation track and the general priority track. This year, the number of recommendations allowed per school for the principal recommendation track has been expanded from 2 to 4. The method of reflecting school record grades has also changed from differential reflection by grade to averaging all grades across all years. An additional selection system for first exam passers will also be introduced.

The Armed Forces Nursing Academy selects about 90% female and about 10% male out of the total 90 recruits. The priority selection and comprehensive selection proportions are both 50%, which is a difference from other service academies. Like the Navy Academy, starting from the 2022 academic year, the average score of all subjects across all years is reflected, and the second exam schedule has been shortened from 3 days and 2 nights to 1 day per individual.

Kim Byungjin, director of the Etoos Education Evaluation Research Institute, advised, "The first exam has a similar scope, question type, and difficulty level to the CSAT, so many top students take it as a practice 'pre-CSAT.' Since the average scores of successful candidates are high, thorough preparation is necessary to apply to the service academies."