Among 21 People, Only 1 Responded 'Private Education Will Decrease'
"Will Continue Private Education to Get a Perfect Score"
Confusion is spreading among students, parents, and educators directly affected by the immediate exclusion of 'killer questions.' When asked for their opinions, most students, who are the primary subjects of admission policies, believed that excluding killer questions would not significantly reduce private education.
On the 25th, Asia Economy surveyed 21 students, including middle schoolers, high school students from grades 1 to 3, and repeat test takers preparing for exams. Only one respondent said that the policy to exclude 'killer questions' would help reduce private education. The largest group, 12 students, believed there would be no change in their use of private education, while 6 said they would actually increase it. One student responded with "I don't know."
It should be noted that due to the small sample size, it is difficult to generalize these survey results. Among the respondents, 7 were high school seniors, 6 were juniors, 2 were freshmen, and 1 was a middle school student. Five were repeat test takers or beyond. Of the 20 high school or older students excluding the middle schooler, 10 were in the top grade tier, 5 in the second tier, 4 in the third tier, and 1 in the fourth tier.
Many students who participated in the survey said that excluding 'killer questions' is not the key to reducing private education. Yoon Su-young (16), a high school freshman, said, "Even if killer questions are excluded, the private education market will focus on preparing for question types that amplify test-takers' anxiety," adding, "It will operate similarly to how existing academies prepare for regular school exams." Baek Seung-hyun (18), a high school senior, said, "Due to uncertainty and anxiety, dependence on academy instructors is intensifying."
When asked if they actually intended to reduce private education, 13 students responded that there would be no change, which was the most common answer, while 7 said they would increase it. Only one student said they would reduce it. Kim (18), a high school senior, stated, "If killer questions are removed, only easy questions that everyone can answer will remain, and if you don't get all of them right, you might not get into the desired university, so private education will continue to achieve perfect scores."
Hong Seung-hyun (17), a high school junior, also said, "If the number of semi-killer questions increases, those who memorize many problem-solving techniques and tricks taught in private education will have an advantage," adding, "I would rather increase private education."
Some students expressed confusion over the sudden announcement without prior notice. Jang (17), a high school freshman, said, "The sudden announcement makes it confusing about how to prepare." Yoon Su-young (17), also a high school freshman, said, "The inconsistent policies cause great confusion in the education field," and added, "A cautious announcement of admission policies seems necessary."
Students said that the social structure that success depends solely on attending a good university must be changed first. Kim Mo-se (19), a high school junior, pointed out, "The social structure where it is difficult to get a job or earn money without going to university must change." Kim also said, "The fundamental reason private education expands is not the difficulty of exams but the perception that only attending a good university in Seoul leads to success in life," adding, "If the perceptions of students and parents about universities do not change, reducing private education will be difficult."
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