Bloomberg News Reports 'Annual Entrance Exam Shutdown'
"Commute Times Delayed and Aircraft Takeoffs and Landings Restricted"
On the 16th, the day of the 2024 College Scholastic Ability Test, a mother is praying for her daughter in front of the exam site set up at Yeouido Girls' High School in Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@
The day of the 2024 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) is approaching. Foreign media have paid attention to the unique measures in Korean society that fully support the CSAT.
On the 15th, Bloomberg News reported an article titled "South Korea Prepares for Annual Entrance Exam Shutdown." The article, which emphasized that academic achievement is valued above all else in Korea, stated, "On Thursday (CSAT day), many areas across South Korea will come to a halt as students nationwide prepare for the very important university entrance exam."
On the 15th, the preliminary gathering day for the 2024 College Scholastic Ability Test, examinees are checking the seating arrangement at Ewha Girls' High School in Jung-gu, Seoul. [Photo by Yonhap News]
This year, a total of 504,588 students will take the CSAT, which will be held at test centers nationwide from 8:40 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. on the 16th.
Bloomberg reported, "Companies delay the start of work so as not to interfere with students going to the exam sites, and the opening time of stock and foreign exchange markets is also pushed back by one hour to 10 a.m. Police will be deployed to assist students who might be late for the exam."
It continued, "Transportation is also affected. Trains and vehicles moving around the exam sites operate slowly and must refrain from using horns, and aircraft takeoffs and landings are suspended for 35 minutes during the afternoon English listening test."
Bloomberg also reported that a total of 94 flight schedules will be adjusted for the CSAT and military training will be suspended.
Bloomberg pointed out, "In South Korea, where entering prestigious universities is considered an essential path to employment at large corporations, the CSAT is a very important event."
It also presented government statistics showing that families of test-takers spend large amounts on private education, with household expenditures on private education in 2022 increasing by 11% from the previous year to 26 trillion won (19.9 billion dollars). This spending accounts for more than 20% of household expenditures.
The media outlet introduced the fact that President Yoon Suk-yeol instructed in June to exclude 'killer questions' (ultra-difficult questions) from the CSAT, adding, "The CSAT is known for throwing killer questions that do not appear in textbooks, and many families send their children to private tutoring centers called 'hagwon' to prepare for them."
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