[Education in Korea Has Lost Its Way] ① "Aiming for Top English Scores in Elementary School"... The Spreading Chain of Pre-learning

A Report on the "Age Seven Exam" Born from Anxiety and Policy Failure
Middle School Math Finished in Just 14 Months
Frequent College Admissions Changes Fuel Growing Anxiety

Editor's NotePrivate education is casting a shadow over Korea's education system. In the "CSAT system," where every single correct answer matters, children start attending English academies as soon as they are out of diapers, and even after graduating from high school, many embark on the path of "Nth attempts" at college entrance exams. Over the past two months, Asia Economy visited educational sites, meeting students, parents, teachers, and experts to understand the reality and seek alternatives. People expressed concern that this lost direction in education will have a negative impact on our lives, economy, and future, saying, "Things cannot go on like this."

"Based on the results of the level test (academy entrance exam), the only class available is the preparatory class. However, the preparatory class is not currently offered, ma'am."

Several academy signs are attached to a building in the academy district of Mokdong, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

On the 23rd, at an English academy in Mokdong, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, a staff member was consulting with a parent over the phone. This English academy, which offers English writing, intensive reading of original texts, English debate, and native speaker classes, divides students into seven levels. If a student's score is too low, they cannot attend even if they want to. When the staff member says "the preparatory class is not offered," it is another way of saying the academy cannot accept the student. The staff member explained, "The test was at the level of a U.S. 7th grade second semester textbook, but the result was a low level," and added, "If your child builds up their skills a bit more and retakes the test, it should be possible."

The 'Exam' Taken at Age Seven

The level test is colloquially known among parents as the "age seven exam." When children who have completed English kindergarten turn seven, they take entrance exams at prestigious language academies around October to maintain or improve their skills. The term comes from the way parents and children become as focused as if they were preparing for a high-level civil service exam.

On the 23rd, children who finished English kindergarten are leaving school in the academy district of Mokdong, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

Kim Eunkyung (45), a real estate agent in Mokdong, said, "Here, it's common to see kids asking each other, 'Did you pass the level test?' or 'Which class are you in?'" She added, "Famous language academies divide classes by ability, such as 'top class' or 'Harvard class.' According to parents, competition even arises among the children, with some begging to be sent to the academy." The more difficult it is to pass the level test, the more prestigious the academy becomes, as difficulty is equated with a higher standard. The name of the class a child attends essentially becomes a "status symbol."

An English instructor (32) who previously worked at a well-known language academy said, "They deliberately make the test difficult." She added, "They design the test so that even students who have studied a fair amount can't pass, and there's a business motive involved." She explained, "From the academy's perspective, they want to show off that 'our students can solve even these problems,' and make parents feel anxious that their child must attend."

Based on the reporter's observations at a language academy, these strategies were working. Among the parents who accompanied their children to the level test, some muttered to themselves, "Is my child really that lacking?" while others advised, "Get private tutoring for the level test." Some parents blamed themselves, saying, "My child is good at speaking, but lacks in other areas." Why do they go to such lengths? Ultimately, parents cited the "CSAT," "college admissions," and "hopes for medical school admission" as the reasons.

"Get English Out of the Way Early..."

On the 24th, at another English academy in Mokdong, a parent information session held at 7:30 p.m. was so crowded there was barely room to stand. The session was conducted by a native speaker, and parents nodded as if they understood everything. The academy director said, "There are students who get on the 'master track' (the academy's highest level) in 6th grade or 1st year of middle school. At this level, they could already score in the top tier on the CSAT." A parent in their 40s attending the session frowned and said, "My child is only at the basic level, so what should I do?"

On the 23rd, various academies are housed in a building in Mokdong, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

The reason the "age seven exam" emerged is because parents believe that if their child finishes English, which is assessed on an absolute scale, as pre-learning, they can focus entirely on math and other subjects in middle and high school.

Taking it a step further, a franchise math academy headquartered in Daechi-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, claims to complete the three-year middle school math curriculum in just one year and two months. The material that is covered in a semester at school is finished in two months at the academy. Furthermore, the 1st and 2nd year middle school curriculum is completed in eight months, and from the ninth month, students start the 3rd year curriculum. By the time students reach the second year of middle school, they begin the first year of high school math?a form of extreme pre-learning. According to the civic group "World Without Worries About Private Education," some academies start with 5th graders and finish up to the 3rd year of high school science-track math by the time the students reach the 2nd year of middle school.

The Spreading Chain of Pre-learning

The reporter visited a small math academy, introducing themselves as the parent of a 5th grader, and requested a consultation. The director explained the "accelerated curriculum" in detail, writing the schedule out by hand. The director said that the content normally taught in a semester at school could be completed in three months at the academy. Taking into account vacation periods and preparation for school exams, the director presented a "realistic schedule." Following this plan, students would be able to complete the high school math curriculum twice by the time they enter high school. The director said, "In elementary school, it's possible to finish a semester's material in two months, but from middle school, since students have to prepare for school exams, it can take up to four months."

The chain of pre-learning that starts with English and continues with math extends to Korean language as well. To prepare for the CSAT Korean section, debate-based and descriptive performance assessments are conducted, and as the reading passages on the CSAT have become longer, essay, reading, and debate academies that emphasize literacy skills are thriving. Because middle and high school students are said to have no time, elementary students have become the main target for reading and essay academies.

In math academies in Daechi-dong and Mok-dong, the curriculum was designed so that students could complete the high school math course twice before graduating from middle school.

On top of this, rumors that the CSAT may switch to essay and descriptive formats starting with the 2032 academic year (affecting current 6th graders) have made parents and academies even more frantic. In January of this year, the Presidential National Education Commission discussed reforms to the college entrance system after the 2028 academic year, proposing the introduction of essay and descriptive assessments to the CSAT. For essay academies, this is a major boon. These days, not only are well-known essay academies full, but even small tutoring centers in apartment complexes have waiting lists. Jo Jeongok (60), who runs an essay tutoring center, said, "All the seats are filled," and added, "If necessary, I can switch students to one-on-one tutoring."

Why College Admissions Are Becoming More Extreme

How did things end up this way? There are countless reasons, but the experts the reporter met pointed to frequent changes in the college admissions system as the main culprit.

Last year, private education spending for elementary, middle, and high school students reached 29.2 trillion won, an all-time high. The percentage of students attending academies was also at a record high. Eight out of ten elementary, middle, and high school students (80.0%) received private education, an increase of 1.5 percentage points compared to 2023. In the academy industry, the main reason cited is the changes in the admissions environment due to the increase in medical school seats last year. The more the admissions system changes, the more anxiety grows among parents and students, and academies exploit this anxiety for profit.

Park Namgi, professor emeritus at Gwangju National University of Education, said, "Schools cannot quickly adapt to changes in the admissions system, so parents become anxious, and that anxiety is channeled into private education. Private education spending is directly related to changes in the admissions system." He added, "In Korea's winner-takes-all society, even if universities selected students by jump rope, the private education market would grow to teach even more advanced jump rope skills. Solutions such as closing income gaps by company, occupation, and region, and addressing polarization, must be approached from multiple angles."

Lee Yejin, research fellow at the Busan Institute of Future Strategy, said, "We cannot place all the blame on parental ambition or competitiveness. This is the result of a structure in which public education and the social system cannot absorb anxiety." She added, "Rather than having the courage not to provide private education, it is safer to make choices that reduce anxiety."

As a parent of two children, the reporter also confesses that there were many moments during coverage of the private education scene that were tempting. The private education world the reporter observed may be a "league of their own," but there are likely many parents who think, "If only I could," or "If I had the means, I would too." How did we end up like this?