Korean Exam Error at Gangnam High School for Third-Year Students,
Question Deleted After Consultation and Grades Reissued
Sudden Grade Changes Leave Students Confused
At a high school in Gangnam, Seoul, the first semester grades for third-year students were revised and reissued due to an error in the final exam questions. As the current college admissions system can result in different grades and eligible universities based on a single question, third-year students who had been preparing for early admissions based on their original grades are now facing confusion.
Students preparing for the June mock test of the 2026 College Scholastic Ability Test. This photo is not directly related to the article. Yonhap News
On July 18, Yonhap News reported that High School A, located in Seocho-gu, Seoul, initially announced the first semester grades to third-year students last week, but then revised and reissued them on July 17. The school stated that the reason for the grade change was an error in the final exam questions. An error was found in one of the Korean language exam questions, and the school decided to treat the question as if it had never existed.
Previously, the school had handled the question error in two different ways. After students pointed out the error immediately following the final exam, the school, through the subject council and the academic performance committee, decided to accept 'multiple correct answers.' The first semester grades were then calculated based on this decision.
However, after further objections were raised, the school, following additional consultations with the subject council and external organizations, decided this time to delete the question entirely. The question was treated as if it had never been part of the exam. As a result, students who had answered the question incorrectly had their scores adjusted upward, while those who had received points under the 'multiple correct answers' standard were now at a relative disadvantage.
The main issue concerns students who had developed their early admissions strategies based on their original grades. In early admissions, even a one-point difference can change a student's grade and the universities they are eligible to apply to, making grade changes a highly sensitive matter. In particular, students who had received points under the 'multiple correct answers' standard are reportedly expressing strong opposition.
The school explained that, with the summer break approaching and experiential learning schedules overlapping, it was realistically difficult to administer a retest.
In response, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education stated, "The Gangnam-Seocho Office of Education will review the entire grade evaluation management process at the school in question and will once again instruct strict adherence to academic performance management regulations and guidelines." The office added, "To prevent recurrence, we will ensure that schools in the district strictly comply with academic performance management guidelines and will conduct consulting and training to strengthen the process of creating and reviewing regular exam questions."
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