Korean Exam Day

Filed as: Teaching in Korea // Responses: 58

This November 18th was one of the most important days in the life of a Korean high school student: Korean Exam Day. High school students in their last year of high school (also known as 3rd grade) took their university entrance exams. This exam is what most of them have been studying for their entire high school careers. Some students start preparing for it in middle school. Middle school! WOW! Once the students reach high school, they stay late for “self study” time. School begins roughly around 7am and goes until 10pm, 11pm, or midnight. Third grade high school students stay the latest, and even after midnight, some of them would go to a private study room for another hour or so, then sleep a few tiny hours and go back to school the next day to do the same thing. If they’re not at a study room, they might be at a “hagwon”, a private after school tutoring centre that costs parents a lot of money. For majority of students in Korea, middle/high school is your entire life.

This test is such a big deal that police are there outside of the doors to monitor who goes in and out of the school, and to control the crowds. Work is pushed back to 9am that day so all the students can get to their high school smoothly. Korean celebrities, like SHINee and other SM artists, posted videos wishing the students good luck the day before. The day before the exam, the schools are emptied of all material, and all reflective surfaces are covered in the classrooms to prevent cheating. Students must bring their own lunches that day, because the school cafeteria doesn’t want to be blamed if the food makes a student feel sick and do poorly. No one, including the teachers, can go in or out of the school that day. No food delivery, no leaving to get food.

But some things are a bit too extreme. Teachers can’t wear perfume or wear clothing that might distract the students from their test. Supervising teachers must remain in one place for the whole exam; if you walk around too much to check for cheating, a student might complain that it distracted them. If a student is sick, other students can complain on or blame the sick student for distracting them.

The internet becomes a scary place for teachers after the exam. It can get to the point that some students with low marks will report their supervising teacher for being a distraction, and the student’s poor grades are a result of that supervisor. In turn, that teacher can get into a lot of trouble because of these distraction. In other words, the stress level is extremely high, for both students and teachers alike.

And that’s why the junior students wait outside to cheer their fellow seniors from 5am – 8:30am. With all the stress and heaviness placed on that day, everyone could use a little cheering. Hopefully all of the students did well that day, and didn’t notice Martina’s terrible bowing skills. Fighting! So here’s a video of them cheering from wayyyy early in the morning. We think it was really cool, and we’re glad to have been a part of it.

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http://www.facebook.com/cari.lyn.nelson Cari Nelson

This is maybe the coolest vid i've seen of yours so far… it was a neat glimpse of Korean life :p
dakewang

i saw this on news the other day..it was really extreme.
i think blaming on distractive clothes and perfumes for one's bad grades is really unreasonable!
if one is well prepared for an exam, no kinds of perfumes or clothing can prevent him/her from being able to answer the questions or write an essay!
anyway, why did they have to bow in the end?

http://www.eatyourkimchi.com Eatyourkimchi

I think they were bowing at the end to show their respect to the schools and to wish the students good luck. I'm not sure though. Someone explained it to me but I forgot. Ahh!

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000293660084 Jihye Choi

Yeah, Martina explained almost all. I'm going to take this exam (ìˆ˜ëŠ¥) in 3 years… haha those upcoming high school years would be so rough but also happy with my friends living in the same dorm! ^_^
alina1994

Wow this is amazing :D they are so cheerful and all.. I wish I'd have something like that when I take my final exams in 2 years >_< Well, I think that Korean education system is insane. Sorry if that sounded rude, but thats just my opinion. Why doesn't the government change anything? I mean, they make students spend their whole youth at school, actually; study during the night etc. It's not really surprising that Korea's suicide rate is so high, is it? Okay, maybe it's more the adults.. but anyway. Pheeeww I just hope Korean students won't have such a hard time anymore someday..

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_TSUFNGWAZOCEFRABNR6MSXDENE Jaeyoung G

It’s because Korea is such an education based society. My grandfather was always away from home on business in America when my mom was in highschool and since he usually was really strict, and my mom had five other siblings, my grandma didn’t enforce studying, my mom just took it as her duty. The mentality of these tests are that if one does well then they’re set up for the future. Every Korean parent dreams of their kid being a doctor or the like because historically, it’s always been the most honorable profession. Even the kings were scholars. Generally, Korean students won’t commit suicide. Or at least in my experience they won’t. For the most part, we’re very driven people. It’s really stupid how much they study, but these exams determine everything. I mean, they don’t consider that it’s not what you learn or where you learn but what you do with your education. Anyways, that’s the logic(ishness) behind it.

Eleanna

Well, i can totally understand them !!!! As a 3rd grade high school student ( but in Greece – we have the same educational system ) i really feel what these exams are !!!! I love that they are soo cheerfull and everyone support the students ( unfortunately this is not happening to my country ) !!!!!
Liz

wow..I got so emotional while watching this video…I was one of those girls cheering for senior students on the morning of the exam day. we had to wake up so early to get the best spot for cheering. since all the senior students from different schools are randomly separated in several local schools for that exam, you'll see juniors from other schools cheering for their seniors that morning. that's probably what Martina means by "competing." the next year when i was taking that exam( it was the longest day of my life) i was very touched by the junior students' cheering. what a crazy memory! It's also fun to watch boys cheering for their seniors ;) they go crazy.
http://www.twitter.com/starzlem93 Lem

Wahh that's EXTREME. Here in the Philippines we have separate exams for separate universities. Korea is very lucky to have only one. I have to take a lot starting this July (at least 4 cause I'm applying for BIG UNIVERSITIES rock on!) T^T and I'm planning to study in the US so i have SATs too. aigoo :)) We have review programs here held during our summer break and it's held at different review centers outside school. (Im starting this April ) We also have separate programs if you'd like to take tests like SATs, IELTS and TOEFL. I heard that we have to take them if we would like to studying in Canada and the US.
It's so lucky and sweet that the hoobaes are cheering for their sunbaes are cheering for them. For us if you do that on our entrance exam test day, they're going to think you're crazy HAHAH.

http://twitter.com/Soshiloveable Denise Tan é™ˆæ•æ€¡

that is the same for us, people will think u r from institute of mental health in singapore LOL

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_ZSZEIWENZSF6ZY3EBNBV3IIDFU Lilly

Can I ask a question?Ohh ok I’ll ask – do 3rd graders take only one exam in Korea.Because here in Bulgaria we take a lot of exams.First we take English exam (TOEFL, IELTS etc.) when we are in 10 or 11 grade.When you are in 3rd year you take exams for all classes and I really mean all – biology, chemistry, physics, geography, mathematics, Bulgarian, English, PE, history, informatics, psychology ,some classes that only your class studies in that school and that grade (I study Spanish and also you cant just choose what to study in high school U STUDY ALL OF THOSE).When you do those exams from what you got from it (A,B or C… – here you get 6,5,4,3,2(2 if F – Loser) and 1 if you help someone) the teacher decides what will be your mark for his class ( if this year you had 6,6,5 and 4 on the exam in some class the teacher will do this – (6+6+5+4)/4= 5 for the year which is B).Then you have to take a Matura exam which will have the final word for you diploma.There are two matura exams one that is obligatory (Bulgarian exam) and one one of your choice (for me English) but of course you can take more matura exams.Then comes the funny partT.T. Lets say you have 4(C) and 4(C) on your maturas and you have 6(A) form school (all the classes in one – something like a GPA) …so on your diploma you’ll have…..*thinks…(4+6+4)/3=4,75 O.O after all the hard work to have all 6 in all classes T.T (sad). And after this you take different exams from all the universities that you are trying to get in.
I think about going to Korean university thats why I try my best but the school system in Bulgaria is soooo wrong. First we don’t have elementary,middel and high school.You can study in one school from 1 to 12 grade or if you want when you finish 7 grade there is an exam to get in better school because when you get in 1 grade you parents send you to the one school that is closest to your home.And a lot of people say that Bulgarian kids are not smart but we actually study things faster then for ex. kids in America. The math that kids in America study in 7 or 8 grade we study in 5 grade. XP

PS: I LOVE EAT YOUR KIMCHI AND KOREA <3
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000327611705 Jason Cheong

gotta say something as korean. third graders take 4 exam at their own school, 1st semester’s mid term and final and 2nd semester’s midterm and final. at october, they take this test and with that grade, they can apply for the universities they want to go . if they fail? apply to the university that doesn’t need high grade. if the student doesn’t want the bad university, he or she studies again and take the exam again next year
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000327611705 Jason Cheong

they take at least 9 exams. 5 including 4 exams through 2 semesters and this big test, and about 4 more tests from schoolboard for practicing this big test
http://www.facebook.com/claratari Clara Sovia Lestari

wow. I’m totally speechless. this is really something. I’ve noticed that 3rd graders would stay up late til midnight to study for their exams, but teachers not allowed to wear perfume and get reported for the students low rank? that’s extreme.
but it’s just really nice like that that the juniors cheer for their seniors. as for me here in my country, juniors won’t really give any care. yes they’ll send you messages or something thru the internet or to your phones, but that’s just it.
I do have a lot more respects for these Korean people. thank you Simon and Martina! your work is love :)

cpydiana

it’s really good that the teachers are not allowed to wear perfumes!!!!! i’ve been through some exams with some crazy teachers wearing piercing perfume that can distract in an instant!!! what’s more it stays for quite some time before it wears off ur spot….

http://www.facebook.com/people/Raj-Ratia/622616013 Raj Ratia

So do you guys get to work as a teacher in Korea for a couple of years, and then have to move back to Canada and find teaching jobs there? Or, do you guys just get to keep on teaching in Korea? Cause I am still really confused about the whole teaching abroad thing, but i’m really interested in doing it as a career in the future!!!!!!
http://twitter.com/Soshiloveable Denise Tan é™ˆæ•æ€¡

the last year of = school in singapore is when they are at sec 4 which is kind of like 10th grade, we got Â prelim,common test,mid year before N levelsÂ
Cecilia G

OMGGGG Korean people are so nice <3 I WANNA TEACH THERE<3
http://www.facebook.com/people/Eunji-Choi/717322889 Eunji Choi

ohhhhh this brings back my memory! I was cheering for my seniors too!
5AM is nothing! most of us were outside of school waiting like from like 2AM
I remember by the time I headed to home, I felt like wind was blowing through my bones and cracking up into pieces like they were dipped into liquid nitrogen XO
it was sooooooo cold and I will never forget that day because of its fun as well as its coldness~
Anonymous

hi martina!
there’s something like this in china too called the “gao kao.” if you ever get curious about chinese education, you should check that out
http://twitter.com/xkarichan Chariz

wow i find this to be rather touching actually O.o

nearly cried T^T
http://www.ChellBellz.com/ Elle @ Chellbellz

Wow….if we only took things like this seriously over here! I love it!
xxmalle-mus

I wish we had this kind of thing in Denmark. We have something a bit different though. When we’re done with ‘high school’ each class (that consists of 30 students, more or less) rent a huge truck with an awesome stereo and drive around in the city while visiting each students home, where there will be served some food and usually some kind of alcohol too (since we’re allowed to drink at age 16). On the truck they will usually have banners saying “1 honk, and we drink – 2 honks, and we flash – 3 honks, and we will moon!” and they will be screaming and cheering everywhere. Then at the end, they party like hell. Everytime you see a truck filled with students you’re supposed to scream congratulations and cheer for them. At least that’s what most people do. Now, before all the classes that have graduated starts crusing around, all students and parents and everybody will be cheering at the school. And that’s how we do it. I’m so looking forward to it :DD !!

We also have these hats og cap-things (don’t really know what to call them), where your friends will write a message on the inside. And then there’s rules for these cap-hats too. Every time you throw up, you get like a small cut in the screen, and if you pee in your pants because you’ve been drinking too much, you have to drink a beer out of the hat. And a bunch of other crazy rules. Lookin’ forward.
http://twitter.com/_IssyWizy_ Issy

Wow… On the exam day, is the school closed for all other students and non-supervising teachers?