High-school students take university entrance exams today

Clutching the school gate bars at the exam venue, first and second grade high school students pray that their seniors taking the college entrance exam earn good marks on Wednesday. This year, about 610,000 students have taken the Korean Scholastic Aptitude Test. (11-17-04 Chosun Ilbo)

That's right, today is University Enterance Exam Day here in Korea! Pretty much if I were a highschool student, all hell would be breaking out for me, but since I'm neither a highschool student nor a highschool employee (hell there isn't even a highschool in the town I teach in), it's pretty much business as usually for me. Here's what those in highschool have to look forward to...take it away Korea Herald!

A total of more than 610,000 applicants are taking the national university entrance exam at 912 exam centers across the nation on Wednesday (November 17).

The exam lasts from 8:40 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. and tests knowledge of Korean, English, math, civics, science, Chinese characters, and a second foreign language.

The government has asked workplaces across the nation to begin working hours later than usual to 10 a.m. if possible. The movement of cars within 200 meters of a test venue is prohibited due to possible congestion and parking difficulties.

The 119 emergency number usually used for reporting fires will accept calls from students who are sick or are having trouble getting to their exam site on time.

2004.11.17

That's right, the test runs from 8:40 until 6:15...I have been out of highschool for sometime, so correct me if I'm wrong, aren't the SATS only like 3 hours long? So for any American high school students who happen to be reading this, consider yourselves lucky. The article pretty much sums up the test experience, leaving out only the fact that the test is comprised of regurgitation of "facts" that have been memorized, and tests little in the realm of creative thinking, or cognitive ability. Oh, it also left out that elementary and middle school students go in at 10:00 instead of the normal time (which is prior to me waking up so I have no idea when that is), as to not interfere with those high schoolers trying to get to the schools on time. Additional highschool students not taking the exam get the day off from school today, which means when I am heading home there will be far too many highschool girls hanging around on the subway.
Oh the other thing that article did not include was any mention of the fact that when the results of this test are posted some people will inevitably kill themselves. That's right, some people will commit suicide if they do poorly on this test...so stay tuned for upcomming stories of teenage suicide.