수능(Korean university entrance exam)

As some of you might know, I haven't written any posting for a while. I seriously apologize about it..!











While I haven't been here, I got a message from a reader. It was asking about how to be student in Korea, and scholarship. So, today I'm here to let you know about them. I can't be sure all but I'm just going to tell you as much as I know.

Before you understand about University entrance exam in Korea, you should know what's 수시 and 정시.

수시 is kind of nonscheduled admission, but it's usually on summer vacation.

People needs high school record,  portfolio, or essay, depends on the admission. It can require some grades of entrance exam.

정시 is scheduled admission with entrance exam, and it might require essay test depends on admission.

About a week ago, it was a day of 수능. 수능 is an university entrance exam in Korea. It's like SAT in US or A-levels in the UK. 

The exam is only for A DAY and it's every 2nd Thursday on November. 

So, it was 13th november in this year.

Everyone with high school diploma can take the exam, 수능.

At the 수능 day, you can see cheering in front of schools where people take entrance exam.

http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=102&oid=003&aid=0004815880

http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=102&oid=001&aid=0005364633

Here's timetable of 수능

Korean, Math, and English is required subjects, and examinee chooses one section among science, social studies, and vocational inquiry section, and they need to choose 3 subjects in the section. 

There's also foreign language and Chinese character. It's optional. You can take one of the subject, or you can go home without taking any of that sections.

In my case, I took Korean, Math, English, and Vocational inquiry section(Computer, Commercial economy, and Accounting.)

As you can see the exam starts pretty early, so people can be late. If you are going to be late, you can call to the police.. :o

And then, here's what happens

http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=102&oid=001&aid=0005921986

http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=102&oid=001&aid=0006583393

Yeah, police will give you a ride. D:

Anyway.

After several weeks later, examinees get a result paper. According to my memory, there's raw score, standard score, percentile, and grade. 

You can get entered depends on your result. 

Even though you can get entered university depends on the result of the exam, it seems like you still need not only grade, but also luck.

Now, examinee must be nervous waiting for their result. I wish the best wishes to them. :)

Next time, I will be back with a posting about Scholarship in Korea.

p.s : These exam is only for Korean. There's another admission for foreigners. :)