One of the most hectic days in South Korea just passed. Just about 700,000 high school students took the national college entrance examination. This is no minor ordeal. The yearly test determines a student's potential. There is so much value placed on the exam that planes can't even take to the air near the test site, and the workday starts one hour later so students can get to the testing center without any problems.
Police even escort girls toward their school. There are 1,100 examination locations throughout the country. Many parents escort their children to the test and encouragethem while others hang around outside and watch their students taking the test. Students even come ready with water bottles and seat cushions.
Students prime for this test their whole life. One student reported studying six hours per day outside of school in order to get ready. The anxiety is high because that's what universities look at. One student said "It's all going to be changed by this."
The stress gets so high for some students that they end up committing suicide. For those that have opted to take the test and spent a large percent of their time studying have parents and grandparents praying at Buddhist temples in Seoul and throughout the country. Parents pray their child's college placement exams will go well and the scores will be great. Some parents have been praying for this over the past 100 days.
A students potential and ultimately their being comes down to one test in one single day. But since the country does give emphasis to education 83 percent of high school grads go to universities. But in order to get to a university they have to do well on the nine hour long test.
The stress and pressure placed on these kids is exorbitant. A child's opportunity shouldn't depend on one day and one test. Plus the fact that many kids don't test very well. It goes back to the idea that people understand and test differently. Some do good on tests while others do greater on interviews or projects. The government ought to give students more of a chance to show that they can be successful in life without this test.
Even though South Korea's graduation rates are high, and their college attendance is high students still need to be able to live a life. They need to use up time with friends socializing, playing sports, and spending time with relatives. Not everything is learned in the classroom. They need to experience high school and College life because for many of us that was the best time of our life.
There is way too much pressure positioned on these South Korean students. The U.S. also has a valuable test but there isn’t as much strain involved. While the ACT or SAT in America are the big test they don't determine your future. They give a background to display what you have learned. Yet students can go on to college and live a successful life with the value of hard work and even if you have low scores many still get into college.
Education is awfully important but many Americans go on to college, open their own businesses, and lead successful lives even if they didn't score well on the test. While the American system needs a lot of improvement, the South Koreans need to loosen up a little bit. There is no way one test can determine the cleverness or importance of a student.
About the Author Info
Diane Johnson graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Utah and enjoys writing about current events, politics, college degrees, online colleges and universities, and the office.
