College admissions in South Korea
The South Korean college entrance system requires all graduating high school students (or those with equivalent academic standing) to take an entrance exam called the College Scholastic Ability Test[1] which takes place once every year.
In Korea, the following factors are mainly reflected in college entrance exams: Commonly called the CSAT or in Korean, Suneung, the College Scholastic Ability Test, is the most common national-level entrance exam in South Korea, taking place once every year.
Some of these measures include viewing potential, evaluating extra-curricular activities, and considering recommendations from principals and teachers that can further enhance their academic abilities.
In 1954, the Combined College Entrance Exam was conducted, and only the students who passed could take the independent examination system for each university.
[8]From 1994, the recruitment unit was changed to Ga, Na, and Da-category (in the past, there was also the La-category) according to the entrance examination period.
The College Scholastic Ability Test, is usually held on the first Thursday of November and takes place for about eight hours, excluding a one-hour lunch and break time.
Throughout the test, students are required to complete six sections: National Language (Korean), English, Mathematics, Korean History, Social Studies or Science or Vocational Education, and a Second Foreign Language (Chinese, Classical Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Spanish, Russian, or Arabic).
Later, essay tests or interviews were taken from 1997 to the present day under the government's policy of "banning the main exam," and they are scored and reflected in the entrance examination.
To minimize the number of people carried forward from the regular admission process from the 2012 school year, unregistered recruitment was also introduced.
[22] Opinion polls also show that the public's perception of the comprehensive student record screening system is not good.
32.1 percent of the respondents cited "a drastic reduction in non-curriculum activities" as one of the things that need to be improved regarding the comprehensive student record screening.
In regular admission, a total of three applications can be applied for each recruitment category (Ga, Na, and Da-category, and in the past, there was also the La-category),[24] one for each on-time recruitment in accordance with the six-time limit for early admission (except for industrial universities, colleges, and other universities).
[25] Standard scores and percentiles of the College Scholastic Ability Test are mainly used for regular admission, but in some cases, grades are also utilized.
Early admission applicants are required to submit their academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, personal essays, and other documents as determined by the specific university.
Therefore, students who are interested in special admission should carefully review the requirements and prepare their application materials well in advance.
To apply for additional recruitment or rolling admission, students typically need to submit their academic transcripts, standardized test scores, personal essays, and letters of recommendation, as well as any other required documents specified by the university.
Since the admission process is ongoing and spots are filled as they become available, it's important for students to apply as soon as possible to increase their chances of being admitted.
However, it's also important to note that the admission requirements and the number of available spots may change throughout the year, so students should check with the university regularly for updates and deadlines.
The general screening process typically takes place in November of each year, with the application period lasting a few weeks.
The admission decision is based on a comprehensive review of the student's application, including their academic achievements, extracurricular activities, personal essays, and letters of recommendation.
The quota special screening is designed for students who have exceptional talents or achievements in specific areas such as sports, music, or the arts.
However, they may include additional essays, interviews, or auditions to demonstrate the student's talents and skills, as well as their academic performance and other application materials.
Therefore, students who are interested in special screening should carefully review the admission requirements and prepare their application materials well in advance.
However, as major universities in Seoul increase the proportion of regular admissions, the Special screening system within the quota tends to be abolished.
