South Korea exam chief quits over complaints of too-hard tests

The chief organizer of South Korea's university entrance exam, the Suneung, resigned after criticism that the English test he designed was too difficult. The Suneung is crucial for admission to top universities and is widely seen as a gateway to social and economic success.

This year, just over 3% of students scored top marks in the English test, the lowest since absolute grading began in 2018. Students had 70 minutes to answer 45 questions, some of which sparked controversy due to their complexity.

Challenging questions included analyzing the political philosophers Immanuel Kant and Thomas Hobbes, considering the nature of time and clocks, and exploring the idea of existence for video game avatars. The use of the unusual word “culturtainment” also caused confusion, even among experts.

The Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation issued an apology, acknowledging that the test was too difficult and failed to reduce students’ academic burden. The chief, Oh Seung-keol, stepped down amid the backlash.

South Korea’s highly competitive education system has been linked to teenage stress and high suicide rates. The issue of exam difficulty remains sensitive, highlighted by reports that the nephew of Samsung’s CEO scored almost perfectly despite missing one question, earning admission to Seoul National University.

Source : https://uk.news.yahoo.com/south-korea-exam-chief-resigns-030151572.html

Comprehension

Why did the chief organiser of the Suneung resign?
How many students scored top marks in the English test this year?
What are some examples of difficult questions in the test?
What did the Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation say in their apology?
How does South Korea’s education system affect students’ mental health?

Discussion

Why do you think the Suneung exam is so important in South Korea?
Should exams include very difficult or unusual questions? Why or why not?
How can extreme academic pressure affect teenagers?
Do you think standardized tests are a fair way to measure students’ abilities?
How could schools balance challenging students with protecting their mental health?

Vocabulary

Entrance exam – a test required for admission to a school or university.
Backlash – a strong negative reaction by a group of people.
Controversy – a public disagreement or argument about an issue.
Scrutinized – examined very carefully.
Portmanteau – a word formed by combining two words, like “culturtainment.”