Updated : 2025-11-13 23:00:33 KST
Suneung Day 2025 here in South Korea, where mostly high school seniors take the country's annual college entrance exam, has ended. A marathon of more than 9 hours of exams will determine their next steps in life, but before anything, these test takers are ready to enjoy a bit of freedom. Ahn Sung-jin was at one of the test sites. The long journey has come to an end. As students began to pour out after the 9-hour marathon national college entrance exam, also known as the Suneung( }, some had expressions of excitement on their faces, while some looked worried, as friends and families greeted them.
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"It was a bit more difficult than what I practiced with, so I was a bit startled, but at least I'm done with it. I want to travel abroad or use the test paper discounts to have fun." "I think I did fine in the morning, but I'm not sure about the afternoon. I just want to go home and sleep, though I still have an interview to prepare for." For many students here in South Korea, having a good score in the Suneung is something to strive for as it could decide their next steps in life. This year, more than 550-thousand students took the test at nearly 13-hundred test centers across the nation.
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The number of test takers for this year was the highest in seven years, though the number of those retaking the exam has slightly decreased, partly due to the reversal of plans to expand the medical school quota. To properly assess test takers' knowledge in line with the public education curriculum, the exam committee ensured a balanced distribution of questions with appropriate difficulty. "We excluded questions that would favor those trained in private education and focused on core and fundamental elements of the public school education."
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A team of on-site teachers evaluated that this year's exam would have likely been perceived as slightly more challenging compared to last year's as questions designed to differentiate top-performing students were somewhat more difficult. As the sun set on this year's Suneung day, the students of 2025 have truly earned their rest after a series of subjects, starting off with Korean language, continuing through with math, English and elective subjects. "For many, the day marked not just the end of an exam, but the beginning of a new chapter — a well-earned rest after years of effort. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News."
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영어 원문 출처 및 동영상 링크;
arirang news/Life/Culture
https://m.arirang.com/news/view?id=289290