Hush descends as students sit gruelling exam

A hush fell over South Korea on Thursday 18 November as more than half a million students sat the gruelling, high-stakes national university entrance exam, with authorities taking extraordinary measures to minimise distractions, reports Channel News Asia.

The nine-hour test is crucial not only for securing spots in top universities, but is also considered key for elevated social status, lucrative careers and even marriage prospects. The enormous pressure on students in South Korea’s ultra-competitive education system has been blamed for teenage depression and suicide rates that are among the highest in the world.

Since last year, COVID-19 has added to the pressure on students, parents and education authorities. All classes became online for exam takers in the two weeks leading up to the test, while the students and their families were advised to stay at home as much as possible in that time.
Full report on the CNA site