College entrance exams vary greatly depending on the educational system and culture of each country. The United States, Korea, China, and Japan all have unique entrance examinations, and the courses students prepare for admission are also diverse.
The U.S. has the SAT, which focuses on English and mathematics, and the ACT, which consists of four sections: English, math, reading, and science. Both tests are optional, and students choose one thing to take according to their strengths. It uses a holistic review system in which admissions officers evaluate students by combining various factors, such as GPA, extracurricular activities, volunteer work, leadership experience, essays, and letters of recommendation, as well as test scores.
The college entrance exam in Korea is called the “Suneung.” The Suneung is the national exam for high school students to enter college, taking the Korean language, math, English, and exploratory tests. It is held on the second Thursday of November every year and ends in a day. The CSAT score is a major criterion for college entrance exams. Some universities make additional choices through their own evaluation, such as writing essays or interviews. There are also comprehensive evaluations, including school records and comparisons and activities, through the comprehensive student-affiliated screening process. On the day of the Suneung, the surroundings of test sites across the country have become quiet, and even flights are controlled. In front of the exam sites, parents, teachers, and juniors cheer and exchange cheering gifts.
The college entrance exam in China is called “Gaocao.” Gaocao is China’s largest university entrance exam, which is held in June and lasts for two days. It takes language, math, English, and elective courses. Due to the large number of students, competition is very fierce. In China, there are few self-selection methods by universities, and students often collectively select them based on their grades, so they focus on preparing for the exam early on. This is why it is sometimes called the doom-determining test.
Japan is the “Common College Entrance Test. It is held in January every year and consists of selected subjects, including the basic course. The test is conducted over two days and based on this grade, students may take additional college entrance exams.”
SALLY LEE
US ASIA JOURNAL
