High schoolers sit for nationwide test to gauge their academic levels

By Yoo Na-hyun Posted : March 24, 2026, 15:38 Updated : March 24, 2026, 16:09
A student takes a test at a high school in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province on March 24, 2026. Yonhap


SEOUL, March 24 (AJP) - Over a million high school students nationwide took a test to assess their levels of academic achievement.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, some 1.22 million students from 1,948 high schools across 17 metropolitan and provincial cities sat for the test on Tuesday.

The nationwide test is conducted several times a year in a format similar to the annual university entrance exam later in the year, often considered a life-deciding test in a country where admission to a prestigious university is a key factor to success.

First introduced in 2002 to reduce reliance on private crammers, the test is intended to help students prepare for university admission.
 
Students take a test at a high school in Geumcheon, southwestern Seoul on March 24, 2026. Yonhap
 
Students take a test at a high school in the southern port city of Busan on March 24, 2026. Yonhap 
 
Students look at scantron sheets at a high school in Gwangjin, eastern Seoul on March 24, 2026. Yonhap
 
Students prepare for a test at a high school in Gwangjin, eastern Seoul on March 24, 2026. Yonhap
Yoo Na-hyun

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