简体中文
South Korean students on Thursday took an annual college entrance exam, the all-important test in the education-obsessed country, with government measures taken to control traffic and reschedule the morning rush hour.
The College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), which started from 8:40 a.m. local time, would run through 5:40 p.m. at 1,183 test sites nationwide, according to the education ministry.
This year, a total of 605,987 high school students and graduates registered to take the nine-hour exam, which is believed here to determine their course of life and future professions.
The score a student earns from the test is a key decider of college entrance. In South Korea's society, graduating from a prestigious university is crucial in obtaining a successful job.
Under government orders, companies and public offices open an hour later than usual to alleviate traffic jam during the morning rush hour. The local bourse also opens an hour later.
Buses and subways extend rush-hour services to help all test-takers arrive on time, and traffic is restricted by police within 200 meters of test centers.
All airplane takeoffs and landings will be suspended for 25 minutes from 1:10 p.m. during the listening section of an English exam as part of the noise-control measures.
The CSAT consists of five sections, including the Korean language, mathematics, English, the Korean history and natural sciences and the second foreign language and Chinese character.
(APD)
