Today is College Entrance Exam Day in South Korea

On the day each November that high-school seniors take the college-entrance test — Nov. 13, this year — South Korea is a changed country.

Many offices and the stock market open at 10 a.m., an hour later than usual, to keep the roads free for students on their way to the test. All other students get the day off to keep schools quiet for the test takers. And while students are taking the listening portions of the tests, planes can’t land or take off at the nation’s airports. Aircraft arriving from other countries are ordered to circle at altitudes above 10,000 feet.

Indeed, the college-entrance exam is a national obsession. More than 80% of South Korea’s high-school seniors go on to college, and the test heavily influences which institution of higher learning they will be able to attend and — after that — their career track to jobs with big companies and the government.

Thursday, about 590,000 students will take the nine-hour test, which consists mostly of multiple-choice questions. Around 6 p.m., when the test is over, evening newspapers publish the questions and answers. Students who fare poorly can try again next year.

(via wsj.com)