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Suneung English exam under fire for 'insane' difficulty
South Korea's annual college entrance exam, the Suneung, faced fierce backlash this year after its English section left students and educators reeling. Critics called the test questions overly complex, with some comparing them to deciphering ancient texts. The controversy prompted the exam's chief administrator to resign, taking responsibility for what he termed a "chaotic" outcome.
Chief resigns amid criticism
Oh Seung-geol, the head of the Suneung administration, stepped down following widespread complaints about the test's difficulty. In a statement, Oh acknowledged the backlash, admitting the questions "fell short" of expectations despite multiple rounds of editing. "We sincerely accept the criticism that the difficulty of questions was inappropriate," he said.
Controversial questions spark debate
Among the most contentious questions was one involving Immanuel Kant's philosophy of law and another centered on gaming jargon. The latter, worth three points, required students to insert a sentence into a paragraph about avatars and virtual perception. The correct placement was the third slot, but many found the phrasing convoluted.
"It's fancy smart talking... awful writing that doesn't convey a concept or idea well."
Reddit user
The passage, an excerpt from Steve Swink's Game Feel, was criticized for being taken out of context, making it harder to understand. Other questions drew similar complaints, with students describing the texts as dense and ambiguous.
Pass rates plummet
Only 3.1% of test-takers achieved the highest grade in the English section this year, down from 6% in 2024. Im Na-hye, a senior at Hanyeong High School, described the experience as grueling. "It took me a long time to figure out several questions, and understanding the texts themselves was tricky," she said. "Some answers looked similar, so I was unsure until the last minute."
Educators divided over test's purpose
While some argue the test's difficulty reflects its goal-to assess university-level reading comprehension-others say it fails as an educational tool. English professor Jung Chae-kwan, formerly of the Suneung's administering body and now at Incheon National University, called the test "maddeningly confusing."
"Teachers end up drilling test-taking hacks rather than teaching English... You don't even need to read the full text to get the points if you know the tricks."
Prof. Jung Chae-kwan, Incheon National University
Kim Soo-yeon, an English literature professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, defended the test's rigor. "It measures whether students can handle the level of material they'll encounter in university," she said, noting the passages' specialized nature.
High stakes and national impact
The Suneung is a high-pressure, eight-hour marathon covering subjects like Korean, math, English, and sciences. Performance on the exam can shape university admissions, career paths, and even personal relationships. Many students spend years preparing, often attending private "cram schools" from a young age.
The exam's significance extends beyond test-takers. On Suneung day, construction halts, flights are grounded, and military training pauses to minimize distractions. Since its debut in 1993, only four of the 12 Suneung chiefs have completed their full three-year terms. Most resign due to errors in test questions, but Oh is the first to step down over difficulty concerns.
