Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Seoulman69]

Hi folks,
I'm looking for some information. What kind of tests do school students have to sit in elementary, middle, and high school. From what I can remember there were no major tests for English in elementary schools. I've heard high school students have to sit big tests but I'm unsure if one of them is an English test and what form it takes. Also do the middle school students have any big tests for English?

[newinseoul]

I don't know about middle and high school testing, but in elementary public schools there are two major tests per semester. For the mid-term the co-teachers usually make the English test based on the book and what the students have learned. The final test is made up by the MOE and they test on different subjects including English, Science, and Math.

[jvalmer]

4 graded ones, Semester 1 - midterm and final and Semester 2 -midterm and final.

Plus a couple of extra 'non-ranked evaluations' tests by either the provincial or national governments.

[schwa]

Middle schoolers have midterm & final english exams each semester. These are multiple choice but a small writing component is gradually being introduced. There are a couple nationally administered listening tests each semester, in which they listen to a radio broadcast & answer multiple choice questions. Most middle schools in my area have the native speaker administer a speaking test (brief interview format) once a term. Also, once a semester (or maybe its twice) the students sit standardized national tests (scholastic achievement), which they tend to not take seriously.

[Seoulman69]

Thanks for all the replies. What is the name of the English test that high school students take that influences which uni they can go to? Do they do the test in school or is it a private test they sit at a hagwon?

[schwa]

Suneung (수능), for 3rd year high school students. Govt-administered in schools. Its a big deal.

However a small but growing number of students can now gain early admission to universities based on cumulative high school performance instead.