What is the hardest exam in Korea?

Asked by: Vivien Daugherty  |  Last update: April 3, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (46 votes)

South Korea's Suneung Test, also known as the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), is regarded as one of the toughest exams globally. Held every November, this intense, eight-hour-long test plays a pivotal role in determining a student's future.

What is the hardest exam in South Korea?

Planes were grounded, construction work halted, and car honking discouraged as the Suneung, an eight-hour university placement exam billed as one of the toughest in the world, kicked off on Thursday.

Which is the no. 1 toughest exam in the world?

The most difficult exam in the world is Gaokao Exam in China. Gaokao is an annual standardised test in China that is mandatory for admission to all of the country's Higher Educational Institutes. This article will be helpful for you, if you are exploring information about the hardest exam in the world.

What is the most important exam in Korea?

The Suneung is the culmination of an entire academic career for a student in Korea. Especially in high school, students' lives revolve around this test with most students arriving at school at 7am and not getting home until well past midnight.

What is the hardest school in Korea?

Toughest University to Enter in South Korea
  1. Seoul National University (SNU): Often recognized as the top university in South Korea. ...
  2. Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST): Another highly competitive institution, known for its focus on STEM.

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29 related questions found

What is the most elite school in Korea?

Considered one of the most prestigious higher education institutions in South Korea, Seoul National University offers the chance to study in the heart of the country's bustling capital city.

Are Koreans good at math?

According to the famous PISA study, South Korea has a good education system. For example, it ranks 3rd in mathematics, while Germany is only in 22nd place. South Korea is also in the top group in all other subjects.

How long is gaokao?

The Gaokao is taken by high school seniors at the end of their final year. The Gaokao lasts approximately nine hours for a period of two or three days, depending on the provincial administrative regions where it is held. All students must take exams on Chinese and mathematics.

Is Korea study hard?

The structure of Korean life revolves around studying hard and doing well, which in some ways is harmful when it comes to students planning for a future outside of academics. Studying is crucial for learning in college in Korea because your classes only meet once a week.

What is the best grade in Korea?

In South Korea, depending on each school, the perfect score is represented as either 4.0, 4.3, or 4.5. The latter is the most commonly used system in the country. Some schools regard A+ and A0 as equal.

What is America's toughest exam?

1. The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) takes the top spot as the most challenging exam in the US, with an average preparation time ranging from 200 to 400 hours for each of its three steps.

Which is the toughest degree in the world?

10 Hardest Degrees in the World [2025]
  1. Medicine: According to studies, the medical field is considered one of the toughest degrees to pursue. ...
  2. Aerospace Engineering: ...
  3. Quantum Physics: ...
  4. Astrophysics: ...
  5. Electrical Engineering: ...
  6. Law: ...
  7. Architecture: ...
  8. Chemical Engineering:

How strict is Korean school?

There is also a strict no-shoe policy and most children wear slippers or inside shoes. Skipping school is extremely rare in Korea. Students that want to show their rebellious side, tend to just use their smartphones during class. Corporal punishment was officially banned in Korean schools in 2011.

Which is the 3 toughest exam in the world?

Some of the world's toughest exams include Gaokao (China), IIT JEE Advanced (India), and UPSC Civil Services Exam (India): all three are highly competitive, have very vast syllabi, and intense pressure.

How many hours do Koreans sleep?

😴 💤 The average sleep duration of South Koreans is 6 hours and 58 minutes, approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes shorter than the OECD average of 8 hours and 27 minutes.

Is South Korea school stressful?

According to a survey conducted in South Korea in 2022, about 35.6 percent of the surveyed students answered that they felt stress in their school life during the past two weeks. The stress level of college students or above was higher than that of elementary, middle, and high school students.

How hard is Korea University?

The courses are not so hard, you just have to know the basics. I will surely say that the quality of education is really high, and so is the workload. Studying at KU is not easy, but studying at KUBS (Korea University Business School) is even harder.

Is gaokao harder than SAT?

Unlike the SAT, all the subjects are combined in a four-hour long exam that lasts for three days. It is not difficult to imagine how hard it is for students in those three days. For me, I barely used my phone or engaged in any entertainment. Besides taking the exam, all I did was review, eat and sleep.

Does Harvard accept gaokao?

If you are from an international school system in which promotion is based upon standardized exams, you should also send a certified copy of your exam results. For example: British A levels, French Baccalaureate, Gaokao Results, International Baccalaureate, etc.

What is the highest score ever in gaokao?

The highest score you can get is 750/750. Getting a perfect result has never been done. Getting the top mark usually gives the student national recognition and a 'free ride' to the Chinese college of choice.

Which country has hardest math?

Some countries are particularly well-known for their challenging math curricula:
  1. Singapore: The Singaporean math curriculum is recognized globally for its rigor. ...
  2. South Korea: South Korean students traditionally perform well in international math competitions, and their math curriculum is quite challenging.

What is South Korea ranked in education?

South Korea is one of the top-performing OECD countries in reading, literacy, mathematics and sciences with the average student scoring about 519, compared with the OECD average of 493, which ranks South Korean education at ninth place in the world.

Which country is best at math?

Historically, China and its neighboring nations have carried the title in academic success—especially in math. Some studies suggest that these high performance rates have a foundation in work ethic.