By Sho Chang-young
Nov. 17 is the day of the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), abbreviated "Suneung" in Korean. This year, the number of test-takers will amount to approximately 508,030 across the country.
Like any other year, on the evening of this year's Suneung Day, test-takers who have completed the exam will spill out into the streets with a feeling of liberation. Restaurants, performance venues, and product manufacturers will be competing to market goods and services targeting this group. Classrooms in high schools will become scenes of parties.
But it's not the end for Suneung administrators. Rather, difficult tasks begin. All of the computerized answer sheets are collected on the same day for scoring and transported to the central management headquarters. The assumed correct answers to all questions are stated, and objections to them are received nationally. They are deliberated and the results will be declared.
In addition, each local school board receives and responds to inquiries related to the administration of the exam in every test venue. Various complaints about test operations constitute the mainstream of these requests, and it is often very difficult to deal with them.
What do you think are the most frequently raised complaints? They are the ones related to the English listening test. In order to prevent this, a massive budget is invested to check and repair the sound system of each test venue in advance. Furthermore, we expend huge social overhead costs, such as banning aircraft taking off and landing at airports across the country throughout the duration of the listening test.
However, complaints about the listening test do not disappear even after the exam. Numerous cases are cited, alleging that disruptive noise, mechanical failures, or poor operations ruined the simultaneous national listening tests of individual test-takers. Many of the complainants do not easily comply with the authorities' explanations or adjustments and some of them trigger legal battles.
I remember there were hardly any times that the CSAT listening test was completed without any complaints in all test venues nationwide. It is stressful for test-takers and their parents, as well as proctors and administrators.
It is evident that the current CSAT English listening test system has room for improvement. Then, what are the alternatives? How about switching from a collective simultaneous listening test to an individual asynchronous listening test?
In that sense, it is necessary to note the individual English listening test systems of university entrance exams in other countries. For example, before the English listening test starts, each test-taker is given a small digital sound reproduction device, earphones, and a sound storage medium such as a USB. During the listening test, each test-taker operates the device by himself or herself to listen to the questions through earphones and reply on the answer sheets. Of course, the device must be set up so that it can be played only once. After the test, all devices used in the test need to be returned to be reused the following year.
This will increase the reliability of the listening test and significantly reduce complaints. And it would be quite possible with our current national economic power and technology level.
As long as Suneung exists, the English listening test will also be maintained. I think that we should seriously consider fundamental enhancements. It is time for a national decision based on social consensus. The sooner that discussion starts, the better.
But first right now, I hope that the whole process of this year's CSAT, including the English listening test, will go smoothly and all test-takers will get good results.
The writer (sochan57@naver.com) is a retired principal of Gunsan Girls' High School.
 |
Like any other year, on the evening of this year's Suneung Day, test-takers who have completed the exam will spill out into the streets with a feeling of liberation. Restaurants, performance venues, and product manufacturers will be competing to market goods and services targeting this group. Classrooms in high schools will become scenes of parties.
But it's not the end for Suneung administrators. Rather, difficult tasks begin. All of the computerized answer sheets are collected on the same day for scoring and transported to the central management headquarters. The assumed correct answers to all questions are stated, and objections to them are received nationally. They are deliberated and the results will be declared.
In addition, each local school board receives and responds to inquiries related to the administration of the exam in every test venue. Various complaints about test operations constitute the mainstream of these requests, and it is often very difficult to deal with them.
What do you think are the most frequently raised complaints? They are the ones related to the English listening test. In order to prevent this, a massive budget is invested to check and repair the sound system of each test venue in advance. Furthermore, we expend huge social overhead costs, such as banning aircraft taking off and landing at airports across the country throughout the duration of the listening test.
However, complaints about the listening test do not disappear even after the exam. Numerous cases are cited, alleging that disruptive noise, mechanical failures, or poor operations ruined the simultaneous national listening tests of individual test-takers. Many of the complainants do not easily comply with the authorities' explanations or adjustments and some of them trigger legal battles.
I remember there were hardly any times that the CSAT listening test was completed without any complaints in all test venues nationwide. It is stressful for test-takers and their parents, as well as proctors and administrators.
It is evident that the current CSAT English listening test system has room for improvement. Then, what are the alternatives? How about switching from a collective simultaneous listening test to an individual asynchronous listening test?
In that sense, it is necessary to note the individual English listening test systems of university entrance exams in other countries. For example, before the English listening test starts, each test-taker is given a small digital sound reproduction device, earphones, and a sound storage medium such as a USB. During the listening test, each test-taker operates the device by himself or herself to listen to the questions through earphones and reply on the answer sheets. Of course, the device must be set up so that it can be played only once. After the test, all devices used in the test need to be returned to be reused the following year.
This will increase the reliability of the listening test and significantly reduce complaints. And it would be quite possible with our current national economic power and technology level.
As long as Suneung exists, the English listening test will also be maintained. I think that we should seriously consider fundamental enhancements. It is time for a national decision based on social consensus. The sooner that discussion starts, the better.
But first right now, I hope that the whole process of this year's CSAT, including the English listening test, will go smoothly and all test-takers will get good results.
The writer (sochan57@naver.com) is a retired principal of Gunsan Girls' High School.
![[INTERVIEW] Can art become stable investment source?](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/d9b4b117e5b74f4c931de724ebd2ee68.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[INTERVIEW] Choi Min-sik, Lee Dong-hwi on creating Korean-style noir with 'Big Bet'](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/8b795a8f6b42492db4e8fdc47e9abd8d.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[INTERVIEW] Ahn Jae-hong on playing underdog basketball coach in 'Rebound'](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/fe381342632c46bfa6d3245cb475676e.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
