College Entrance Exam Results Due December 7

The Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development on Thursday has announced that it will release 2008 college entrance exam results on December 7, five days earlier than initially scheduled on December 12. This is in response to allegations that because the grade-category system is so new, 2008 college entrance applicants are experiencing added confusion in creating their applications.

After the release of the results, the ministry will publish the number of students in each grade-category on the Korea Institute of Curriculum and Evaluation website (www.kice.re.kr) as it did during the June and September mock tests. The ministry will also distribute CDs containing the same information to schools and district education offices.

During a briefing held in the government complex in Sejong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul on November 29, Education Minister Kim Shin-il said, “As private educational institutions have been increasing confusion for students by publishing inaccurate provisional results right after the exam, the ministry has decided to publish the exam results earlier than scheduled.”

Commenting on the report criticizing that the 9 scoring categories are causing confusion for students, Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Cheon Ho-seon said, “It is proper to provide the necessary information to students and parents as early as possible for them to make decisions.” He added, “I believe that the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development will make complementary measures to minimize the confusion caused by the grade-category system.”

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