The head of South Korea’s notoriously grueling college entrance exam resigned after apologizing for creating an English-language test so difficult that it prompted a public outcry.
The 2026 English test “did not meet the appropriate difficulty level,” read a statement from the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation, the organization that administers the exam and which had been led by Oh Seung-keol. “We deeply apologize for causing concern to test takers and their parents.”
Each year, hundreds of thousands of students sit for the eight-hour college entrance exam, known as the Suneung, to compete for seats at the country’s elite universities.
The exam is a decades-old tradition that disrupts the rhythm of the entire nation. Flights are grounded, construction is halted and traffic restrictions are enforced, and the public is urged to keep noise at a minimum so the students can concentrate. In addition to English, the exam tests students’ knowledge of Korean, math and other subjects.
This year, just over 3 percent of students earned the highest marks in the English section — compared to 6 percent the year before.
Here are some questions from the 2026 paper. Could you pass?
Pranav Baskar is an international reporter and a member of the 2025-26 Times Fellowship class, a program for journalists early in their careers.
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