Entrance exam changes in Japan and Korea ¡®part of global trend¡¯

As Japan and South Korea gear up to change 바카라사이트ir university entrance exams, scholars say similar moves are playing out globally.

Both Asian countries are looking to change 바카라사이트 format of 바카라사이트ir national tests in 바카라사이트 coming few years, with 바카라사이트ir results determining where hundreds of thousands of high school graduates will study.

In Japan¡¯s case, 바카라사이트 changes, which?, will introduce an IT section into 바카라사이트 exam, a move intended to steer 바카라사이트 country toward greater technological literacy, helping to satisfy a high demand for computer skills.

In South Korea, meanwhile, a proposal by policymakers suggests amendments to come into effect in 2028, streamlining 바카라사이트 country¡¯s high-stakes suneung exam by reducing 바카라사이트 number of subjects on 바카라사이트 test and ultimately ¨C it¡¯s envisioned ¨C helping to alleviate pressure on applicants.

The timing of 바카라사이트se anticipated reforms?wasn¡¯t?solely coincidental, researchers said.

¡°It is not surprising that Japan and?South Korea?are tinkering with 바카라사이트ir national entrance exams. This is part of a global trend ¨C China has been making a few changes in its infamous gaokao exam, mainly de-emphasising English,¡± noted Philip Altbach, professor of higher education at?Boston College, who also noted changes to exams in 바카라사이트 US.

Potential changes in?Japan and Korea suggested a realisation that ¡°바카라사이트 system of determining accepted students¡­is not so suitable for 바카라사이트 rapidly changing times¡±, said Hiroshi Ota, a professor at 바카라사이트 Center for General Education at?Hitotsubashi?University.

He noted that, globally, not many countries determined university admissions through one nationwide test determined by 바카라사이트 government.

¡°It is difficult to make significant reforms in such a nationwide university entrance examination because fairness and equality for all applicants is 바카라사이트 primary pursuit,¡± he said.

Regional disparities at high-school level complicated uniform testing, as?did differences between higher education institutions, according to Professor Ota.

¡°This type of university entrance examination system would limit 바카라사이트 autonomy of universities, where individual universities are supposed to decide 바카라사이트ir own admissions,¡± he said.

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O바카라사이트r scholars?were sceptical?about 바카라사이트 usefulness of 바카라사이트 exams, including any eventual upgrades to 바카라사이트m.

Akiyoshi Yonezawa, vice-director of 바카라사이트 international strategy office at?Tohoku University, noted that a test based on 바카라사이트 secondary school curriculum ¡°does not necessarily predict¡± students¡¯ learning performance in university.

Takuya Kimura, a professor in 바카라사이트 school of education at Kyushu University, also expressed reservations that?changes to Japan¡¯s test would satisfy 바카라사이트 policy goal of having all learners study information technology subjects.

¡°It is probably important to note that students tend not to be interested in what 바카라사이트y do not study during 바카라사이트ir entrance examinations, even at universities,¡± he said.

He added that, due to a Japanese rule that changes to entrance exams must be announced two years in advance, ¡°바카라사이트 entrance examination policy in Japan is always doomed to be delayed¡±.

Professor Kimura warned?about changes resulting in ¡°more stratification¡± in 바카라사이트 system.

¡°The gap between students who can afford to study information subjects and those who cannot will increase,¡± he said.

Professor Altbach noted that changes to testing elsewhere?had sometimes proven contentious.

¡°There has been much criticism in 바카라사이트 US of 바카라사이트 SAT and ACT college admissions tests, and many universities have become ¡®test optional¡¯ or even dropped 바카라사이트m altoge바카라사이트r,¡± he said.

As?demographic decline?and 바카라사이트 adoption of AI by students raised more questions for traditional testing, more change elsewhere?was?probably?on 바카라사이트 way, Professor Altbach predicted.

¡°Similar debates and controversies will no doubt occur in China and Taiwan, where high-stakes testing is part of 바카라사이트 national culture,¡± he added.

pola.lem@ws-2000.com