Serious situation in Korea

Test Preparation
1

<p>As a Korean high school senior preparing for applying to U.S. universities, I would like to address the seriousness of the ILLEGAL leakage of SAT material in Korea. Under a couple of months, the Collegeboard has cancelled several tests as there have been numerous reports of cheating on the test, most recently in February 2013. </p>

<p>This situation is frequently happening in Korea because many parents want to their children to take an elite path which will later help the children in their careers. They believe that whatever helps their children succeed later, they will do anything to use or buy that thing, regardless of the price. Thus, most parent use their financial capabilities to buy the test materials, ranging from $1000-2000, from private academies. </p>

<p>The test material is leaked in through, I believe, two different ways:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Test materials are brought in from overseas by teachers (using the time difference) who take the SAT and bring the test packet (I don't know exactly how) and tell the students the answers.</p></li>
<li><p>Students from other countries memorize the questions then email the questions to the academy for a reward of $50-100.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>The teachers at these private academies can be sent to prison for these crimes, but many still continue to do this because of the fact that the Korean law is lenient towards these kinds of crime. Private academy teachers are said to say that they would rather serve 2?-3? years in prison and later come back into the society a rich person than earning money though teaching students. (They earn around several hundred thousand dollars everytime they leak test material.) </p>

<p>I am a part of a group of hardworking students that have been harmed through the insolent acts of the private academies and of the students and parents who are involved in the cheating. In fact, my SATII Bio test score of 750 was cancelled this year because of the students who decided to cheat on the test. I worked hard to get that score. For 2 months, I made notes to carry around so I could study while on the move and I also practically memorized the whole prep book. But because of the selfishness of some students, students like me lost their hard-earned score. I fear that the reputation of the cheaters out there in Korea will get the better of diligent and intelligent students.</p>

<p>I know for sure that whatever the Collegeboard does, the cheating will NOT stop in Korea unless there is a change in the Korean law itself. There needs to be harsher punishment for those who decide to exploit materials and for those who buy them. </p>

<p>*The information I provided you with is purely subjective and is not completely reliable. </p>

<p>Thank you for reading this post.</p>

2

<p>Well, my fellow Korean brother, your complaints and grievances that I myself, marvin100, and xiggi have brought up repeatedly throughout past threads are undoubtedly legitimate. Unfortunately, too often do they fall on deaf ears, and as we like to say in America, you are beating on a dead horse.</p>

<p>You are right on several fronts, however, The laws in Korea are indeed too lenient, as cheating would never be considered in the same light as the peddling of drugs or pornographic materials, although one could easily argue that cheating is just as bad, if not worse! The problem is that a lot of the prosecutors, judges, politicians, and the rest of the wealthy and powerful bunch have kids who attend these elite SAT academies, so do you really think they’re going to do anything to punish anyone significantly when they themselves are also guilty by association, if you catch my drift?? </p>

<p>Not only that, but proving exactly who cheated is not as easy as one might think. But I guess if the prosecutors really cared, they could do something about it. And when you think of these corrupt police officers who like to frequent massage parlors and room salons for free by abusing their power, I guarantee the last thing they’re worried about is a bunch of geeky test prep kids who “cheated” on some foreign test. I can just see them joking in their offices: “What is the SAT? Some new foreign STD?? HA HA!” </p>

<p>All jokes aside, it’s not about what is going on in Korea so much as College Board’s colossal failures in administering the test itself, as tests are often recycled. Of course, cheating will occur wherever you go, no matter what any organization does to stop it, but do you not think that the cheating would be considerably minimized were College Board to do something as simple as creating a new test twice as difficult for whiners in Korea like you? LOL! I’m just kidding, but you are right in saying that harsher punishments would definitely deter some, although not all, cheaters.</p>

<p>I really don’t know how accurate you are in terms of how the tests are leaked, but I would not be surprised if either of your 2 assumptions is correct. I mean, in prison, inmates smuggle in contraband through their buttholes. The extent to which the cheaters in Korea will go to obtain illegal test materials is really quite amazing, so I would not be surprised if they were doing the same, namely smuggling test papers in and out through their anuses. </p>

<p>Anyhow, I do apologize for your score being cancelled due to the irresponsible and criminal actions of others, and you have every right to complain here on College Confidential, and we hope you the best of luck in rectifying this egregious violation of your basic civil, or in this case, SAT rights!</p>

3

<p>That is soooo unfair :(</p>

4

<p>@donnykim Thanks for your post. I forgot to address some of the issues that you have brought up because I was so caught up in getting out my bitterness towards the cheaters in Korea.</p>

<p>I brought this topic up because (I believe recently) another case of cheating on the SAT in Korea was reported. In fact, I believe this is the 3rd time that cheating had been reported. </p>

<p>I am now taking the ACT since the SAT seemed too unreliable and it seemed like there always was a possibility of a score cancellation. Luckly, I am one of the few people who have seen the benefits of being able to change the test without much difficulty. But for those out there who cannot adapt to a new test format, I can only but feel deep remorse.</p>

<p>I just wish that this won’t be a problem for those diligent students who will apply to the universities after me. Personally, I have only 4 months before the completion of the admissions, this situation is actually not a problem for me. </p>

<p>As a Korean student who had witnessed the bitterness of having a hard-earned score cancelled, I would like to say, %$^& you to the academic pirates and those who harbor them.</p>

<p>*BTW, I liked the way that you depicted the corrupt officials, and I appreciate that you had your own opinions on the topic. :slight_smile: </p>

<p>@Savvy123 I know right?</p>

5

<p>It’s funny. My friend told me that he went to Hagwon in Korea and learned all the answers to the questions of the SAT. He said the teacher let them memorize each answer and get a perfect score. He’s been telling me that for years but I always thought he was just lying or exaggerating. Guess not, huh.</p>

6

<p>This is far more than the third time. Cheating in Korea has been endemic for as long as I can remember. It’s absolutely despicable, and I’ve known (and taught) <em>hundreds</em> of innocent, hard-working students who suffered needlessly because of the selfishness of cheaters.</p>

<p>Nobody’s more enraged about this than I am. Really. Just a complete disgrace.</p>

7

<p>@marvin100 It’s been officially dealt with for the third time. I believe it has been happening for years even before 2007. </p>

<p>Not only is it a disgrace, it also disrupts the application process for hundreds of students preparing to study abroad in the U.S.</p>

<p>I agree completely to what you’re saying.</p>