A test taker hugs her mother before entering the test center at Ewha Girls' Foreign Language High School, in Jung District, Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

Test takers check the information board at Seongsu High School, one of the test centers for this year's national college entrance exam, in Seongdong District, Seoul, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

Junior students cheer for test takers at Seongsu High School in Seongdong District, Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

A student arrives to take the college entrance exam at Ewha Girls' Foreign Language High School, in Jung District, Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

A test taker checks her exam identification sheet at Ewha Girls' Foreign Language High School, in Jung District, Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

Test takers enter Ewha Girls' Foreign Language High School, one of the test centers for this year's national college entrance exam, in Jung District, Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

Parents pray for their children in front of Ewha Girls' Foreign Language High School, one of the test centers for this year's national college entrance exam, in Jung District, Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul