The Second Mock Test of Sejong Korean Language Assessment (SKA) Held in October 2021
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2021-11-22
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The Second Mock Test of Sejong Korean Language Assessment (SKA) Held in October 2021
- The second large-scale mock tests in Korea and overseas, targeting 4,400 learners of Korean worldwide
The King Sejong Institute Foundation (KSIF, President: Lee Hai-young) conducted the second mock test of Sejong Korean Language Assessment (SKA) for two weeks from October 6 to 22, targeting the Korean language learners in Korea and overseas. This is the second large-scale mock test after the first one conducted in June.
The SKA is a test that evaluates the Korean communication skills of foreigners and overseas Koreans who do not use Korean as their first language. The test considers the categories, items, and details of national standardized Korean language curriculum in accordance with the “Korean Standard Curriculum” announced by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The main target applicants are beginning and intermediate Korean learners, to measure their ability to communicate in Korean in daily life. SKA1 tests evaluate basic Korean proficiency, and SKA2 evaluates practical Korean proficiency. Test-takers can choose from speaking, listening, reading, and writing, according to their purposes and needs.
Despite the difficult situations due to the prolonged COVID-19 spread, the number of applicants for the second mock test increased significantly compared to the first, and about 4,400 persons (an increase of about 2,900), took the test (comprising about 1,100 in Korea and 3,300 overseas).
In particular, KSIF opened the SKA portal website to provide opportunities for anyone to take the test who is learning Korean at a university or a language school in Korea. Outside Korea, 11 King Sejong Institutes from five countries (Namangan, Dnipro, Bishkek, Osh 1, Yanbian 2, Ulaanbaatar 1, Ulaanbaatar 2, Ulaanbaatar 4, Qingdao 2, Fergana, and Hangzhou) participated.
The test method was selected from Internet-Based Test and Paper-Based Test, depending on the circumstances of the test site. In addition, in order to actively participate in preventing the spread of COVID-19, the quarantine guidelines in Korea and overseas, such as temperature-checks before entering the test site, wearing masks, hand disinfection, social distancing, sterilization, etc. were followed.
A student who took the mock test said, “It was an opportunity to objectively check my Korean level and reset the learning direction. I hope the scores of SKA will be used widely for employment, for enrolling in schools, for visa acquisition, etc.”
KSIF plans to conduct the main test of the Sejong Korean Language Assessment (SKS) from 2022, at KSIs around the world. In preparation, it will expand the support for infrastructure-building for the Internet-Based Test, starting from three KSI locations (USA, Vietnam, and Indonesia).
President Lee Hai-young said, “We have lowered the barriers for taking the test so that the beginner Korean learners who have flowed in with the Hallyu craze such as BTS, Squid Game, etc. can also evaluate their Korean skills used in daily life. As the main test is set to take place next year, we will fully support the local KSI for stable operation of SKA.
