Korean curriculum: A parent's guide

Curriculum guide

Korean curriculum

The Korean National Curriculum is set by the Ministry of Education. It's structured, academically intense, and famous for the culminating Suneung (CSAT) university entrance exam. Internationally you'll find it at Korean-affiliated schools in Asia and North America — often blended with English-medium instruction.

Ages 6–12

Elementary (초등학교)

Six years of primary with a strong Korean, maths and moral education foundation. English begins in Grade 3.

Ages 12–15

Middle School (중학교)

Three years of compulsory lower-secondary. Wider subject range plus preparation for the specialised or general high-school route.

Ages 15–18

High School (고등학교) & Suneung

Three years of academic upper secondary. Students sit the CSAT (Suneung) at the end — a single-day national exam that drives Korean university admissions.

Korean

Suneung and university admissions

The CSAT is a critical single-day national exam covering Korean, maths, English, Korean history, plus science or humanities electives. It heavily influences access to top Korean universities (the "SKY" trio — Seoul National, Korea, and Yonsei). Universities abroad usually accept CSAT scores but many families use IB or A-Level instead for global applications.

Is Korean right for your child?

It tends to suit families who…

•Are moving to or from Korea
•Have Korean-language fluency
•Are aiming at Korean universities (SKY and beyond)

It may be less ideal if…

•The single-day exam culture is a concern
•Your child doesn't speak Korean and is joining above primary
•You want a globally uniform pathway like IB

Common questions

FAQs about the Korean curriculum

Is Korean fluency required? +

For the Korean national curriculum, yes — instruction is in Korean. Many Korean-affiliated international schools now run English-medium tracks with Korean as a second-language subject.

Is the CSAT accepted at UK/US universities? +

Increasingly, yes — with universities usually asking for percentile rankings. Most families using the Korean system pair the CSAT with English-language qualifications (TOEFL/IELTS/SAT) for overseas entry.

Find schools

Schools teaching Korean on doris

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