'UX Improvement and Difficulty Adjustment'... Successful Completion of Samsung GSAT in the Second Half

Evolving Online GSAT... Improvements in Screen Layout, Colors, Touchscreen
Test Takers: "This Is Not the Same Difficult GSAT as in the First Half"
Samsung to Conduct Interviews in November and Announce Final Successful Candidates in December

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] The Samsung Group's new employee open recruitment written exam, the Job Suitability Test (GSAT), which was conducted online in the first half of this year, was completed online again on the 1st in the second half of the year.

In contrast to the first half, which was called the '불 GSAT,' the second half GSAT was adjusted in difficulty and user experience (UX) to better suit the online test format, leading to evaluations that the online GSAT has further evolved.

Samsung affiliates such as Samsung Electronics, Samsung Display, Samsung SDI, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Samsung C&T, and Samsung Life Insurance conducted the GSAT online over two days on the 31st of last month and the 1st of this month. Samsung has been conducting the GSAT online since the first half recruitment to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

◆Evolving Online GSAT... Improvements in Screen Layout, Colors, Touchscreen, and User Experience (UX)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The first online exam in the first half was also considered successful as no significant issues occurred. Samsung has been developing systems and conducting mock tests for the online GSAT to check for errors and cheating.

However, some employment preparation communities posted reviews such as "I had to write unnecessary calculations myself to prove I did not cheat," and "The readability was poor."

Based on the first half experience, Samsung improved the overall user experience (UX), including screen layout and colors, to enhance convenience for second half test takers.

In the first half, if a test taker touched the monitor arbitrarily during the exam, it could be considered cheating, but this time, a touchscreen was applied, allowing test takers to place their hands on the monitor while solving problems.

Additionally, in the first half, test takers had to write answers and solution processes on separately sent question papers, which caused complaints about insufficient time, but this time, writing answers on the question paper was made optional.

◆"Not the 불 GSAT like the first half," "Reasoning section was tricky"... Exam reviews keep coming in

[Image source=Yonhap News]

During the second half GSAT period, employment preparation communities continuously posted exam reviews. Many evaluations said the exam was generally easy or moderate. This contrasts with the first half, where reviews mainly described it as a "불 GSAT comparable to a difficult CSAT."

Among the first day reviews, one test taker who took the first half GSAT said, "I took it in the first half as well, and the first half was really a '불 GSAT.' It seems they put a lot of effort into adjusting the difficulty this time," adding, "Like the first half, the system ran smoothly without issues, and the screen was easier to view."

A test taker applying for the semiconductor process design role at Samsung Electronics also left a review saying, "Unlike the first half, I didn't have to write answers on the answer sheet, so I could focus solely on solving the problems, which was good." Another test taker applying to Samsung Electronics Foundry Division said, "It was easier than the previous exam." Another mentioned, "It was easier than commercially available problem books."

A test taker who applied to Samsung Electronics DS Division on the second day said, "The difficulty was slightly lower than commercial problem books," and "The proctor kindly guided us, so there was no major difficulty despite it being an online exam."

However, some test takers found some problems in the reasoning section difficult or felt time was insufficient. A test taker applying to Samsung Life Insurance said, "The math section was easier than the mock test, but the reasoning section was difficult," adding, "It felt like the questions were twisted more than the ones I prepared for."

Some test takers expressed discomfort, such as one who said, "The loud pencil noises from other test takers disturbed me during the exam." Another test taker worried, "I set my device to Do Not Disturb mode as instructed before the exam, but a disaster alert message came during the test," and "I lightly touched the screen, but I am worried it might be misunderstood as cheating."

Samsung will conduct interview rounds either online+offline (Ontact) or face-to-face for each affiliate with GSAT passers in November. The final successful candidates will be announced in December after the interview rounds are completed.

Samsung plans to continue online written exams in next year's open recruitment to reduce social costs caused by large-scale on-site exams and to align with the Fourth Industrial Revolution era.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.