First Online Samsung Exam "Difficult GSAT Comparable to Tough Suneung, Challenging" Review

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[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] The first Samsung Aptitude Test (GSAT), held online for the first time ever to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), ended around 11 a.m. on the 30th.

After the exam, complaints about the high difficulty level appeared on online communities such as cafes where job seekers gather. The first GSAT exam, conducted in four sessions over two days on the 30th and 31st, started at 9 a.m. and lasted two hours.

During the approximately one-hour preparation time, applicants underwent identity verification, online connection checks, and confirmation of the test-taker’s environment. Applicants then took the test for one hour, with 30 minutes each for the math and reasoning sections.

GSAT is known to be more difficult than other employment tests, with only about 20% of applicants passing this stage. For this reason, GSAT reviews on job-seeker online sites attract attention every year.

Applicants referred to this GSAT as the “Bul GSAT,” similar to how the highly difficult College Scholastic Ability Test is called “Bul Suneung” (Fire CSAT).

After the first exam ended, posts appeared on job-seeker online cafes and communities stating, “The exam questions were harder than expected,” and “There were restrictions due to the online format.”

One applicant complained about the high difficulty, saying, “Regardless of right or wrong, there were too many questions I couldn’t solve.” Another expressed regret, saying, “There were too many conditional reasoning questions at the beginning, making it hard to solve,” and “Because of that, I missed many easier questions later.” Comments on posts included remarks such as, “Not only the reasoning test but also the math problems were very difficult.”

There were also evaluations that the online format made the test feel more difficult due to many restrictions. Samsung sent an email instructing applicants not to touch the monitor while reading the questions to prevent cheating, and supervisors reiterated this before the exam. Applicants who habitually mark questions with a pen said it was difficult to properly read through the questions. Some applicants also said they were distracted because their hands could not go outside the camera frame.

Since GSAT attracts the attention of job seekers, every year, posts describing the test as easy and sharing problem-solving methods are posted on employment communities. However, this time, posts stating the test was difficult dominate. Regarding this, one applicant wrote, “Every year, many say the test was easy, but seeing no such posts this time, it seems it really was difficult.”

After finishing the exam, applicants photographed both sides of their answer sheets and submitted them. This was to prevent the possibility of cheating by writing answers without solving the problems. Samsung stated that applicants caught cheating will have their test results invalidated and will be banned from applying to Samsung recruitment for the next five years. Additionally, if necessary, Samsung plans to hold applicants who cheated civilly and criminally responsible.

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