Day of reckoning as South Korean students take crucial exam

High school students cheer for their seniors taking the annual college entrance exam outside a high School in Seoul. South Korea hushed on November 14 as hundreds of thousands of students sat the high-stakes national university entrance exam that could define their future in the ultra-competitive country.

A student gets out of a police car as she arrives to sit the annual college entrance exam at a high School in Seoul. Police cars and motorbikes were on stand-by to rush any students running late to the 1,185 schools where it was taking place.

All takeoffs and landings at South Korean airports are suspended for 35 minutes during an English listening test, when all planes in the air must also maintain an altitude higher than three kilometres (9,800 feet).

A woman stands near papers hanging on the wire with messages to wish for children's success in the college entrance exams at Jogye Temple in Seoul, South Korea

Boys and girls take the test separately and extraordinary measures are taken to ensure nothing disturbs the examinees.

TV news channels showed nervous-looking students walking into the test venues, as hundreds of their younger brethren cheered them, waving placards and chanting loudly.

A vehicle of police arrives in front of the college entrance exams hall in Seoul, South Korea. More than 540,000 high school seniors and graduates across the country take the national college entrance exam.

Visitors pray to wish for children's success in the college entrance exams at Jogye Temple in Seoul, South Korea.

High school students cheer for their seniors taking the annual college entrance exam outside a high School in Seoul.

Parents pray for their children's success in the college entrance examinations at a Buddhist temple in Seoul, South Korea.

A mother (L) cheers her daughter going to sit the the annual college entrance exam outside a high School in Seoul.

Parents pray for their children's success in the college entrance examinations at a Buddhist temple in Seoul, South Korea.

High school students cheer for their seniors taking the annual college entrance exam outside a high School in Seou.

Parents pray for their children's success in the college entrance examinations at a Buddhist temple in Seoul, South Korea

High school students cheer for their seniors taking the annual college entrance exam outside a high School in Seoul.

A woman prays to wish for children's success in the college entrance exams at Jogye Temple in Seoul, South Korea

A woman ties slips of paper to wires with messages to wish for children's success in the college entrance exams at Jogye Temple in Seoul, South Korea.

Mothers stand outside an entrance as their children get to the venue for taking the annual college entrance examinations, in front of an exam hall in Seoul, South Korea.

High school students cheer for their seniors taking the annual college entrance exam outside a high School in Seoul.

A high school student is cheered before taking the annual college entrance examinations, in front of an exam hall in Seoul, South Korea.