• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.1158-1174
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• 2011

In this study, we examined the compositions, basic principles, and the area of the National Higher Education Entrance Examination (GaoKao) in 2009, we also analyzed the categories and characteristics of items. Also, the GaoKao was analyzed in terms of test specifications, the number of items, item patterns, difficulty levels, and implications of the College Scholastic Ability Test(CSAT) were explored. Results show Natural Science section of the National Test 1, 2 are 300 points per 150 min, and Natural Science, and Chemistry of Shanghai is 150 points each per 120 min. Also, the GaoKao contained multiple choice and fill in the blanks questions, and the description items are composed of experiments of various types. The GaoKao Natural Science section is composed of physics, chemistry, biology but not earth science, which is different from the CSAT. GaoKao requires basic understanding or the observation ability to reasoning, the complex thinking ability, especially emphasized on the experiment ability. The range of possible questions is in the examination outline, not the curriculum, and the ratio of questions from the University level is high. In the analysis of the behavioral domain, the ratios of the understanding and application items is higher than the CSAT, and inquiry items is lower, but the inquiry items are deeper. In case of the ratio of the expected correct answer, National Test 1 and National Test 2 is similar, but the difficult items or about 20~39% of the test is 4~5 times to that of the CSAT, making the GaoKao very difficult. The peculiar characteristics of GaoKao is the emphasis on the experiment, and even though the practical items is of lower ratio, they are very useful in life.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.483-496
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• 2018

NCS (National Competency Standards) has emerged as an issue of great importance amongst Korean universities and corporations. Although previously used mostly for vocational education purposes at colleges, NCS is currently receiving an increasing amount of attention from 4-year universities as well. In the ever-evolving information economy, the basic workplace skills defined by NCS, which include soft skills such as communication skills, problem-solving skills, and interpersonal skills, have now become more important than specific technical skills. This study analyzes the correlation between the basic workplace skills of NCS with participation in Formula SAE activities, a common component of Capstone design courses across North America and Europe. Data are derived from site visits to Formula SAE competitions, competition-related documents drafted by student participants, and questionnaires administered to student participants at the Formula SAE Lincoln completion and at the Korea KSAE competition. From the study findings, we claim that the basic workplace skills of NCS are closely correlated to participation in Formula SAE activities. Through a survey designed to measure the degree to which Formula SAE activities can enhance an individual's NCS Basic Workplace Skills, we find that these activities overall improved NCS basic workplace skills averaging 4.0 points above in the Likert 5-point scale. For reference the mathematical skills, communication skills, and problem-solving skills displayed statistically significantly correlation with NCS but the remaining 7 skills did not show a statistically strong correlation with NCS comparatively.