KAIST

If you want to be a global leader, come to KAIST!

640 students to be selected in the first collection

KAIST is an institute of science and technology belonging to the Ministry of Science and Technology, not to the Ministry of Education. KAIST, having executed student selection without examination since 1992, selects students with great talent in science and mathematics by early admission, not by the scores of the nationwide college entrance examination, which is the prototype of on-demand collection executed by ordinary universities. 

As such, though similar to on-demand collection in fall semester by the other universities in its characteristics, KAIST’s first collection of students for undergraduate courses 2007 is considerably different in that the number of students to be selected is 640, 90% of its entrance quota (700 students). High school graduates and high school students to graduate in February 2007 are eligible for admission, and second year high school students also can apply for admission under the condition of specific examination. 

The process of the first collection is composed of two steps. The first step is the examination of submitted documents. A certified score of English by one of TEPS, TOEFL, and TOEIC must be submitted, and those students having no certified score must express their intention to take a special TEPS test through internet application. In the examination of submitted documents, in-depth examination on high school record, certified score of English, cover letter, teacher’s letter of recommendation, evidence on student’s excellence, etc. is carried out. 

The second step is an interview. Around 900 candidates, 1.4 times larger than the number of final selectors (640 students), are selected as candidates for interview through the first step (examination of submitted documents), and among them, top 70% of the candidates (around 450 candidates) will take an interview for personality examination and the other 30% will take an interview for specialty examination. 

The interview for specialty examination will test on two subjects - Mathematics and Science. Mathematics is a compulsory subject and Science is tested by one subject among Physics, Biology, and Chemistry. The preparation time for each subject is 30 minutes and the interview time is 20 minutes. The coverage of the interview for specialty examination is Math I, II, and infinitesimal calculus for Mathematics, and Science I and II for Science with priority given to the 7th step of education. 

<Interview with Dongsu Kwon, Manager of KAIST Admission Team> 

Q> What do you think of the features of KAIST entrance exam?

A> A fact that students do not have to make a separate preparation for the admission to KAIST. Just studying what they are interested in and exhibiting the consequence itself will do. It is possible to tell those students who’ve studied with interests with mere documents and interview. KAIST entrance exam is a designed system to carry out regular education faithfully, not a system to select a small number of well-prepared students. 

Q> What type of students does KAIST want?

A> Students having evident fields of interest, students having authentic passion, and students studying voluntarily. I think KAIST is the best place for students who have passion in Math and Science and eager to be a great scholar to pave their way for the further during the college period of four years. 

Q> The degree of importance of the certified score of English (one of TEPS, TOEFL, and TOEIC) for the admission to KAIST

A> In KAIST, many classes use English textbooks, therefore, students are required to possess specific level of English abilities. However, since English can be improved in the campus, English score is not an absolute criterion and can be supplemented by other merits of candidates. However, it’s evident that candidates having high English score take priority in the exam. 

Q> Is it true that the number of graduates of non-science high school is increasing?

A> Their rate hits about 30%. This results from considerably improved level of graduates from non-science high school, compared to their previous. Particularly, as KAIST has been widely known through TV drama and so on, a great number of top-class students from non-science high school apply for KAIST. These factors are considered to raise the current rate of graduates from non-science high school in KAIST, and there is no disparity in examination between graduates from science high school and non-science high school. 

Click here to apply for KAIST first collection of students for undergraduate courses 2007

(September 8 (Fri.) - 11 (Mon.) 17:00, 2006)