2023 SNU Admits Who Took IB Chemistry and Biology: Totals of 43 and 42
IB Chemistry seems to have been particularly difficult this time.
JJStudent & parent messagesEnglish translationTeacherYes. I heard it was incredibly difficult.
StudentI think I messed it up…
StudentI will work on the questions today and ask you about anything I do not understand.
TeacherOh dear. Okay.
The final teacher message is cut off; its visible portion says Chemistry was exceptionally difficult.
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JJStudent & parent messagesEnglish translationTeacherEveryone feels they have messed it up. Do not give up on the final Paper 2—do your very best!
TeacherWell done, everyone. Based on students’ messages, Paper 1 was exceptionally difficult; Paper 2 and Paper 3 were average, though Section A was tough. You have all worked hard. Many of you still have other exams, so keep doing your best until the end. Thank you for all your hard work. Honestly, I am exhausted too, haha.
StudentThank you so much for your constant help. It really helped me, and I think it would have been very difficult without you. I am so glad I met you. Thank you! Stay healthy and happy. I hope to meet you sometime in Vietnam or Korea.
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JJStudent & parent messagesEnglish translationStudentHaha, it was really hard. So many students at our school got stuck from Question 1 of Paper 1.
TeacherHaha. Keep going for tomorrow!
StudentHaha, I do not know. My IA is around a 7 anyway.
TeacherWow. Chemistry was exceptionally difficult. I have been getting messages from several countries. How difficult it feels depends partly on how many students are in each school, but I hear that more students cried during Chemistry than any other exam. Many say they got stuck from Question 1. Everyone currently feels they have messed it up. You are all in the same situation. Do not give up on the final Paper 2. Do your best!
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JJStudent & parent messagesEnglish translationTeacherOh! I hear Paper 1 was difficult and Paper 3 was easy.
StudentPaper 1 was seriously terrible.
TeacherUnbelievably difficult?
StudentIt was the hardest of all the papers I have tried.
StudentYes.
TeacherWas Paper 3 okay? Never mind—let us prepare for Paper 2. The grade boundaries reflect everyone’s performance anyway.
StudentSection B was just as expected. A is always difficult, so it was difficult this time too, haha.
TeacherWow, it really was the worst!
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I received several messages after the exam.
And messages announcing SNU acceptances began arriving yesterday afternoon.
Seoul National University — Fall 2023 International Undergraduate Admissions: Preliminary Admission Results. Admissions decision: Preliminarily Admitted.
DocumentPreliminarily admitted applicants must consult the attached instructions and submit the required documents by the deadline. Final admitted applicants will be announced after the documents are reviewed. Scheduled announcement: June 23, 2023, 17:00 Korean time.
Names, applicant numbers, and admission unit are redacted in the source. This is preliminary admission, not a final admission notice.
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The student doesn't want their department or name disclosed, so I'm only posting the acceptance letter. This is a student I worried about a great deal, so I'm very relieved they got in.
No, I am even more grateful, teacher.
TeacherYou have no idea how worried I was about you!
StudentYou have taught me since Grade 10. Why, haha?
TeacherOh, seriously! Tell me about your achievements.
StudentI told you the IB exam was really difficult.
TeacherSend me some photos too.
StudentHaha, yes!
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We had many personal conversations, and they had been struggling. I'm delighted that they were accepted to SNU.
Seoul National University — International Undergraduate Admissions, Fall Intake: Preliminary Admission Results.
DocumentAdmissions decision: Preliminarily Admitted. Admission unit: College of Natural Sciences / Biological Sciences.
Personal details are redacted in the source. This is preliminary admission.
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This student also got into SNU.
But this one was always quiet, never complained, and performed well, so it isn't surprising, haha.
Tell your mother about me. Tell her I was grateful.
StudentShe is even happier than I am, haha.
TeacherOf course! She must be telling everyone. It is about time she came to tell me the good news. Maybe tomorrow, haha.
StudentMy mother also said thank you for guiding me so well through IB Chemistry over the past two years.
TeacherYes, I am so happy too.
StudentThank you for presenting Chemistry, which is such a difficult subject, so clearly and simply!
TeacherHaha, you were such a bright student. I put a lot of effort into teaching you because I knew how difficult this was.
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Getting into SNU doesn't mean you absolutely need an IB total of 45. The same goes for KAIST; I've seen students get in without 45.
I have so many students that I can be rather abrupt in consultations, and I'm usually not looking to take more. I don't tend to say flattering things just to attract students.
Honestly, some places frighten people by saying they must have an IB 45 and perfect English scores. Don't let statements like that scare you.
What I've felt after seeing students enter KAIST, SNU, and even medicine and pharmacy over several years is this:
In the cases I've seen, students have entered SNU with IB and English scores—and sometimes even without an English score. But I'm talking about students eligible for the 12-year overseas-study admission route.
I've seen successful IB totals starting at 42. Don't believe a blanket claim that you need at least 44.
For KAIST, I haven't often seen admission on IB alone. In my experience, AP subjects matter. I've seen many students enter with an IB 43.
For pharmacy, IB and English scores seem to have been sufficient in some cases, although the IB totals were usually above 44.
Specializing in AP, IB, and A Level Chemistry for international students. Guiding candidates to Oxford, Cambridge, SNU, and leading medical programs worldwide.
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