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Dreaming of an exam: meaning in Korea

In Korea, where the suneung brings the country to a standstill, dreaming of an exam reflects pressure and goals; passing it announces good results.

What they say in Korea 시험 보는 꿈

Korea is a land of exams. On the day of the suneung (수능), the university entrance exam, planes stop taking off during the listening section and police give late students rides on motorbikes. No wonder exam dreams are so common. In kkumhaemong, this dream is said to reflect an evaluation you are living through, at work, in a relationship or with yourself. If you pass or answer easily, the reading is very favorable: good results and recognition. If you do not know the answers or arrive late, it is read as built-up pressure. The Korean advice: prepare calmly, rest and trust what you already know.

Depending on the details

if you pass the exam

Good results on the way: a promotion, an acceptance or a project getting the green light. In Korea it counts as a very clear success dream.

if you do not know a single answer

Built-up pressure or a fear of not measuring up. The Korean reading suggests reviewing the essentials, sleeping well and remembering everything you have already achieved.

if you arrive late to the exam

A feeling of running behind everyone else. It is a call to organize your time and stop comparing yourself: everyone has their own calendar.

And luck?

Before a real exam, people in Korea give yeot (엿), a sticky taffy, so the passing grade will "stick". You could try it.

In other traditions

In the West dreaming of exams is usually read as anxiety, high self-expectations, fear of being evaluated or a sense of being unprepared. It often happens even years after finishing school.