Test Preparation Research Articles

Effective Strategies for English Language Competence Development in English Philology Studies

Objectives: This research explores effective strategies for the development of English language competence within the educational context. The study focuses on the integration of English language modules at different educational levels and the incorporation of discipline-specific courses to address specific linguistic needs. Methods: The research investigates the impact of digitalization measures, such as online laboratories, exam preparation modules, and online courses, on language learning outcomes and student engagement. These strategies were analyzed to understand their effects on language competence and engagement. Results: The findings demonstrate the positive effects of these strategies in facilitating progressive and comprehensive language skill development. The integration of both traditional and digital approaches has shown improvements in the overall learning experience. Conclusion: This research contributes to the ongoing discourse on innovative approaches to English language instruction. It provides insights into designing effective language learning programs. The recommendations presented aim to help English Philology students improve their English language skills, enabling them to communicate proficiently, comprehend complex texts, and succeed in their academic and professional pursuits.

The relationship between trait- and state-math anxiety and math engagement: The role of math learning context and task difficulty.

Various findings regarding the relationship between math anxiety and engagement have been identified in the literature, with many focusing on general math anxiety and overall math engagement. Based on the control-value theory, this study examined the relationships between trait- and state-math anxiety and behavioural and cognitive engagement in math under daily practice and exam preparation conditions across math tasks of varying difficulty levels. A survey study with 449 high school students and an experimental study with 33 freshmen were conducted. Students' trait- and state-math anxiety, as well as behavioural and cognitive engagement in math, were measured under daily practice and exam preparation conditions across easy and difficult math tasks. A two-level latent variable model was built in the survey study, and two-way ANOVAs and regressions were used in the experimental study. Students exhibited greater state anxiety under exam preparation conditions in the survey study and showed differences in state-math anxiety and engagement across learning contexts and math tasks in the experimental study. Students with higher trait-math anxiety displayed less engagement in both studies, while those with higher state-math anxiety when facing difficult tasks tended to engage more cognitively in the experiment. These findings demonstrated discrepancies in the relationships between trait- and state-math anxiety and math engagement, while accounting for learning context and task difficulty.

Teachers’ Agency and Teaching Challenges in Multilingual Spaces: An Exploratory Study of How EFL Teachers Address Listening and Speaking Skills Needs in Centralized Systems

The study examined challenges EFL teachers in Burkina Faso face in teaching listening and speaking to grade 10 students in centralized education systems and how they address these issues. The primary obstacle is the focus on national exam formats, which prioritize grammar, vocabulary, and reading comprehension, sidelining communicative language skills. Teachers feel pressured to meet stakeholders’ expectations of exam success, limiting their ability to emphasize listening and speaking skills. To balance these demands, teachers adopt strategies to mediate between exam preparation and developing broader language skills. While adhering to official curriculum requirements during class time, they create extracurricular opportunities such as English clubs, dictation contests, and occasional classroom activities to improve listening and speaking. The study emphasizes the importance of addressing both classroom-level practices and school-community-level initiatives to support the implementation of national EFL curricula.

Design, Preparation, and Execution of the 100-AV Field Test for the CIRCLES Consortium: Methodology and Implementation of the Largest Mobile Traffic Control Experiment to Date

Design, Preparation, and Execution of the 100-AV Field Test for the CIRCLES Consortium: Methodology and Implementation of the Largest Mobile Traffic Control Experiment to Date

Comparative thinking among university students: an ecological momentary assessment of upward comparisons, stress and learning behavior during exam preparation

Studying for exams can be a stressful time. Uncertainty and stress often reach their peak during exam preparation, as students frequently grapple with feelings of inadequacy and anxiety regarding their academic performance. To assess their exam readiness, students can use social, temporal, criteria-based, and counterfactual comparisons. Engaging in upward comparative thinking during exam preparation may increase students’ stress levels. However, previous studies have not examined whether students’ daily comparisons related to exam preparation are associated with their stress, negative mood, and learning behavior. Therefore, we used Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) to capture daily frequency and affective impact of upward comparisons and their influence on stress, negative mood, and self-reported learning behavior among 170 psychology students at a German University. During an eleven-day EMA-phase leading up to exams, participants completed brief surveys three times daily, supplemented by baseline and follow-up assessments. Multilevel models revealed that both between-person and within-person upward comparison frequency correlated positively with stress and negative mood over time. A more negative comparison affective impact mediated the within-person associations of comparison frequency with stress and negative mood. A more negative comparison affective impact also predicted more self-reported avoidant learning behavior, both between-person and within-person. Comparison also influenced depression, test anxiety, and burnout at follow-up. The findings may have implications for designing well-being interventions during periods of performance-related pressure.

THE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION ON TOEFL PERFORMANCE: ONLINE PLATFORMS AND LANGUAGE APPS AT UNIVERSITAS MUHAMMADIYAH ACEH

This study investigates the use of technology by students at Universitas Muhammadiyah Aceh in their preparation for the TOEFL exam. A quantitative descriptive approach was employed, with data collected through a structured questionnaire. The findings reveal that 90% of respondents regularly utilize technology, particularly smartphones and laptops, alongside online platforms such as YouTube, Magoosh, and Duolingo. These tools were found to be effective in providing access to study materials and practice tests, with students emphasizing their convenience and accessibility. Additionally, students reported positive impacts on their English language learning, citing increased motivation, improved time management, and greater confidence in their TOEFL preparation. The study highlights the significant role of technology in enhancing learning efficiency and recommends that educational institutions further integrate technological tools to support students in standardized test preparation

The Microstructure, Hardness and Density Investigation of Mg Composites Reinforced with Nanoclay

Magnesium (Mg) stands out as a prevalent material in engineering, finding essential utility as a biomaterial due to its unique combination of low density, stiffness, high damping capacity, superior bending resistance, and impressive specific strength. Despite its high reactivity and somewhat inadequate mechanical properties for rigorous engineering applications, the incorporation of reinforcing nanoparticles has shown significant potential in enhancing the performance of magnesium-based composites. This study investigates the microstructure evaluation, hardness, and density of magnesium composites reinforced with nanoclay using a powder metallurgy approach. Nanoclay was preferred as a reinforcement element at weight percentages of 1%, 3%, 5%, and 7%. The densities of the composites were measured using the Archimedean principle, revealing that the addition of nanoclay generally increases the density of the composites due to the higher density of nanoclay compared to pure magnesium. However, the composite with 5% nanoclay exhibited a lower density than the one with 3% nanoclay, likely due to agglomerations leading to increased internal voids. Surface preparation for Vickers hardness testing involved sanding with 600, 1000, and 2000 mesh sanders, followed by polishing with 6μ and 3μ diamond suspensions. Hardness measurements, conducted using an AOB Vickers microhardness tester, indicated that the highest hardness value was observed in the composite with a 7% weight percentage of nanoclay, demonstrating that nanoclay addition enhances hardness. However, the composite with 3% nanoclay showed lower hardness compared to other reinforced composites. Optical images of the structures revealed metallographic spots indicative of contamination. These findings contribute to the understanding of the structural and mechanical behavior of nanoclay-reinforced magnesium composites, highlighting the potential for optimizing such materials for various applications in automotive, aerospace, and medical fields.

P-960. Improving Resident Education on the Inpatient Infectious Disease Consult Service

Abstract Background Education in infectious disease (ID) is a critical part of an internal medicine curriculum. As the infectious disease consult service is typically high volume and busy, residents and other trainees were often not receiving adequate training in less common infectious conditions or didactic training in common conditions that may be relevant for their future practice or internal medicine board exams. Our Quality Improvement project sought to improve training for residents and medical students through the integration of high-yield lecture services given on the Adult ID consult service.Figure 1:Pre/Post Test Results of Internal Medicine Residents These are the reported correct responses, in terms of percentage of residents who responded correctly to the case-based multiple choice question, to a pre and post test of six specific high-yield topics in Infectious Diseases. Methods During the academic year of 2022-2023, for the Adult ID Consult Service, a series of high-yield lectures were given three times a week from a set of 10 potential lecture topics, as chosen by the volunteer faculty or ID fellow lecturer. Following our first Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle evaluation in July 2023, the lectures were standardized to a fixed rotating schedule of the 6 highest-yield topics. There was distributed a survey with a pre-test before the rotation, and a follow-up survey and post-test following the rotation. Post-intervention Interest in Career in ID among Internal Medicine Residents 15.4% (n=2) of internal medicine residents responded yes they would, and 38.5% (n=5) responded somewhat more likely, to consider a career in Infectious Diseases (ID) following the rotation. Results 44 Internal Medicine Residents took the initial Adult ID survey and pretest, and 13 people took the post-rotation evaluation survey and post-test. 100% of participants felt the rotation fully or somewhat helped prepare for the Adult ID section of Internal Medicine boards. 92.3% (n=12) felt the majority of cases on rotation to be interesting. 15.4% (n=2) responded yes and 38.5% (n=5) responded somewhat more likely to consider ID as a career. 100% (n=13) of post-test participants responded with strongly agree (n=7, 53.8%) or agree (n=6, 46.2%) on enjoying the Adult ID rotation. Additionally, scores on the post-test improved from the pre-test for most residents, along with an improvement in Internal Medicine in-training exam scores from 2021 to 2023. Conclusion A didactic series with a set lesson plan that is delivered in a low-stress way can be helpful for engaging learners, enhance the educational experience of the learner, help supplement preparation for internal medicine board exams, and prepare the learner for their future practice. Additionally, as there is a growing need for infectious diseases fellows, this may improve recruitment efforts. Disclosures Aniruddha Hazra, MD, Gilead Sciences: Advisor/Consultant|Gilead Sciences: Grant/Research Support|ViiV Healthcare: Advisor/Consultant

Evaluating the Impact Performance of Environmentally Friendly Asphalt Concrete Slabs Containing Different Proportions of Recycled Concrete Aggregate and Corrugated Steel Fibers

The current research focuses on recycling construction waste by producing asphalt concrete mixtures containing varying proportions of recycled concrete aggregate (RCA), ranging from 0 to 50%. To ensure the improvement of the asphalt mixtures' properties in terms of Marshall stability, flow, bulk density, air void ratio, and splitting tensile strength, steel fibers were added at a volume fraction of 1.0%. The experimental program consisted of 12 asphalt cylinders with a diameter of 102 mm and a height of 64 mm, cast with different asphalt mixtures to study the effects of varying RCA proportions as well as the addition of steel fibers on the mechanical properties of the asphalt concrete mixtures. The stability of the asphalt mixtures decreased by 17.6%, 23.2%, and 28.8% when RCA was used at ratios of 30%, 40%, and 50%, respectively, compared to the reference mixture. The Marshall stability of asphalt mixtures containing steel fibers was higher than that of their counterparts without fibers. Moreover, 12 asphalt slabs were cast with different ratios of RCA in preparation for testing under the impact load resulting from the free fall of a 10-kg steel mass from a height of 2 m. The results revealed that the ratio between the back and front crater diameters for slabs containing 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% RCA after incorporating steel fibers was 1.15, 1.17, 1.15, 1.28, and 1.36, respectively. These ratios were smaller than those of the counterpart slabs without steel fibers by 18%, 19%, 19%, 7%, and 18%, respectively. Moreover, due to the low accuracy of existing mathematical models for predicting the penetration depth of asphalt slabs made with RCA, this research presents a developed mathematical model capable of accurately predicting the penetration depth of such slabs. This model considers both the ratio of RCA and the steel fibers within the asphalt mixtures.

Experimental study on modal analysis and vibration response of tunnel structures under different damage conditions due to subway train loads

Based on a prototype of the Beijing subway tunnel, this research conducts large-scale model experiments to systematically investigate the vibration response patterns of tunnels with different damage levels under the influence of measured train loads. Initially, the polynomial fitting modal identification method (Levy) and the model test preparation process are introduced. Then, using time-domain peak acceleration, frequency response function, frequency-domain modal frequency, and modal shape indicators, a detailed analysis of the tunnel’s dynamic response is conducted. The results indicate that damage significantly amplifies vibration acceleration, with the amplification increasing with the severity of the damage. When the crack lengths are 2 cm, 4 cm, and 6 cm, the peak acceleration increases by 25.12%, 36.35%, and 50.29%, respectively, while adjacent segments show increases of 13%, 29%, and 45%. Damage decreases the tunnel structure’s modal frequency, with the first two modal frequencies showing the most significant reductions of 9.87% and 7.34%, respectively. The adjacent segments show reductions of 7.7% and 4.2%. As the severity of the damage increases, the amplitude of the modal shape at the damaged location also increases, with the first modal shape rising by 43.37% for 4 cm damage compared to 2 cm damage and by 72.21% for 6 cm damage. The second modal shape increases by 9.04% and 26.51%, respectively. Additionally, the effectiveness of the polynomial fitting modal identification method (Levy) for tunnel structural damage detection was validated. Finally, based on the methods outlined above, the tunnel responses measured on-site in the Beijing metro were also analyzed. The findings of this study provide important theoretical support for the assessment and routine maintenance of metro tunnels.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) & BOTS in Testing

The knowledge gathered using Artificial Intelligence (AI), coupled with the efficiency of BOTs is a boon for testing activity in the IT world. This can, not only bring down the human errors, but can also significantly speed up the whole testing process and by extension the project timeline. As part of test preparation, the AI needs be exposed to a range of different paths the product can take, so that it can learn operations and the BOTs designed to each of the possible variations in input and outcome. With detailed data gathering and careful design, AI and BOTs can effectively handle every scenario and ensure the end product meets the needs and goals of the organization. Once the BOTS are in place, they can be reused at will to actively test any enhancements or modifications that the product might have to undergo in its lifetime on the IT world. Similarly, with AI constantly observing the application, it can be used to dynamically identify the differences, both in source and the expected result for building targeted testing document and execution. Keywords : AI, BOTs, Automated Testing, IT testing, Machine Learning, Regression testing. Application Evolution monitoring. And learning, Automated Test data gathering, Programmatic test execution

THE EFFECT OF CORN SILK ETHANOL EXTRACT (Zea mays L.) ON THE BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELS AND HISTOPATHOLOGY OF PANCREAS IN ALLOXAN-INDUCED MICE

Diabetes Mellitus is a metabolic disorder that occurs because pancreatic cells produce insulin in small amounts. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of giving corn silk (Stigma maydis) to alloxan-induced mice to determine the effective dose of corn silk extract that can reduce blood glucose levels in hyperglycemic mice and histopathological features. This research is an experimental type that uses 24 male white mice as experimental animals, divided into 6 groups and each group consists of 4 mice consisting of negative control, positive control, dose variation 100mg/kgBW, 200mg/kgBW, 400mg/kgBW and the comparison group (Glibenclamide 0.65mg/kgBW). The inducer used was alloxan 150 mg/kg bw. Alloxan induction was carried out for 3 days and then the test preparation was given until the 17th day. Mice's blood was taken through the lateral tail vein to see blood sugar levels. Based on the results of measuring the blood glucose levels of mice on day 17, the average value of blood glucose levels was negative control (86.25 mg/dl), positive control (223 mg/dl), dose 100 mg/kgbb (109.75 mg /dl), dose 200 mg/kgbb (103.5 mg/dl), dose 400 mg/kgbb (92.5 mg/dl), glibenclamide 0.65mg/kgbb (95 mg/dl). Based on the results of statistical data analysis, two-way ANOVA showed significantly different results (p<0.05). The results of reducing blood glucose levels that were closest to the negative control were shown by corn silk extract at a dose of 400 mg/kgbb, while histopathological observations of the pancreas after administration of ethanol extract of corn silk at a dose of 200 mg/kgbb showed the best healing in the islets of Langerhans.

Migraine among King Khaled University students; prevalence, determinants, and impact on academic life.

Migraine is a common primary headache disorder that significantly affects academic life and is often associated with stress, depression, anxiety, and irregular sleep patterns among university students. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of migraine among King Khalid University (KKU) students, identify its determinants, and evaluate the impact of migraine and other headaches on academic life and performance. An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 732 students from Colleges of Medicine, Pharmacy, Engineering, and Computer science. We used a self-administered questionnaire, including the ID Migraine™ screening tool, which was administered either through an online survey or face-to-face. Convenience and snowball sampling methods were adopted to recruit participants between June 1 and August 31, 2024. The median [interquartile range (IQR)] age was 21(2.0) years, 58.2% were female, 97.5% were Saudi, and 93.0% were non-smokers. The prevalence of migraine was 44.1%. The key predictors of migraine were female gender (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=1.78 (1.29 - 2.46), P<0.001), family history AOR = 2.39 (1.75- 3.27), P<0.001], working alongside education (AOR = 1.95 (1.19 - 3.18), P = 0.007), family debt (AOR = 1.86 (1.06 - 3.29), P=0.03), and having chronic diseases like bronchial asthma (AOR = 2.16 (1.11 - 4.20), P=0.02) and hypertension AOR = 6.23 (1.34 - 28.84), P = 0.01). Over 90% reported migraines affected concentration, sleep, and exam preparation, and 65% indicated an impact on university attendance. Migraines are highly prevalent among KKU students, affecting academic daily life. Early detection and lifestyle changes are essential, and universities should plan and implement coping strategies to support affected students.

Capable exam-taker and question-generator: the dual role of generative AI in medical education assessment

Abstract Objectives Artificial intelligence (AI) is being increasingly used in medical education. This narrative review presents a comprehensive analysis of generative AI tools’ performance in answering and generating medical exam questions, thereby providing a broader perspective on AI’s strengths and limitations in the medical education context. Methods The Scopus database was searched for studies on generative AI in medical examinations from 2022 to 2024. Duplicates were removed, and relevant full texts were retrieved following inclusion and exclusion criteria. Narrative analysis and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the contents of the included studies. Results A total of 70 studies were included for analysis. The results showed that AI tools’ performance varied when answering different types of questions and different specialty questions, with best average accuracy in psychiatry, and were influenced by prompts. With well-crafted prompts, AI models can efficiently produce high-quality examination questions. Conclusion Generative AI possesses the ability to answer and produce medical questions using carefully designed prompts. Its potential use in medical assessment is vast, ranging from detecting question error, aiding in exam preparation, facilitating formative assessments, to supporting personalized learning. However, it’s crucial for educators to always double-check the AI’s responses to maintain accuracy and prevent the spread of misinformation.

Development and Assessment of an Online, Asynchronous State-Specific Pharmacy Law Continuing Education Program for Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination Preparation

Description of the Problem: The Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE) is a licensure requirement for pharmacists. National pass rates for this exam are variable and have recently been decreasing nationally. Current support for graduates in pharmacy law courses and MPJE test preparation tools varies between states and institutions. Description of the Innovation: The Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy created an online, asynchronous continuing education (CE) course that provides content specific to Virginia pharmacy laws and regulations. The course is divided into six modules, aligned with MJPE competency statements. Critical Analysis: Of the 158 participants who have taken the CE, 26 responded to the survey (response rate = 16.5%) on pass rate success and resources used in preparation for MJPE. The majority (96%) of those who completed the CE passed their next attempt on the MJPE. Qualitative feedback was collected and evaluated using thematic analysis. This limited cross-sectional data requires this innovation to report only descriptive preliminary findings without generalizability. Implications: The institution will continue to offer this CE. The CE creates a revenue stream for the institution and provides a resource for passing the Virginia MPJE.

Arrangement of working time on practice &amp; preparation of competitive exams with working time; A descriptive study

BACKGROUND Competitive exams are pursuable to all Indian nurses as staff nurses, clinical instructors, or in educational sectors. Subsequently, working time also plays a huge role in every Indian, especially in nursing professionals. Nursing staff and tutors have to maintain peacefulness in their working are mean job field and on the other hand keep time for preparing for career upgrades. Poor time management in the health care system has a significant effect on an individual such as imbalance, job dissatisfaction, work ineffectiveness, and finally poor productivity of the organization and individuals. Aim: The main aim of the study was to determine the time management skills among staff nurses and nursing tutors. Balancing working hours and preparation for competitive exams. Objectives:  To assess the requirement for arranging the working time among staff nurses.  To assess the requirements for arranging the working time among faculties at nursing colleges.  To associate the effectiveness of the arrangement of work time on practice &amp; preparation with selected time management factors.  To assess the usefulness of working time arrangements among those who are preparing for competitive exams. Design: This study was used a cross-sectional survey design was adopted for the study. Setting: Nursing staff elected from SAIMS Hospital and Sciences and Tutors from IIMS College of Nursing. Participants: A total of 60 samples, 30 nursing staff and 30 nursing tutors fulfilling the inclusion criteria were by non-probability convenient sampling technique. Methodology: Facility-based the tool consisted of two subsections, section-I- demographic data, and section-II – Likert scale rating according to the time management sheet. According to different shifts of nursing staff, and constant timings of tutors. The average time taken by the participants to fill the rating scale was 20-25min. Results: A total of 60 employees participated in the study, with a response rate of 94.8%. The results showed that the overall majority of nursing staff, 47%, arranged their working times properly with the working timings, 45% of tutors arranged along with the working timings, and a smaller number of 8% of participants did not properly arrange their timings, as measured in a Likert scale. Conclusion: In conclusion, including all the above findings with many factors, major participation arranging their timings for preparing the competitive exams along with working timings but, mainly the results can describe the staff nurses having more time than nursing tutors for preparing competitive exams. Due to the timings of work staff nurses have 6 hours of working time and the nursing staff has 8 hours times for work. Even not very much difference in managing of timings for preparation for both participants.

The impact of TOEFL iBT preparation on Chinese test-takers’ perceptions of integrated speaking and writing design

ABSTRACT This study employed a multi-methods design to investigate the impact of preparation on Chinese test-takers’ perceptions of the integrated TOEFL iBT speaking and writing design. Combining results from over 1700 surveys and 10 interviews, it was found that these Chinese test-takers, who are the most vulnerable group in the multimillion testing business, demonstrate notably positive perceptions toward the test demand, target domain reflection, familiarity, and difficulty of integrated tests. A significant difference in perceptions was identified between test-takers who underwent test preparation training and those who did not. Test preparation training, in this research context, played a crucial role in fostering a positive perception change by familiarizing test-takers with testing processes, equipping them with essential skills to address integrated test demands, altering their attitudes toward testing and learning while preparing them for university-level learning. This research challenges traditional assumptions of negative test-taker reactions and highlights the positive impact of structured test preparation. The findings provide valuable insights into test-takers’ perceptions, particularly from a significant demographic – Chinese test-takers – and contribute to the construct validity and washback evidence. These insights further support the critical interpretation and use of TOEFL iBT scores for high-stakes admission decisions, highlighting the impact on test-takers whose lives and success hinge on test outcomes.

Unveiling the key factors and challenges on the graduates’ board performance in the new curriculum

This study explores the essential factors and challenges shaping the Board Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (BLEPT) performance of Bachelor of Elementary Education graduates of Batch 2022 within the new curriculum framework. It intended to profile, describe the influencing factors on exam performance in terms of personal, school, and home-related/family factors, discover the challenges perceived to impact performance, and propose a sustainability plan to achieve better performance in the licensure exam. A mixed-method approach, specifically descriptive phenomenology was employed with 51 respondents in the quantitative and 14 participants in the qualitative part. Key findings show the dominance of females (82%) in teacher education, most of them attended the formal review sessions (75%), and the majority are passers (82%). Influences of factors have a very great extent which underscores positive self-perception in personal factors (4.36), satisfaction with school infrastructure, faculty competence, curriculum, and administration (4.57), and a generally supportive family environment, although with variations in parental monitoring (4.28). The challenges include work-life integration, financial strain, and psychological and emotional stress emphasizing the multifaceted nature of exam preparation. No significant disparities emerged based on sex and BLEPT outcome (student/personal factors, p = .249; school-related factors, p = .664; and home/family-related factors, p = .855), highlighting consistent influences across diverse groups. However, significant distinctions were discovered in student and home-related factors between formal review attendees and non-attendees (with Cohen’s d values of 0 .69 (large effect) and 0 .65 (large effect), respectively), emphasizing the impactful role of formal reviews. The study recommends a sustainability action plan to lessen these challenges and enhance the preparation process for future exam takers.

Developing a Mobile Application-based System for Enhancing Medical Skill Training.

In a regional hospital in Southern Taiwan, an average of 25 heart surgeries are performed annually, with surgical education conducted one-on-one. This indicates that opportunities for paramedics to participate in surgical procedures are quite limited. Although 80 paramedics in the hospital can perform surgical procedures, 69 have more than two years of experience, and only 19 are selected by surgeons to perform surgical procedures. Consequently, paramedics without hands-on experience are likely to feel panicked and helpless. The present study employed a systematic software development approach to create a mobile application-based medical skill training system. Initially, we conducted a comprehensive needs analysis through in-depth interviews with cardiac surgery nurses and administrators to accurately identify the key training requirements. In the system architecture design phase, we chose Windows Server as the operating system, combined PHP and Apache to handle web service requests, used MariaDB for data storage and management, and applied FastAPI to facilitate data exchange with other services. Client-side development utilized the Flutter framework, ensuring a consistent user experience across iOS and Android platforms. We also designed complex data structures to accommodate testing and recording needs, including exam data, question types, and option records. For user flow implementation, we developed a complete process including user registration, subject management, test preparation, and evaluation. Finally, we implemented core functionalities such as the login interface, question selection, and test interface to ensure the system's comprehensiveness and practicality. This multi-stage development approach aimed to create an efficient, user-friendly, and adaptive training platform to meet the specific needs of cardiac surgery nursing staff. The development and implementation of the mobile application-based system for enhancing medical skill training has demonstrated significant potential in addressing the challenges of paramedics in cardiac surgery settings. While the initial results are promising, further long-term studies are needed to assess the impact on actual surgical outcomes and patient care quality.

The Impact of Korea’s ‘Hagwon’ Culture on Academic Pressure Among High School Students

South Korea’s hagwon culture, characterized by private academies offering supplementary education, has become a cornerstone of its competitive academic system. While hagwon provide tailored support and intensive preparation for high-stakes exams like the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), their prevalence has led to heightened academic pressure, socio-economic disparities, and significant psychological and physical consequences for students. This paper explores the core features of hagwon culture, including its integration into daily life, financial demands, and its dual role in academic support and test preparation. Comparative analysis with similar systems in Japan and China highlights the unique aspects of Korea’s education landscape. Furthermore, the study examines parental motivations, societal expectations, and public attitudes toward the sustainability of hagwon. The paper concludes by proposing policy reforms, such as enhancing public education, promoting holistic learning approaches, and addressing socio-economic inequities, to reduce reliance on private academies and foster a more equitable and balanced education system.