View source for College Scholastic Ability Test

{{Excessive detail|details=|date=January 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2025}}
{{Short description|South Korean standardised test}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2014}}
{{Infobox Korean name|
hangul=대학수학능력시험|
hanja= 大學修學能力試驗|
rr=Daehak Suhak Neungnyeok Siheom|
mr=Taehak Suhak Nŭngnyŏk Sihŏm
}}The '''College Scholastic Ability Test''' or '''CSAT''' ({{Korean|hangul=대학수학능력시험|hanja=大學修學能力試驗}}), also abbreviated as '''Suneung''' ({{Korean|hangul=수능|hanja=修能|labels=no}}), is a [[standardized test|standardised test]] which is recognised by South Korean universities. The Korea Institute of Curriculum and Evaluation (KICE) administers the annual test on the third Thursday in November.<ref name="KICE role">{{cite web|url=http://www.nrcs.re.kr/english/member/08/|title=Member Research Institute|publisher=NRCS|access-date=October 11, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014012948/http://www.nrcs.re.kr/english/member/08/|archive-date=October 14, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="Naver Definition">{{cite web|url=http://krdic.naver.com/detail.nhn?docid=9388600|title=대학⌒수학⌒능력⌒시험大學修學能力試驗|publisher=NAVER Corp|access-date=October 12, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055434/http://krdic.naver.com/detail.nhn?docid=9388600|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="2017 Test">{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsworldi.com/Articles/SWIssue/Article.asp?aid=20130827022460&subctg1=10&subctg2=00&OutUrl=naver|title=2017년 대학수학능력시험부터 문과 • 이과 구분 폐지 검토…한국사 필수|date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Sportworldi.com|access-date=October 11, 2013|archive-date=October 20, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020034907/http://www.sportsworldi.com/Articles/SWIssue/Article.asp?aid=20130827022460&subctg1=10&subctg2=00&OutUrl=naver|url-status=live}}</ref> 

The CSAT was originally designed to assess the scholastic ability required for college. Because the CSAT is the primary factor considered during the Regular Admission round, it plays an important role in [[Education in South Korea|South Korean education]]. Of the students taking the test, as of 2023, 65 percent are currently in high school and 31 percent are high-school graduates who did not achieve their desired score the previous year. The share of graduates taking the test has been steadily rising from 20 percent in 2011. <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.korea.kr/docViewer/skin/doc.html?fn=b5edd06a4e2b4ba20c40906ca3c7ac5a&rs=/docViewer/result/2023.12/15/b5edd06a4e2b4ba20c40906ca3c7ac5a |title=2024학년도 대학수학능력시험 응시자 현황 |publisher=Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation |access-date=September 11, 2024}}</ref>
<ref name="CNN Test">{{cite web |date=November 10, 2011 |title=South Korean students' 'year of hell' culminates with exams day |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2011/11/10/world/asia/south-korea-exams/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020041702/http://edition.cnn.com/2011/11/10/world/asia/south-korea-exams/index.html |archive-date=October 20, 2013 |access-date=October 11, 2013 |publisher=Cable News Network}}</ref> Despite the emphasis on the CSAT, it is not a requirement for a high school diploma.

Day-to-day operations are halted or delayed on test day.<ref name="CNN Test" /> Many shops, flights, military training, construction projects, banks, and other activities and establishments are closed or canceled. The [[Korea Exchange|KRX]] stock markets in [[Busan]], [[South Gyeongsang Province|Gyeongnam]] and [[Seoul]] open late.<ref name="BBC The day silence falls over South Korea">{{cite news |date=26 November 2018 |title=Suneung: The day silence falls over South Korea |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-46181240 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121133253/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-46181240 |archive-date=November 21, 2021 |access-date=21 November 2021 |work=BBC News}}</ref>

== Purpose ==
The CSAT is designed to test a candidate's ability to study in college, with questions based on Korea's high-school curriculum. It standardises high-school education and provides accurate, objective data for university admission.<ref name="moe Plan for 2019">{{Cite web|url=https://www.moe.go.kr/sn3hcv/doc.html?fn=4a50fcde6546b5c708f7e17032c6eb57&rs=%2Fupload%2Fsynap%2F201905%2F|title=Plan for 2019 CSAT|website=www.moe.go.kr|access-date=2019-05-16|archive-date=May 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509131114/https://www.moe.go.kr/sn3hcv/doc.html?fn=4a50fcde6546b5c708f7e17032c6eb57&rs=%2Fupload%2Fsynap%2F201905%2F|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Schedule ==
All questions are multiple-choice, except for the 9 questions in the Mathematics section, which are short answer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.suneung.re.kr/sub/info.do?m=0101&s=suneung|title=KICE's homepage introducing CSAT|website=www.suneung.re.kr|access-date=2019-05-16|archive-date=July 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170716104111/http://www.suneung.re.kr/sub/info.do?m=0101&s=suneung|url-status=live}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
!Period
!Subject
!Time
!Number of<br>questions
!Points
!Notes
|-
| colspan="6" |Candidates must enter the testing room by 08:10. For the second to fifth periods, students must enter 10 minutes before the test begins.
|-
|1
|[[Korean language|Korean Language]]
|08:40–10:00 (80 min.)
|45
|100
|Q1–17: Reading<br>Q18–34: Literature<br>Q35–45: Elective (candidates must choose between Speech and Writing or Linguistics and Media)

(2 or 3 points per question)
|-
| colspan="6" |Break time: 10:00–10:20 (20 min)
|-
|2
|[[Mathematics]]
|10:30–12:10 (100 min.)
|30
|100
|Q1–22: Mathematics I, Mathematics II<br>Q23–30: Elective (candidates must choose between Calculus, Geometry or Probability and Statistics)
* 30% (9 out of 30) of the questions require short answers (one of the positive integers from 0 to 999).

(2 or 3 or 4 points per question)
|-
| colspan="6" |Lunch: 12:10–13:00 (50 min.)
|-
|3
|[[English language|English Language]]
|13:10–14:20 (70 min.)
|45
|100
|Q1–17: Listening (25 minutes or less)<br>Q18–45: Reading

(2 or 3 points per question)
|-
| colspan="6" |Break: 14:20–14:40 (20 min.)
|-
| rowspan="5" |4
|[[History of Korea|Korean History]]
|14:50–15:20 (30 min.)
|20
|50
|Mandatory subject

(2 or 3 points per question)
|-
|''Collection of Korean history question and answer sheets<br>Distribution of first subordinate subject papers''
|15:20–15:35 (15 min.)
| colspan="2" |
|''Candidates not taking a subordinate subject(s) return to the waiting room''
|-
|First subordinate subject
|15:35–16:05 (30 min.)
|20
|50
| rowspan="3" |Candidates can choose up to two subjects from [[Social science|Social Science]], [[Natural science|Natural Science]] or [[Vocational education|Vocational Education]]
* Collection time is 2 minutes for each subject.

(2 or 3 points per question)
|-
|Collection of question and answer sheets
|16:05–16:07 (2 min.)
| colspan="2" |
|-
|Second subordinate subject
|16:07–16:37 (30 min.)
|20
|50
|-
| colspan="6" |Break: 16:37–16:55 (18 min.)
|-
|5
|[[Foreign language|Second foreign language]]/[[Classical Chinese]]
|17:05–17:45 (40 min.)
|30
|50
|No listening test

(1 or 2 points per question)
|}

== Sections ==
{{Multiple issues|section=yes|
{{Update section|date=September 2021}}
{{Unreferenced section|date=February 2021}}
}}
The CSAT consists of six sections: [[Korean language|Korean]], [[Mathematics]], [[English language|English]], [[History of Korea|Korean history]], one chosen subject from [[Social science]], [[Natural science]], and [[Vocational education]], and a [[Foreign language|Second language]] and [[Classical Chinese]]. All sections are optional except [[History of Korea|Korean history]], but most candidates take all the other sections except a second foreign language and [[Classical Chinese]].

In the Mathematics section, candidates take Math I (which consists of [[Logarithm|logarithms]], [[sequences]] and [[trigonometry]]) and Math II (which consists of [[Limit (mathematics)|limits]], [[precalculus]] and [[calculus]]), and are allowed to select one topic among [[Probabilities|probability]] and [[statistics]], [[geometry]] and [[calculus]].

The subordinate subjects are divided into three sections: social studies, science, and vocational education. Candidates may choose up to two subjects, either from the 17 science or social studies subjects, or from the vocational education subjects. For example, Physics II and Biology I may be chosen for the subordinate section since both are sciences, Chemistry I and Society and Culture may be chosen as well, but World history and Principles of Accounting may not{{snd}}the former is in the social studies section, and the latter in vocational education. Only vocational high-school graduates can choose the vocational education section, accounting for only 1% of test-takers. The split between sciences and social studies has been fairly even, but in 2024, the number of students taking social studies subjects (225135) overtook the number taking sciences (174649), while the percentage of students taking one science and one social studies exceeded 10%.

In the second language/Classical Chinese section, the candidate chooses one subject.

Most high-ranked universities require applicants to take two science subordinate subjects and Geometry or Calculus in the mathematics section if they apply for a STEM major, and do not accept subordinate subjects in the same field (such as Physics I and Physics II).<ref name="moe Plan for 2019" /> However, in 2024, most universities abolished the two sciences rule, leading to an influx of students from science to social studies. The only universities that required two science subjects for non-medical STEM majors were Seoul National University, Korea University, and Hongik University, while most medicine-related maintained the restriction. Korea University and Hongik University have announced plans to abolish the rule in the 2025 exam for the 2026 school year.

In 2023, the Ministry of Education announced revisions that will take effect starting in 2027, which includes abolishing electives, including Korean Language and Mathematics electives, and replacing different Natural science and social studies subjects with Integrated Science and Integrated Social Studies.

=== {{anchor|Korean Language}}Korean Language ===
{{more citations needed section|date=March 2024}}
In the Korean Language section, candidates are assessed on their ability to read, understand and analyse Korean texts rapidly and accurately. Its 45 questions of the subject are classified into four categories:

Common topics
* Questions 1-17: Reading
* Questions 18-34: Literature
Elective topics (select 1 out of 2 options, Q35-45)
* Speech and Writing
* Language and Media

==== Common subjects ====
===== Reading =====
This category consists of four articles. Each passage has 3-6 questions from the topics of reading theory, humanities/arts, law/economy and science/technology respectively.
{| class="wikitable"
!Passage Topic
!Contents
|-
|Reading theory
|Article about the significance of reading or a reading journal written by a student
|-
|Humanities
|A passage about a thinker and their theories from the topics historiography or philosophy (Western and Eastern ethics, logic). The questions normally feature a single person presenting their opinions or two thinkers with opposing opinions.
|-
|Arts
|Focus on an artist and their works in the fields of music, visual arts and architecture.
|-
|Society (Law/economy)
|Common law topics are: [[Civil Code of the Republic of Korea|Civil Code]], [[Administrative law]], [[Philosophy of law]], [[Penal Code (South Korea)|Penal code]], commercial act and the [[Constitution of South Korea|Korean Constitution]]
Common economy topics are: [[macroeconomics]] and [[international economics]]
|-
|Science
|Biology (especially [[physiology]] and [[biochemistry]]), [[astronomy]], [[physics]], [[earth science]], [[chemistry]] and [[mathematics]]
|-
|Technology
|Texts generally focus on how specialised machines and systems work. Recently texts have focused on newer technologies such as [[3D modeling|3D modelling]] and the [[metaverse]].
|-
|Mixed
|Some texts feature a combination of two topics. For example, in 2017 September mock exam, a question featuring both the arts and technology was about the scientific origin and the artistic use of concrete architecture. In the 2019 exam, science and the humanities was mixed in a text about the differing viewpoints of Eastern and Western philosophers regarding the universe.
|}

===== [[Korean literature|Literature]] =====
This category consists of texts from five categories: [[Korean poetry|classical poetries]] such as [[Hyangga]], [[Sijo]], [[Gasa (poetry)|Gasa]] and Goryeo Gayo, classical novels and [[Literary Chinese literature in Korea|prose]], contemporary poetry, contemporary novels and play and essays. Candidates may be asked to summarise a single passage or outline a common theme between multiple texts (sometimes of different text types), among many other question types.

==== Elective subjects ====
===== {{anchor|Speech and Writing}}Speech and writing =====
This category consists of 11 questions relating to three texts.
{| class="wikitable"
!Question
!Text
!Text types
!Common questions asked
|-
|35-37
|Speech
|Transcript of a presentation/speech, negotiation, discussion/debate 
|Speaking style, content, audience response
|-
|38-41
|Combination of speech and writing
|One speech text and one writing text
|Conversation style, context, possible issues or corrections, problems to add
|-
|42-45
|Writing
|A text written by a student or text outline
|Associating the outline with the text, incorporation of various sources, correction, refuting
|}

===== Language and Media =====
Language forms questions 35-39 and includes topics within [[Korean grammar|grammar]]: [[phonology]], [[syntax]], [[Morphology (linguistics)|morphology]], the [[History of Korean|history of the Korean language]], [[Korean dialects]] and the [[Jeju language|Jeju Language]].

The history of the Korean language concerns [[Old Korean|ancient]] and [[Middle Korean|medieval Korean]]. [[Phonology]], [[syntax]] and [[Morphology (linguistics)|morphology]] involves the patternised principle and exceptional principle. [[Korean dialects|Dialect of Korean]] and [[Jeju language|Jeju Language]] are usually deal with Korean dialects in Korea and historical features in specific dialects of Korean.

An additional topic may be used to complete the required five, or two questions are taken from morphology or syntax. Media forms questions 40-45 and relates to the characteristics of media and the creation of an online post or message.

=== Mathematics ===
All mathematics candidates take the Maths I and II and select one elective topic from three choices: Calculus, Geometry or Probability and Statistics. Calculus is most preferred by students applying for natural science majors, while Probability and Statistics are preferred by students applying for the humanities. Geometry is the least popular, with only 4.1% of students selecting it as their elective.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-15 |title=[2023 수능] 3월 학평 선택과목 응시자 비율 변화…수능 대비 방법은? |url=http://www.edujin.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=38528 |access-date=2022-12-20 |website=에듀진 인터넷 교육신문 |language=ko}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+Mathematics
!Type
!Subject
!Contents
|-
| rowspan="2" |Base subject
|Math I

|I. Exponential and logarithmic functions
II. Trigonometric functions

III. Sequences
|-
|Math II
|I. Limits and continuous functions
II. Differentiation

III. Integration
|-
| rowspan="3" |Elective subject
|Calculus
|I. Limit of a sequence
II. Methods of differentiation

III. Methods of integration
|-
|Probability and Statistics
|I. Number of outcomes
II. Probability

III. Statistics
|-
|Geometry
|I. Conic section
II. Vector on a plane

III. Three-dimensional figures and coordinates
|}

=== English Language ===
The [[English language|English]] test involves dictation questions from Q1 to 17 and reading questions from Q18 to 45.

Dictation involves basic conversations of topics including shopping in [[United States dollar|US Dollar]],  [[Pound sterling|British Pound]], [[Euro]] and [[South Korean won|Korean Won]], school activities, community activities and weather forecasts. Question 17 and 18 are extended dialogues which involve class announcements and presentations. Audio tracks are recorded in [[General American English|General]] [[American English]] and [[Standard Canadian English|Standard]] [[Canadian English]]. [[British English|British]] [[Received Pronunciation]], [[Australian English|Australian]] [[Variation in Australian English|Cultivated Accent]], [[New Zealand English|New Zealand]] [[New Zealand English phonology|Accent]], [[Hiberno-English|Irish Accent]], [[South African English|South African]] [[White South African English phonology|Accent]], [[Indian English|Indian Accent]], [[Singapore English|Singaporean Accent]] and [[Hong Kong English|Hong Kong Accent]] have not been recorded.
 
The reading questions from 18 to 45 involve topics such as biographies and, philanthropy, graphs and [[English grammar|grammar]], fixing the correct words, orders of sentences, infer the intentions with sources originating from theses, autobiographies, news articles, academic journals, and [[Educational Broadcasting System|EBS]] textbooks. 

Some texts showed [[Anglosphere]] cultural features that introducing [[Culture of the United Kingdom|British]] and [[Culture of the United States|American]] culture, introducing [[English units|English]] [[Imperial units|Imperial]] [[Imperial and US customary measurement systems|Customary Units]] and [[International System of Units|International Units]], utilising some sources of [[English literature]] such as [[English novel|novels]] and [[English poetry|poetries]] of [[Geoffrey Chaucer]], [[William Shakespear]], [[Charles Dickens]], [[Robert Burns]], [[Walter Scott]], [[George Bernard Shaw]], [[James Joyce]], [[W. B. Yeats|William Butler Yeats]] and others. It also deal with historical features of [[History of the United Kingdom|UK]] and [[History of the United States|USA]]. 

It also deal [[American and British English spelling differences|spelling differences]], [[American and British English grammatical differences|grammatical differences]], [[Glossary of American terms not widely used in the United Kingdom|Americanism within US and not in UK]], [[Lists of words having different meanings in American and British English|Same vocabulary with different meanings between UK and US]] from [[List of words having different meanings in American and British English (A–L)|A]] to [[List of words having different meanings in American and British English (M–Z)|Z]], [[Glossary of British terms not widely used in the United States|Britishness within UK and not in US]], [[American and British English pronunciation differences|phonetic differences]] of [[Comparison of General American and Received Pronunciation|standard forms]] and [[Comparison of American and British English|other differences within American and British English]].

=== Korean History ===
Korean History Test and Subordinate subjects are set on same portion of the schedule. The test paper includes 20 questions: 10 questions about Ancient, Medieval and [[Joseon|Joseon Dynasty]] and 10 questions about [[Korea under Japanese rule|decolonised Korea by Japan]], [[Korean independence movement]], [[Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea|Provisional Government of Korea]], [[Pacific War]] and [[World War II]], [[Korean War]] and [[History of South Korea|Modern History]].

=== {{anchor|Subordinate Subjects}}Subordinate subjects ===
{| class="wikitable"

|+Subordinate subjects<ref name="moe Plan for 2019" />
!Section
!Field
!Subject
!Related major
!Contents
|-
| rowspan="9" |[[Social Science]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Ethics]] and [[Philosophy]]
|Life and ethics
| rowspan="2" |[[Philosophy]]
|Introduction to ethics, [[teleological ethics|teleological]] and [[deontological ethics]], [[Thomas Aquinas]], [[Stoicism]], [[Immanuel Kant]], [[utilitarianism]], [[virtue ethics]], [[John Rawls]], [[Alasdair MacIntyre]], [[Jürgen Habermas]]
|-
|Ethics and ideology
|[[Eastern philosophy]]: [[Confucianism]], [[Buddhism]], [[Taoism]], [[Korean philosophy]], [[Chinese philosophy]], [[Indian philosophy]]

[[Western philosophy]]: [[Sophism]], [[Socrates]], [[Plato]], [[Aristotle]], [[Epicureanism]], Stoicism, [[Hellenism (Greek culture)|Hellenism]], [[Christianity]], [[Scholasticus]], [[Protestantism]], [[Empiricism]], [[Rationalism]], [[Francis Bacon]], [[Thomas Hobbes]], [[David Hume]], [[René Descartes]], [[Baruch Spinoza]], utilitarianism, [[John Stuart Mill]], [[Jeremy Bentham]], Kant, [[practical ethics]], [[existentialism]], virtue ethics, [[communitarianism]], [[democracy]], [[social contract]], [[natural law]], [[capitalism]], [[socialism]]
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Geography]]
|[[Geography of Korea|Korean Geography]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Geography]]
|[[Physical geography|Natural Geography]]: the Korean climate, [[Geology|Geology in Korea]]

[[Human geography|Human Geography]]: [[Cartography]] and [[Geographic information system|GIS]], [[Economic geography|Korean geography-based industrial structure]], [[Cultural geography|cultural geography in Korea]], [[Urban geography|Urban Geography]], [[Transport geography]], [[Historical geography|Historical Geography]], [[Population geography]] and [[Demography]]

Regional Geography: [[Provinces of South Korea|Provincial geography]] including [[Committee for the Five Northern Korean Provinces|Northern 5 Provinces]], [[Korean reunification|Korean Reunification]]
|-
|[[World history (field)|World geography]]
|[[Physical geography|Physical Geography]]: [[Climatology|Climate in World]], [[Geology|Geology in World]]

[[Human geography|Human Geography]]: [[Cartography|World Map]] and [[Geographic information system|GIS]], [[Cultural geography|Cultural Geography]], [[Economic geography|Economic Geography]], [[Urban geography|Urban Geography]], [[Transport geography]], [[Population geography]] and [[Demography]], [[Historical geography|Historical Geography]], [[Globalisation]], [[Geopolitics|regional conflicts]] and International politics

Regional geography: [[Geography of Europe|European Geography]], [[Geography of North America|North American Geography]], [[East Asia|East Asian Geography]], [[South East Asia|Southeast Asian Geography]], [[Indian subcontinent|South Asian Geography]], [[Geography of Oceania|Oceanian Geography]], [[Geography of South America|South American Geography]], [[West Asia|West Asian Geography]], [[Geography of Africa|African Geography]], [[Central Asia|Central Asian Geography]]
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[History]]
|[[History of East Asia|East Asian history]]
| rowspan="2" |[[History]]
|[[History of Korea]], [[History of China|China]], [[History of Taiwan]] and [[History of the Republic of China|Republic of China]], [[History of Hong Kong|Hong Kong]], [[History of Macau|Macao]], [[History of Japan|Japan]], [[History of Mongolia|Mongolia]], [[History of Singapore|Singapore]] and [[History of Vietnam|Vietnam]]
|-
|[[World history (field)|World History]]
|[[World history (field)|History of the world]], [[Ancient Greece]] and [[Ancient Rome|Rome]], [[History of Europe|Western Europe]], [[History of the Mediterranean region|Southern Europe]], [[History of Western civilization|European and Western History]], [[History of Southeast Asia|Southeast Asia]], [[History of India|South Asia]], [[World War I]], [[World War II]], the [[Cold War]]
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[Social studies|General Social Studies]]
|Politics and law
|[[Law]]
[[Political science]]
[[International relations]]
|[[Politics]]: [[Political philosophy]], [[legal philosophy]], the [[Elections|electoral system]], [[Legislature|legislative systems]], [[Executive (government)|executive system]] and [[Cabinet (government)|cabinet]], [[Judiciary|judicial System]], [[Constitution of South Korea|constitution of Korea]], [[Comparative politics]], [[Parliamentary system]], [[Unicameralism|Unicameral]] and [[Bicameralism|Bicameral]] [[Parliament|systems]], [[Federalism]] and [[Devolution]], [[Korean reunification|Reunificagion of Korea]], [[Politics of South Korea|Political History of Korea]]

[[Law]]: [[English law|English]] [[Common law|Common Law]] and [[Law of France|French]] and [[Law of Germany|German]] [[Civil law (legal system)|Civil Law]], [[Criminal law|Criminal Law]], [[Commercial law|Commercial Law]], [[Administrative law|Administrative Law]], [[Contract|Contract Law]], [[Labour law|Labour Law]], [[Family law|Family Law]], [[Tort|Tort Law]], [[Property law|Property Law]], [[Trust (law)|Trust Law]], [[Civil law (common law)|Civil Law]] and [[Civil Code|Code]]

[[International Politics]]: [[Foreign relations of South Korea|diplomacy]] and international politics, [[United Nations|Structure of UN]], [[Cold War]], [[Geopolitics]]
|-
| rowspan-"4" | Economics
|[[Economics]]
|[[Microeconomics]]: Division of labour, [[Consumer choice|Consumer Choice]] and [[Production theory|Production Theory]], [[Cost-of-production theory of value|Cost of Production Theory of Value]], [[Opportunity cost|Opportunity Cost]], [[Fixed cost|Fixed]] and [[Variable cost|variable]] costs, [[Supply and demand|Supply and Demand]], [[Market structure|Market Structure]], [[Game theory|Game Theory]], [[Information economics|Information Economics]], [[Finance]]

[[Macroeconomics]]: [[History of macroeconomic thought|History of economic theories]], [[monetary policy]], [[fiscal policy]], the [[macroeconomic model]], [[International trade|trade]] and [[Exchange rate|exchange rates]], [[Economic ideology|Economic philosophy]], [[Economic growth]], [[Economy of South Korea|Korean Economy]] and [[Miracle on the Han River|Korean Economic Growth]]
|-
|Society and culture
|[[Sociology]]
[[Anthropology]]
|[[Structural functionalism]], [[conflict theories]], [[symbolic interactionism]], [[social research]], [[socialization|socialisation]], [[social group]]s, [[Deviance (sociology)|deviance]], [[anomie]], [[Émile Durkheim]], [[Robert K. Merton]], [[culture]], [[social inequality]], [[Marxian class theory]], [[social stratification]], [[poverty]], [[gender]], [[welfare spending|welfare]] and [[Welfare state|State intervention]], [[Modernization theory|Modernisation theory]], evolutionary theory, [[industrialisation]], unemployment, globalisation
|-
| rowspan="8" |[[Natural science|Natural Science]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Physics]]
|Physics I
| rowspan="2" |[[Physics]]
|[[Classical mechanics]] in one dimension, [[theory of relativity]], [[electromagnetism]]: [[electromagnetic induction]] and [[Faraday's law of induction|Faraday's law]], [[wave]] properties, [[semiconductor]] principles, [[torque]], [[Archimedes' principle]], [[Pascal's law]], [[Bernoulli's principle]], [[laws of thermodynamics]]
|-
|Physics II
|I. Classical mechanics: [[classical mechanics]] in two dimensions, [[harmonic oscillator]], laws of thermodynamics, proof of [[ideal gas law]]

II. Electromagnetism: [[electric dipole moment]], [[Lorentz force]], [[RLC circuit]]

III. Waves and light: Mathematical expression of wave, [[Huygens' principle]], [[superposition principle]], [[laser]]s, [[polarization of light|polarisation of lights]]

IV. Quantum mechanics: [[Black body|black bodies]], [[Wien's displacement law]], [[Stefan–Boltzmann law]], [[photoelectric effect]], [[Compton scattering]], [[matter wave|matter waves]], the [[Davisson–Germer experiment]], [[uncertainty principle]], [[Schrödinger equation]], [[wave function]], [[quantum tunnelling]], [[scanning tunneling microscope]]
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Chemistry]]
|Chemistry I
| rowspan="2" |[[Chemistry]]
|[[Chemical formula]], [[Avogadro constant]], [[Mole (unit)|mole]], [[periodic table]], [[Bohr model]], [[atomic orbital]], [[Spin (physics)|spin]], [[Pauli exclusion principle]], [[Hund's rules]], [[Aufbau principle]], [[octet rule]], [[covalent bond]], [[ionic bonding]], [[coordinate covalent bond]], [[Bond dipole moment]], [[acid-base]], [[redox]], [[DNA]]
|-
|Chemistry II
|[[Van der Waals force]], [[hydrogen bond]], the ideal gas equation, [[mole fraction]], [[Dalton's law]], [[cubic crystal system]], [[Raoult's law]], [[vapor pressure|vapour pressure]], <math>Q=cm\Delta t</math> Heat of reaction, [[Hess's law]], [[enthalpy]], [[Gibbs free energy]], [[Chemical equilibrium]]: [[phase diagram]], [[solubility equilibrium]], ionisation equilibrium, [[buffer solution]]
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Biology]]
|Biology I
| rowspan="2" |[[Biology]]
|DNA, [[gene]]s, [[chromosome]]s, cell structure [[Cell division|division]], the [[cell cycle]], [[Mendelian inheritance]], [[anatomy]], [[Adenosine triphosphate]], [[ecology]]
|-
|Biology II
|Deeper version of Biology I, [[Hardy–Weinberg principle]], [[evolution]]
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Earth science]]
|Earth science I
| rowspan="2" |[[Geology]] [[Climatology]] [[Astrophysics]]
|Basic Earth Science: The [[atmosphere]], [[hydrosphere]], [[geosphere]], [[biosphere]]

[[Geology]]: Geology and [[Physical geography|Natural geography]] of the Korea, [[earthquake|earthquakes]], [[volcano|volcanoes]], [[weathering]], [[landslide|landslides]], [[weather]], [[tsunami|tsunamis]], environmental pollution, [[climate change]]

[[Universe]]: [[Star]], [[Earth]], [[Sun]], [[sunspot]], [[Moon]], [[eclipse]], [[extraterrestrial life]]
|-
|Earth science II
|[[Seismic wave|Seismic waves]], [[gravity]] and [[magnetic field|magnetic fields]], [[mineral]], [[magma]], [[Sedimentary rock|sedimentary]] and [[metamorphic rock|metamorphic rocks]], hydrodynamic equilibrium, [[adiabatic process]], [[Ekman spiral|Ekman spirals]], sea water{{Vague|date={{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}}}}, [[atmospheric circulation]], [[star|stars]], the [[Milky Way]], the [[Big Bang]], [[dark energy]]
|-
| rowspan="5" |Vocational education
| [[Agricultural science]]
|Agricultural science
|
|
|-
| [[Engineering]]
|General engineering
|
|
|-
| [[Commerce]]
|Commercial economics
|
|
|-
| [[Oceanography]]
|Fishing and shipping
|
|
|-
| [[Home economics|Home Economics]]
|Home Economics
|
|
|}

* Second foreign Language/Classical Chinese
** [[German language|German I]]
** [[French language|French I]]
** [[Spanish language|Spanish I]]
** [[Standard Chinese|Chinese I]]
** [[Japanese language|Japanese I]]
** [[Russian language|Russian I]]
** [[Arabic|Arabic I]]
** [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese I]]
** [[Hanja]] and [[Classical Chinese]] I

== Writing of the test ==
The problems are created by selected members who are university professors and high-school teachers and chosen by KICE. Two groups make the problems: one creates them, and the other reviews and revises them. 

The creators are primarily professors and high-school teachers review the questions. Both groups sign [[non-disclosure agreement|non-disclosure agreements]] with the KICE. In 2012, there was a total of 696 staff members involved in creating the problems. A member of the group earns about $300 per day.<ref name="Naver Process">{{cite web |title=대학수학능력시험 문제 출제과정 |url=http://terms.naver.com/entry.nhn?docId=67258&cid=83&categoryId=83 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004045738/https://terms.naver.com/entry.naver?docId=67258&cid=43667&categoryId=43667 |archive-date=October 4, 2022 |access-date=October 12, 2013 |publisher=NAVER Corp}}</ref>

In addition to professors, professional practitioners and high school teachers, Educational Civil Officers from the [[Ministry of Education (South Korea)|Ministry of Education of Korea]], Education Ministries of the provinces of Korea and the Korea Institute of Curriculum and Evaluation are also present to review the exams. Onsite are protected by security personnel from the [[National Police Agency (South Korea)|Korean National Police]] and [[National Intelligence Service (South Korea)|National Intelligence Service]], along with support staff including cooks, medical doctors, pharmacists and nurses. 

Hotels and resorts owned by private companies and training centres owned by the [[Government of South Korea|Government of Korea]] in remote places are used for test writers. It is closed to visitors.<ref name="BBC The day silence falls over South Korea" />

== {{anchor|Management|Application|Distributing test papers and OMR cards|Testing room|Scoring}}Administration ==
{{Unreferenced section|date=February 2021}}
High-school graduates and final-year high school students are allowed to sit the test. After the KICE prints test papers and [[Optical mark recognition|OMR]] cards, they are distributed three days before the test to each test area. In 2018, there were 85 test areas.

On test day, the [[Korea Exchange|KRX]] stock markets in [[Busan]] and [[Seoul]] open late, and [[Public transport|Public Transport]] such as [[Rapid transit|Metro System]], [[Medium-capacity rail system|Light Metro]], [[Light rail]], [[Urban rail transit|Metropolitan Railways]] and [[Transit bus|bus services]] are increased to avoid [[traffic jam]]s and allow students to get to the testing sites more easily. The [[Republic of Korea Armed Forces|Korean Armed Forces]], [[United States Forces Korea|USFK]] and [[United Nations Command|UNC]] change the schedule of military activities to minimise the noises. Planes are grounded during the listening portion of the English section so their noise does not disturb the students. 

In some cases, students running late for the test may be escorted to their testing site by [[Law enforcement in South Korea|police officers]] via motorcycle. Younger students and members of the students' families gather outside testing sites to cheer them on.<ref name="CNN Test" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=The All-Work, No-Play Culture Of South Korean Education |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2015/04/15/393939759/the-all-work-no-play-culture-of-south-korean-education |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322032426/https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2015/04/15/393939759/the-all-work-no-play-culture-of-south-korean-education |archive-date=March 22, 2018 |access-date=April 4, 2018 |website=[[NPR]]|date=April 15, 2015 |last1=Hu |first1=Elise }}</ref> Neither students nor administrators may bring in [[Mobile phone|mobile phones]], books, newspapers, food, or any other material which could distract other test-takers.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} 

Middle and high school teachers monitor the test. Most testing rooms are high-school classrooms, and there is a 28-candidate limit in each room. Administrators are warned against doing anything which could distract students in any way such as talking, opening windows, standing in front of a desk, sniffling, or making excessive noise.<ref name="Administrator Attack">{{cite news |title=수능시험일 감독관도 '조심 또 조심' |url=http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LPOD&mid=sec&oid=001&aid=0004759123&isYeonhapFlash=Y |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015061704/http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LPOD&mid=sec&oid=001&aid=0004759123&isYeonhapFlash=Y |archive-date=October 15, 2013 |access-date=October 12, 2013 |publisher=NAVER Corp}}</ref> After the test, the marking of the texts takes about one month.<ref name="Doopedia Test" />

Except for the English and Korean-history sections, grades are based on a [[stanine]] curve. A grade, percentile, and a standardised score for each section and subject are added to the transcript. The standardised score is calculated by the following formula:

<math display="inline">S = z \sigma + m</math>

<math>S</math> and <math>z</math> are [[standard score]]s. <math>\sigma</math> is the [[standard deviation]] of the standard score, and <math>m</math> is its average. In the national-language and mathematics sections, <math>\sigma</math> is 20 and <math>m</math> is 100. For the rest, <math>\sigma</math> is 10 and <math>m</math> is 50. <math>z</math> is calculated by the following formula:

<math>z = \frac{x - m_0}{\sigma_0}</math>

<math>x</math> is the candidate's original score. <math>m_0</math> is the average of the original <math>a</math> candidate scores. <math>\sigma_0</math> is the candidate's standard deviation.

==Preliminary College Scholastic Ability Test==
The Preliminary College Scholastic Ability Test (PCSAT) is administered nationally. The relationship between PCSAT and CSAT is comparable to that between the [[PSAT/NMSQT|PSAT]] and the SAT in the United States. The PCSAT is divided into two categories: the National United Achievement Tests (NUAT) and the College Scholastic Ability Test Simulation (CSAT Simulation). These tests are more similar to the CSAT than privately administered mock tests, since the PCSAT's examiner committee is similar to that of the CSAT. The CSAT Simulation is hosted by the same institution as the CSAT, and is used to predict the level of difficulty or types of questions which might appear on that year's CSAT.

Although the NUAT and the CSAT Simulation are similar to the CSAT in their number of candidates, types of questions and relative difficulty, the NUAT is hosted by the Ministry of Education for high-school students. The CSAT Simulation is run by KICE and may be taken by anyone who is eligible for the CSAT. Both exams are reliable, official mock tests for the CSAT, and both are graded by the KICE.

==={{anchor|National United Achievement Tests (NUAT)}}National United Achievement Test===
The National United Achievement Test (NUAT, {{Korean|전국연합학력평가<ref name="전국연합학력평가">[[:ko:전국연합학력평가]]</ref>|全國聯合學力評價}}) is administered in the same way as the CSAT, and was introduced in 2002 to relieve dependence on private mock tests. High-school students may apply to take the test, and local education offices decide whether it will be administered in their districts. Every office of education in South Korea normally participates in the NUAT to prepare students for the CSAT, and the number of applicants parallels the CSAT. The [[Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education]],<ref name="서울특별시교육청 학력평가 자료실">{{cite news|url=http://www.sen.go.kr/web/services/bbs/bbsList.action?bbsBean.bbsCd=105|title=서울특별시교육청 학력평가 자료실|publisher=Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education|access-date=November 8, 2014|archive-date=June 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605101234/http://www.sen.go.kr/web/services/bbs/bbsList.action?bbsBean.bbsCd=105|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Busan Metropolitan Office of Education]]<ref name="부산광역시교육청 학력평가 자료실">{{cite news|url=http://bems.pen.go.kr/newhome/sub.php?MenuID=15|title=부산광역시교육청 학력평가 자료실|publisher=Busan Metropolitan Office of Education|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108110106/http://bems.pen.go.kr/newhome/sub.php?MenuID=15|archive-date=November 8, 2014|df=mdy-all}}</ref> (freshmen and sophomores), [[Gyeonggi-do Office of Education]],<ref name="경기도교육청 학력평가 자료실">{{cite news |url=http://www.goedu.kr/dataroom/list.jsp?menu_belonged=0&menu_code=81&receipt_code=&function_code=313&grade_code=&user_clas=1&search_field=&inner_keyword=&current_page=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091111112602/http://www.goedu.kr/dataroom/list.jsp?menu_belonged=0&menu_code=81&receipt_code=&function_code=313&grade_code=&user_clas=1&search_field=&inner_keyword=&current_page=1 |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 11, 2009 |title=경기도교육청 학력평가 자료실 |publisher=Gyeonggi-do Office of Education }}</ref> and [[Incheon Office of Education]]<ref name="인천시교육청 학력평가 자료실">{{cite news |url=http://www.ice.go.kr/boardCnts/list.do?boardID=530&m=0306 |title=인천시교육청 학력평가 자료실 |publisher=Incheon Office of Education |access-date=November 8, 2014 |archive-date=November 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108103717/http://www.ice.go.kr/boardCnts/list.do?boardID=530&m=0306 |url-status=live }}</ref> take turns creating the questions, and the KICE grades the test and issues report cards.

The basic structure of the exam is identical to the CSAT. For mathematics, social studies, science and second language, its range is determined by when it is conducted.{{efn|As of 2013, mathematics, social studies and science section on March exams covers the previous year's curriculum for freshmen and sophomores; in other months, the exams normally follows the curriculum. For freshmen, there are ethics, [[Korean history]], geography, and general social studies in the social-studies section; physics, chemistry, biology, and earth science in the science section. The categories are the same for sophomores only on the March exam. After March, social studies include all subjects: [[geography of Korea]], [[world geography]], East Asian history, world history, law and politics, economics, [[culture of Korea|society and culture]], [[life and ethics]], and ethics and thought; the science section covers level I subjects (Physics I, Chemistry I, Biology I, and Earth Science I).}}<ref>As of 2014, the Career Exploration and Second Language sections are tested only in the year's last exam: the November exam for sophomores and the October exam for seniors. The Career Exploration section covers every subject, and the Second Language section covers [[German language|German]], [[French language|French]], [[Spanish language|Spanish]], [[Japanese language|Japanese]], [[Chinese language|Chinese]], and [[Russian language|Russian]].</ref> In the [[Korean language|Korean]] and English sections, the questions are not directly from textbooks but are constructed in accordance with the curriculum.

As of 2014, there are four NUATs per year; it is not the same for every district, however, and some have only two exams per year for freshmen and sophomores. The NUAT for freshmen and sophomores is held in March, June, September and November; seniors are tested in March, April, July and October to avoid conflict with June and September, when the CSAT Simulation is given.

===={{anchor|Institutions in charge}}Administering institutions====
* March: Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (seniors; freshmen and sophomores, 2006–2009, 2014), Busan Metropolitan Office of Education (freshmen and sophomores, 2010–2013)
* April: Gyeonggi-do Office of Education (seniors, since 2003)
* June: Busan Metropolitan Office of Education (freshmen and sophomores, 2014), Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (freshmen and sophomores 2002–2004, 2010–2013; seniors 2002), Incheon Office of Education (freshmen and sophomores 2005–2009)
* July: Incheon Office of Education (seniors since 2007), Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (2005)<ref>The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education temporarily took charge of testing in 2005, and it was taken over by the Incheon Office of Education in 2007.</ref>
* September: Incheon Office of Education (freshmen and sophomores since 2010), Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (freshmen and sophomores 2004–2008), Busan Metropolitan Office of Education (freshmen and sophomores 2009)
* October: Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (seniors)
* November: Gyeonggi-do Office of Education (freshmen and sophomores, except 2003)
* December: Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (freshmen 2003)<ref>It was a special occasion to take the exam in December instead of November. Sophomores took the NUAT prepared by KICE.</ref>

==={{anchor|College Scholastic Ability Test Simulation (CSAT Simulation)}}College Scholastic Ability Test Simulation===
The College Scholastic Ability Test Simulation (CSAT Simulation, {{Korean|대학수학능력시험 모의평가<ref name="대학수학능력시험 모의평가">[[:ko:대학수학능력시험#.EB.8C.80.ED.95.99.EC.88.98.ED.95.99.EB.8A.A5.EB.A0.A5.EC.8B.9C.ED.97.98 .EB.AA.A8.EC.9D.98.ED.8F.89.EA.B0.80]]</ref>}}) is given by KICE. Unlike the NUAT, anyone who is eligible for the CSAT may also take this test. The CSAT Simulation was introduced after the CSAT failed to set the proper difficulty level in 2001 and 2002.{{clarify|date=March 2021}} First implemented in 2002, it was held only in September during its early years. The test has been given twice a year, in June and September, since 2004. It covers everything in the curriculum for the Korean- and second-language sections, and two-thirds of what the CSAT covers for the other sections. The September exam covers everything in every section, like the CSAT. The number of questions and test time per section is identical to the CSAT.

== History ==
Since the [[liberation of Korea]], South Korea has changed its methods of [[university and college admission]] from twelve to sixteen times.<ref name="Timemachine History">{{cite web|url=http://navercast.naver.com/contents.nhn?rid=42&contents_id=4044|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131012130758/http://navercast.naver.com/contents.nhn?rid=42&contents_id=4044|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 12, 2013|title=수능 대박나세요!|publisher=NAVER Corp|access-date=October 12, 2013}}</ref> The policies ranged from allowing colleges to choose students to outlawing [[hagwon]]s. Parents and students have had difficulty adjusting to the changes.<ref name="Segye History">{{cite news |url=http://www.segye.com/content/html/2009/03/12/20090312004483.html |title=대입제도 변천사, 4년마다 손질… 입시현장 혼선 초래 |publisher=[[Segye Ilbo]] |access-date=October 12, 2013 |archive-date=October 14, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014202249/http://www.segye.com/content/html/2009/03/12/20090312004483.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The changes have been cited as evidence of systemic instability and the sensitivity of the admission process to [[public opinion]].<ref name="EncyKorea Admission">{{cite web |url=http://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Contents/Index?contents_id=E0047797 |title=입시제도 |publisher=[[Academy of Korean Studies]] |access-date=October 12, 2013 |archive-date=October 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015070234/http://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Contents/Index?contents_id=E0047797 |url-status=live }}</ref>

University and college admissions were first left to the universities, and the first CSAT incarnation appeared at the beginning of 1960. The [[Supreme Council for National Reconstruction]] established an early CSAT from 1962 to 1963 as a qualification test for students. Due to the small number of students passing the test, colleges soon had a student shortage. The admissions process was criticized as inefficient, and the government scrapped the policy from 1964 to 1968. A similar policy was adopted in 1969 by the [[Third Republic of Korea]], and the new test was the Preliminary College Entrance Examination (대학입학예비고사); it continued, mostly unchanged, until 1981.<ref name="Segye History" /><ref name="EncyKorea Admission" /><ref name="Doopedia Early Test" >{{cite web|url=http://www.doopedia.co.kr/doopedia/master/master.do?_method=view&MAS_IDX=101013000835457|title=대학입학예비고사[preliminary college entrance examination,大學入學豫備考査]|publisher=Doosan Cooperation|access-date=October 12, 2013|archive-date=September 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923225253/http://www.doopedia.co.kr/doopedia/master/master.do?_method=view&MAS_IDX=101013000835457|url-status=live}}</ref> That year, the policy was significantly changed. The test name was changed to Preliminary College Preparations Examination (대학예비고사), and hagwons (cram schools) were outlawed. In 1982, the test name was changed again to College Entrance Strength Test (대입학력고사).<ref name="Segye History" /><ref name="EncyKorea Admission" />

In the 1990s, there was a rumour that if students had the S-shaped emblem, they could go to a prestigious university ([[Seoul National University]]), and if they had the letter III, they could get a score of 300 on the CSAT, which led to the Onata incident in which test takers secretly removed the [[Hyundai Sonata#Facelift (1996–1998)|Sonata III]] emblem. There were many Sonata IIIs with the letters S and III missing from the emblem<ref>{{cite news |date=13 November 2018 |title=[재미 톡톡] 수능 미신·선물 이야기… 수능철마다 도로에 등장한 '오나타' 아시나요? |trans-title=[Fun Talk] College Scholastic Ability Test superstitions and gift stories... Do you know 'Onata' that appears on the roads every college entrance exam season? |url=https://www.newscj.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=572042 |access-date=18 April 2024 |work=Chunji Ilbo}}</ref> and for this reason, Hyundai Motors implemented a free emblem replacement service.<ref>{{cite news |date=17 November 1999 |title=<회전목마> 수능으로 손상된 현대차 엠블렘 교체 |trans-title=<Carousel> Replacement of Hyundai Motor Company emblem damaged by CSAT |url=https://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=101&oid=001&aid=0004556037 |access-date=18 April 2024 |work=[[Yonhap News Agency]] |via=Naver News}}</ref>

The current CSAT system was established in 1993, and has undergone several revisions since then.<ref name="Naver Definition" /><ref name="Doopedia Test">{{cite web |url=http://www.doopedia.co.kr/doopedia/master/master.do?_method=view&MAS_IDX=101013000763334 |title=대학수학능력시험[大學修學能力試驗] |publisher=Doosan Corporation |access-date=October 12, 2013 |archive-date=September 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923223734/http://www.doopedia.co.kr/doopedia/master/master.do?_method=view&MAS_IDX=101013000763334 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2004, the [[government of South Korea]] introduced a 2008 College Admissions Change Proposal; however, it failed to bring about significant changes.<ref name="Segye History" /> In 2020, the exam was postponed to the first Thursday in December (December 3) due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].

The Korean Education Ministry is planning to remove "killer questions" from the Suneung in 2024 after a failed attempt to do so in 2023, citing an excessive reliance on private education and academic pressure.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seo |first=Jessie Yeung,Yoonjung |date=2023-07-01 |title=South Korea is cutting 'killer questions' from an 8-hour exam some blame for a fertility rate crisis |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/07/01/asia/south-korea-college-exam-fertility-pressure-intl-hnk-dst/index.html |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref>

== Reception ==
Pressure to perform well on the CSAT has been linked to [[psychological stress]], [[Depression (mood)|depression]] and [[suicide in South Korea|suicide]].<ref>The Psychological Well-being of East Asian Youth. V 2. Quality of Life in Asia. Yi, Chin-Chun. Academic Achievement-Oriented Society and Its Relationship to the Psychological Well-Being of Korean Adolescents. 2013-01-01. A Ahn, Sun-Young. Baek, Hye-Jeong. P 265-279</ref><ref>Liang Choon Wang, The Deadly Effect of High-Stakes Testing on Teenagers with Reference-Dependent Preferences, [https://ssrn.com/abstract=2189268] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004045751/https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2189268|date=October 4, 2022}}</ref> The highly competitive exam has also cited as a contributing factor to South Korea's declining birth rate, as parents often pay for expensive ''[[hagwon]]'' cram schools to help their children study.<ref name="BBC The day silence falls over South Korea" /> Critics say this prevalence of cram schools gives students from wealthier families an advantage, and that the test detracts from students' education with its emphasis on [[rote memorization]] and topics that are distinct from the curriculum followed in schools.<ref>{{cite news |date=18 November 2021 |title='It's destroying education': dissent over South Korea's 8-hour college exam |url=https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3156412/south-koreas-infamous-8-hour-suneung-college-exam-faces-growing |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004045732/https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3156412/south-koreas-infamous-8-hour-suneung-college-exam-faces-growing |archive-date=October 4, 2022 |access-date=21 November 2021 |work=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref> In 2023, the average amount per month spent on private education per student rose to a record high of ₩434,000 (US$300), with 78.5% of students participating in private education. The average student spent 7.3 hours each week in private education.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-14 |title=Private education spending in Korea hits fresh high in 2023 |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2025/01/113_370613.html |access-date=2025-01-29 |website=The Korea Times |language=en}}</ref> 

Considered one of the most important days of a South Korean's life due to its role in determining which university a student gains admission to, the excessive reliance on the Suneung as a means of determining a student's future has also been criticised. Despite this, the test has been noted for its efficiency, emphasis on merit and educational outcomes.<ref name="Economist Test">{{cite news |date=December 17, 2011 |title=The One-shot Society |url=http://www.economist.com/node/21541713 |url-access=registration |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131205081530/http://www.economist.com/node/21541713 |archive-date=December 5, 2013 |access-date=December 4, 2013 |publisher=The Economist Limited Newspaper 2013}}</ref>

== {{anchor|Current}}Number of applicants ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; vertical-align:middle;"
|-
! Curriculum<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.suneung.re.kr/sub/info.do?m=0404&s=suneung | title=한국교육과정평가원 대학수학능력시험 홈페이지 }}</ref>
! Year
! Applicants
! Examinees
! Percentage
|-
| rowspan="6" | 5th Curriculum
| 1993 (1st)
| 742,667
| 716,326
| 96.45%
|-
| 1993 (2nd)
| 750,181
| 726,634
| 96.86%
|-
| 1994
| 781,749
| 757,448
| 96.89%
|-
| 1995
| 840,661
| 809,867
| 96.34%
|-
| 1996
| 824,374
| 795,338
| 96.48%
|-
| 1997
| 885,321
| 854,272
| 96.49%
|-
| rowspan="6" | 6th Curriculum
| 1998
| 868,643
| 839,837
| 96.68%
|-
| 1999
| 896,122
| 868,366
| 96.90%
|-
| 2000
| 872,297
| 850,305
| 97.48%
|-
| 2001
| 739,129
| 718,441
| 97.20%
|-
| 2002
| 675,922
| 655,384
| 96.96%
|-
| 2003
| 674,154
| 642,583
| 95.32%
|-
| rowspan="12" | 7th Curriculum
| 2004
| 610,257
| 574,218
| 94.09%
|-
| 2005
| 593,806
| 554,345
| 93.35%
|-
| 2006
| 588,899
| 551,884
| 93.71%
|-
| 2007
| 584,934
| 550,588
| 94.13%
|-
| 2008
| 588,839
| 559,475
| 95.01%
|-
| 2009
| 677,834
| 638,216
| 94.16%
|-
| 2010
| 712,227
| 668,991
| 93.93%
|-
| 2011
| 693,631
| 648,946
| 93.56%
|-
| 2012
| 668,522
| 621,336
| 92.94%
|-
| 2013
| 650,747
| 606,813
| 93.25%
|-
| 2014
| 640,621
| 594,835
| 92.85%
|-
| 2015
| 631,187
| 585,332
| 92.74%
|-
| rowspan="4" | 2009 Revisions
| 2016
| 605,987
| 552,297
| 91.14%
|-
| 2017
| 593,527
| 531,327
| 89.52%
|-
| 2018
| 594,924
| 530,220
| 89.12%
|-
| 2019
| 548,734
| 484,737
| 88.34%
|-
| rowspan="5" | 2015 Revisions
| 2020
| 493,433
| 421,034
| 85.33%
|-
| 2021
| 509,821
| 448,138
| 87.90%
|-
| 2022
| 508,030
| 447,669
| 88.12%
|-
| 2023
| 504,588
| 444,870
| 88.16%
|-
| 2024
| 522,670
| 463,486
| 88.67%
|}

==See also==
*[[Education in South Korea]]
*[[List of universities and colleges in South Korea]]
*[[College admissions in South Korea]]
*[[Programme for International Student Assessment]]
*[[Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130418210430/http://english.mest.go.kr/ Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology]
* [http://www.kice.re.kr Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation]
* [http://www.suneung.re.kr College Scholastic Ability Test]
* {{cite news|title=Top 10 exam rituals from stressed students across Asia|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-35614030|publisher=[[BBC]]|first=Jody-Lan|last=Castle|date=March 3, 2016}}

{{Admission tests}}

[[Category:1960 establishments in South Korea]]
[[Category:1964 disestablishments in South Korea]]
[[Category:1969 establishments in South Korea]]
[[Category:Academic pressure in East Asian culture]]
[[Category:Education in South Korea]]
[[Category:Standardized tests]]