The 2026 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) begins on the 13th at 1,310 test sites across 85 test districts nationwide. Test-takers must enter their assigned rooms by 8:10 a.m.
◇ Starts at 8:40 a.m. and ends at 5:45 p.m.
The CSAT proceeds in the following order: ▲ period 1 Korean ▲ period 2 mathematics ▲ period 3 English ▲ period 4 Korean history and inquiry (social studies, science, vocational) ▲ period 5 second foreign language/Classical Chinese. For general test-takers, it starts at 8:40 a.m. and ends at 5:45 p.m.
The integrated liberal arts and science CSAT system introduced in the 2022 academic year will remain in place this year. The Korean and mathematics sections use a "common subjects + elective subject" structure. In Korean, test-takers must choose one elective—"Speech and Composition" or "Language and Media"—in addition to the common subjects Reading and Literature. In mathematics, they select one elective—"Probability and Statistics," "Calculus," or "Geometry"—along with the common subjects Mathematics I and II.
The Korean history section remains mandatory this year, and all test-takers must take it. Those who do not take it will be invalidated and will not receive a score report.
In the social studies/science inquiry section, up to two of 17 electives can be chosen regardless of whether they are social studies or science; in the vocational inquiry section, up to two of six subjects can be selected. For vocational inquiry, if two subjects are chosen, test-takers must take the common vocational subject "Successful Vocational Life." In the second foreign language/Classical Chinese section, one of nine subjects can be selected. The English, Korean history, and second foreign language/Classical Chinese sections display only grades based on absolute evaluation.
◇ "Satam run" and the number of test-takers likely to be variables in admissions
Meanwhile, the policy of excluding so-called "killer questions" (ultra-high-difficulty items) will continue in this CSAT as well. The Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation (KICE) has said it plans to set questions in line with the content and level of the high school curriculum. Last year's CSAT was evaluated as having secured sufficient discrimination across all sections even while excluding killer questions.
This year, a key variable is expected to be the intensifying phenomenon of science-track applicants choosing social studies inquiry instead of science inquiry, known as the "Satam run." This is because major universities' natural sciences departments are recognizing social studies inquiry among subjects for minimum CSAT requirements.
A total of 554,174 people applied for this CSAT. In terms of total test-takers, it is the highest in seven years since the 2019 academic year (594,924). Among them, 371,897 are current students. They are those born in 2007, the "golden pig year," when the birthrate was unusually high, and the number of current student test-takers jumped 9.1% (31,120) from last year.
As the 2026 academic year medical school intake returns to the pre-expansion level of 3,016, the number of repeaters among graduates, or "N-susaeng," decreased from the previous year (161,784). However, compared with the recent range of 120,000–130,000, it remains high.
With more test-takers this CSAT and fewer seats in medical schools that top-tier students target, competition at the top is expected to be fierce. Admissions experts said that as competition intensifies, more demanding items may be set to secure discrimination among top scorers.
CSAT score reports will be distributed to test-takers on Dec. 5.