[Report] Four Days Until the CSAT: "I hope even my guesses are correct... It's okay if I don't do well"

[Financial News] "I want to get everything right, without any mistakes. I hope even the ones I guess turn out to be correct."
On the 9th, with just four days left until the CSAT, a tense sense of urgency filled Gangbuk Jongro Academy in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, as students made their final push. The self-study room was so quiet that even breathing and footsteps could be heard clearly, with the sound of pages turning and pencils moving as students took self-administered mock exams and made their final preparations. Several students stood at standing desks to stay awake and maintain focus.
This year, 554,174 students will take the CSAT, an increase of 31,504 (6.0%) from last year. Notably, 182,277 are repeat or returning test-takers, the highest number in 22 years since the 2004 academic year (198,025). For 313 days, these students have spent about 15 hours a day at the academy, from 7:40 a.m. to 10 p.m., dreaming of success on the CSAT. As repeat test-takers, their determination to take the test without regrets was evident in their expressions.
Each student was busy with their own last-minute preparations. Shin (20) said, "Rather than focusing on a specific subject, I'm reviewing everything I've studied so far to avoid losing my way. Whenever I feel anxious, I remember my teacher's words: 'You can't skip the CSAT just because you're nervous,' and I quietly get back to work." Ryu (20) added, "I'm trying to stay as positive as possible in the remaining days, and I'm letting go of things I can't control. If I just sit here, I'll end up doing it anyway."
This year, the importance of the Social Studies section has been further emphasized due to the 'Satan Run' phenomenon, where many students are choosing Social Studies in the first period along with Korean. In fact, 77.3% of test-takers selected at least one Social Studies subject, leading to a natural focus on these subjects in the final days. Lee (20) explained, "I'm spending much longer than usual at my desk, concentrating on Korean and Social Studies." Ryu also mentioned, "I'm consistently studying to keep my feel for Korean and working hard on Social Studies subjects as well."


When asked what they most want to do after the CSAT, students mentioned things they usually couldn't do: sleeping, exercising or relaxing, and watching YouTube Shorts after midnight. Shin said, "Sitting and studying all day during my repeat year has made me physically weak. I want to regain my strength by getting back into kendo or boxing, like I used to." Their goal is also to get into their desired university and department. Ryu, who hopes to enter the Department of Philosophy, said, "Even in the age of artificial intelligence, I want to build my professional competitiveness by studying philosophy."
Above all, students hope for 'happiness for everyone.' Ryu said with a smile, "To fellow repeat test-takers like me, I want to say, 'May all your guesses be correct,' and 'It's okay if your score isn't great.'" Shin also expressed, "I hope everyone taking the CSAT this time does well," clenching their fist in determination.
Admissions experts advise that reviewing mistakes and managing your mindset in the remaining days are crucial to taking the CSAT without regrets.
Lim Seong Ho, head of Jongro Academy, stated, "You should organize your notebook of mistakes and condense the materials you'll review at the test site. Focusing on questions you got wrong in the last two years' Mock Examinations administered by the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation and previous CSATs will help in the actual test."
He added, "Top scorers should maintain their feel for high-difficulty questions such as non-literary Korean and subjective math, while mid-level students should pay attention to time management during the first period Korean section and their mental state. Lower-level students should focus on memorization-heavy Social Studies subjects and English vocabulary."
yesji@fnnews.com Kim Ye-ji Reporter