One month to the CSAT... Broadcasting and power systems checked at 16 Jeju test sites

【The Financial News, Jeju = Reporter Jung Yong-bok】 With one month to go before the 2027 College Scholastic Ability Test, inspections of broadcasting and power facilities and safety management systems have begun at 16 test sites in Jeju. This year, 7,414 people have applied to take the CSAT in Jeju, 99 fewer than last year, but the number of graduate applicants is the highest in the past five years.
According to the Jeju Special Self-Governing Provincial Office of Education on the 20th, from the 19th through the 30th, supervisors assigned to the test sites will visit schools serving as test sites across the province to inspect facilities required to administer the CSAT and their safety management. There are 16 sites in total: 12 schools in District 95 in Jeju City and four in District 96 in Seogwipo City.
The main items to be inspected include systems for transporting and storing test papers and answer sheets, test-room arrangements, the operation of broadcasting facilities and natural disaster response systems. The procedure involves checking in advance facilities that could affect the handling of test papers on exam day, broadcasts for the listening test and candidates’ safety.
Particular attention will be paid to the broadcasting facilities used for the English listening test and to ensuring a stable power supply. Advance checks are necessary because problems with broadcasting or power could disrupt the exam.
The Jeju Office of Education is working with the Jeju Fire Safety Headquarters, Korea Electric Power Corporation, Korea Electrical Safety Corporation (KESCO) and Korea Gas Safety Corporation to carry out specialized facility inspections. It plans to check the safety of fire, electrical and gas facilities and address any deficiencies before exam day. Earlier, on the 15th, the office held a meeting with staff responsible for the test-site schools and provided guidance on each school’s preparations and the procedures to follow during exam administration.

A total of 7,414 people applied to take this year’s CSAT in Jeju. That is 99 (1.3%) fewer than the 7,513 who applied last year. The applicants comprise 5,361 current students, 1,781 graduates and 272 others, including those who passed the high school equivalency examination.
The makeup of the applicant pool has changed. The number of current students fell by 280 from last year, while the number of graduates rose by 196 (12.4%). Graduate applicants numbered 1,781, the highest in the past five years, and account for 24.0% of all applicants.
This is the last CSAT to use the current system of common and elective subjects in the Korean language and mathematics sections. Starting with the 2028 academic year, an integrated CSAT will be introduced, abolishing elective subjects in the Korean language, mathematics and inquiry sections.
The 2027 CSAT will be held nationwide simultaneously on November 19, beginning at 8:40 a.m. The exam will end at 5:45 p.m. for general candidates, while candidates eligible for testing accommodations will be given a separate amount of time to take the exam. Scores will be released on December 11.
Kim Yeong-gwan, director of secondary education at the Jeju Office of Education, said, “We are carefully inspecting test-site facilities, safety management and broadcasting systems,” adding, “We will promptly address any deficiencies we find and do our utmost to ensure candidates can take the exam in a stable environment.”


[email protected] Jung Yong-bok Reporter