11.19% of Examinees in Gyeongnam Province Absent for the First Session of the 2023 CSAT

Before the first period of the 2023 College Scholastic Ability Test, examinees are seated in the classroom. / Photo by Se-ryeong Lee ryeong@

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] On the 17th, when the 2023 College Scholastic Ability Test was held, 3,339 examinees in Gyeongnam Province did not take the first period Korean language section.

According to the Gyeongnam Office of Education, the expected number of examinees for the first period of this year's CSAT was 29,838, but some examinees were absent, resulting in an absentee rate of 11.19%.

By test district, Changwon City had the highest absentee rate for the first period.

In the Changwon district, out of 9,774 expected examinees, 1,006 did not take the test; in the Jinju district, 585 out of 5,417; and in the Tongyeong district, 516 out of 3,568.

In the Geochang district, 108 out of 1,060; in the Miryang district, 156 out of 1,168; in the Gimhae district, 602 out of 5,370; and in the Yangsan district, 366 out of 3,481 were absent.

A Gyeongnam Office of Education official stated that this year's absentee rate for the first period is 0.53 percentage points higher than last year's 10.66%.

He analyzed that “the increase in absences due to COVID-19 positive examinees and the decrease in the proportion of regular admissions affected this.”

The Office of Education's College Admission Information Center confirmed a trend of middle-tier students applying upward in early admissions through consultations with high school seniors and parents, as well as training sessions for high school senior department heads, and expected the attendance rate of CSAT applicants to be similar.