[2023 CSAT] 1,892 Confirmed COVID-19 Test Takers... 10.8% Absence Rate in 1st Period

454,477 Applicants and 54,656 Absentees
1,889 Candidates Took the Exam at Separate Test Centers
3 Examinees Took the Exam in Hospitals

On the 17th, the day of the 2023 College Scholastic Ability Test, a test taker is heading to the examination hall at Yeouido Girls' High School in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, receiving support from their family. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Asia Economy reporter Han Jinju] The absentee rate for the 2023 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) was recorded at 10.8%. The number of test-takers confirmed positive for COVID-19 reached 1,900.

On the 17th, the Ministry of Education announced that the number of test-takers for the first session of the CSAT was 450,477, which is 89.2% of the total applicants (505,133). The attendance rate is the same as last year.

Both the attendance rate for the first session (89.2%) and the absentee rate (10.8%) are the same as last year. The number of absentees was 54,656, which is 251 fewer than last year (54,907).

A total of 1,889 test-takers who were confirmed positive for COVID-19 took the CSAT at separate testing centers. Three test-takers who were hospitalized (1 in Seoul, 1 in Incheon, 1 in Daejeon) took the exam at hospital testing centers.

By region, Chungnam had the highest absentee rate at 15.2%, followed by Chungbuk (13.4%), Daejeon (12.9%), Gangwon (12.8%), Incheon (12.2%), Gyeonggi (11.8%), Jeonbuk (11.6%), Gyeongnam (11.2%), Sejong (11.1%), and Gyeongbuk (10.9%).

On the same day, although not confirmed positive for COVID-19, four test-takers took the exam at hospitals due to emergency situations (1 in Seoul, 1 in Sejong, 2 in Gyeonggi).