[2024 CSAT] "Don't Tremble, Stay Calm as Usual" Amid Steady Support for 'No Mask CSAT'

On the morning of the 16th, the day of the 2024 College Scholastic Ability Test, examinees in Gyeongnam Province headed to their respective test sites.

Police officers from the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency, local police stations, and patrol offices supported vehicle traffic throughout the streets.

Although the morning temperature stayed at 6 degrees Celsius, so the usual cold wave during the CSAT did not occur, rain was forecasted, making the weather cloudy and somewhat chilly.

A test taker is heading to the exam site at Changwon Girls' High School in Gyeongnam with a parent.
[Photo by Lee Seryeong]

As the entry time arrived, examinees and their families continued to arrive at Changwon Girls' High School, the 10th test site of the Changwon 88 District under the Gyeongnam Office of Education.

There were no loud cheers from the cheering squad, but the examinees received gifts handed out in front of the school gate and walked briskly.

They hugged their parents, held hands to ease their tension, and waved from their vehicles, responding to their parents with a “Fighting!” cheer.

Parents carried their children’s bags and accompanied them to the school gate but could not take their eyes off their children entering the test site.

Gyeongnam Superintendent of Education Park Jong-hoon is encouraging examinees by shaking hands with them.
[Photo by Lee Se-ryeong]

Park Jong-hoon, Superintendent of Gyeongnam Office of Education, also showed a clenched fist and high-fived the examinees in front of the school gate to encourage them.

In the Changwon Education Complex, where Changwon Girls' High School is located, three CSAT test sites including Changwon Gyeongil High School and Changwon Gyeongil Girls' High School are lined up, causing some examinees to mistakenly go to the wrong test site.

Police officers, teachers, and exam supervisors loudly called out the school names and guided the examinees so they would not get confused about the test sites.

A test taker entering the CSAT exam room is reviewing the workbook before the exam starts.
Photo by Lee Seryeong

At 8:10 a.m., 30 minutes before the exam started, examinees were busy with last-minute preparations, placing their admission tickets, IDs, writing utensils, and watches on their desks.

They reviewed summary notes or flipped through reference books, consolidating knowledge in their minds.

One parent said, “I’m nervous too, so I wonder how nervous my child must be. Even if they make mistakes or don’t do well, I hope they finish all the questions.”

Another parent said, “I held my child’s hand walking up to the school gate and prayed that my daughter would perform calmly and as usual. She entered a bit nervous, but I hope she comes out feeling relieved.”

Unlike last year, this year’s CSAT was conducted as a ‘no mask’ test, with COVID-19 prevention measures relaxed and the mandatory wearing of protective suits and masks lifted.

On this day, 29,346 examinees in the province took the 2024 CSAT at 1,321 test sites across 103 schools.