'Killer Questions' Excluded for Three Consecutive Years
Half of the Questions in Each Subject Area to be Linked with EBS
Adjusting Difficulty Level Is Key Amid Increase in Repeat Test-Takers
CSAT Policy Can Be Observed in June 3 Mock Exam
The College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) for this year is scheduled to be held on November 13, the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation (KICE) announced on the 25th.
In the '2026 CSAT Implementation Basic Plan' released on the same day, KICE stated that it will exclude ultra-high difficulty questions (so-called 'killer questions'). This has been the policy for three consecutive years.
On the morning of the 14th, when the 2025 College Scholastic Ability Test was conducted, examinees were waiting for the exam to start at Yeouido Girls' High School in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Joint Press Corps
The institute also said it will not include questions that favor private tutoring-style problem solving. The linkage rate with EBS CSAT textbooks and lectures will be maintained at 50%, aiming to set the difficulty level so that students who have faithfully received school education can solve the problems.
Accordingly, half of the questions in each subject area will be linked to EBS CSAT textbooks and lectures. These will be presented in an 'indirect manner' rather than identical questions, utilizing materials such as charts, illustrations, and passages included in the linked textbooks, which is expected to enhance the sense of connection.
'Killer questions' have not been included since the 2024 CSAT. This year's CSAT will also not include ultra-high difficulty questions beyond the scope of public education. Given the ongoing trends of the medical school craze and the increase in repeat test-takers, maintaining an appropriate difficulty level will be a key task for this year's CSAT as well.
The institute stated, "We will measure thinking skills such as reasoning, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation in accordance with the content and level of the high school curriculum," adding, "We will exclude questions that favor students who have learned problem-solving techniques and repeatedly practiced them through private education, and will set questions to maintain appropriate discrimination within the scope of public education."
The CSAT is divided into the following areas: Korean language, mathematics, English, Korean history, inquiry (social studies, science, vocational), and second foreign language/Chinese characters. The Korean history section is mandatory for all test-takers.
The Korean language, mathematics, and vocational inquiry sections maintain a 'common subject + elective subject' structure. For the Korean language section, the common subjects are reading and literature, and students must choose one subject from 'Speech and Writing' or 'Language and Media.' Questions will be based on various materials and passages from the curriculum. In the mathematics section, Mathematics I and Mathematics II are common subjects, and students must select one elective from 'Probability and Statistics,' 'Calculus,' or 'Geometry.'
In the social studies and science sections, students can choose up to two subjects from 17 available subjects without distinction between social studies and science. In the vocational inquiry section, students can select up to two subjects from six available subjects.
The English, Korean history, and second foreign language/Chinese characters sections are graded on an absolute evaluation basis. The Korean history section consists of 20 questions focusing on core content to assess basic literacy.
This CSAT policy can be observed through the mock exams conducted on June 3. KICE conducts two mock exams (in June and September) to ensure the stable administration and implementation of the CSAT. Applications for the June mock exam are open from March 31 to April 10. The September mock exam will be held on September 3, just before the CSAT.
Measures to reduce the educational expenses burden for low-income families will also be implemented. Application fees will be refunded or waived for recipients of the National Basic Livelihood Security and legally designated lower-income groups. Detailed implementation plans and procedures for this will be announced on July 7 along with the detailed plan for this year's CSAT.
CSAT registration will be open from August 21 to September 5. Scoring will begin on November 14, immediately after the test, and score reports will be released on December 5.
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