"Just Do as You Always Have": College Entrance Exam Sites Filled with Parents and Juniors Cheering

Parents: "We hope they do their best without regrets"
Juniors: "This will be me in two years... Wishing you the best"

"I will do my best, as I had a good night's sleep."

On the 13th, the day of the 2026 College Scholastic Ability Test, a mother is embracing her examinee child at Yongsan High School in Seoul. 2025.11.13 Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

Banpo High School, the 21st test site of the 18th district of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education for the 2026 College Scholastic Ability Test. At around 6 a.m., 30 minutes before the entrance time, Kim Siwoo (19, third-year student at Sejong High School) was the first to arrive, wearing Crocs and a hoodie. Kim said, "I'm trying to control my mind by thinking of it as just another mock exam," and added, "I'm not very nervous, and I'll solve the problems calmly."

At around 6:26 a.m., Lim Hyunmin (19, third-year student at Seongdong High School) was the first to arrive at Yongsan High School, the 7th test site of the 15th district. Lim said, "I will do my best so that all I have learned at school does not go to waste," and added, "I am looking forward to a bright future because I believe my hard work will pay off."

The first examinee to arrive at Yeouido Girls' High School, the 14th test site of the 13th district, was Kim Chaeni (19, third-year student at Oryu High School). Kim, who arrived at the test site at around 6:28 a.m., said, "There are a lot of test-takers this year, so I'm worried the test will be unusually difficult, and I wonder if I can do well," and added, "I came early to get used to the unfamiliar school and to change my seat in advance if the chair wobbles." She continued, "Rather than thinking I must do exceptionally well, I just want to do as I usually do and avoid making mistakes."

On the 13th, the day of the 2026 College Scholastic Ability Test, mothers are watching their children moving toward the exam site at Yongsan High School in Seoul. 2025.11.13 Photo by Kang Jinhyung

Parents, who watched their children's backs for a while, seemed unable to walk away, clasping their hands together in prayer, wishing them good luck. Kwon Sujeong (53) said, "It has been tough so far, and it's a bit disappointing that everything is decided by this one exam," and added, "I told my child to just take it easy, and I joked that there is always another chance next year."

Kim Hyeyeon (49), whom we met in front of Yeouido Girls' High School, said, "My child didn't attend any private academies and managed everything alone, so I always felt sorry, but seeing her go in with a bright face today made me feel much better," and added, "Of course, I hope she gets into the university she wants, but it's not everything in life, so I just hope she doesn't make any mistakes."

In front of Gyeongbok High School, the first test site of the 15th district, Jeong Gilhun (50) and Jo Jinhui (47), who watched the test site for more than an hour after their examinee child entered at around 7 a.m., said, "Our child said he would do well and that he wasn't nervous at all, but actually, we are more nervous," and added, "We hope he does his best without any regrets or mistakes, just as he has done so far."

On the 13th, the day of the 2026 College Scholastic Ability Test, students from Baemun High School are cheering for senior test-takers at Yongsan High School in Seoul. 2025.11.13 Photo by Kang Jinhyung

The voices of students cheering for their seniors were as strong as ever. Koo Geonmin (17, first-year student at Jungdong High School), who came early to cheer in front of Banpo High School, said, "I will be taking the test myself in two years, and I wonder if I will feel the same or be even more nervous," and added, "Since the test site is far from Jungdong High School, our seniors must have had a hard time getting here, so I hope they do well and achieve good results."

Park Junseo (19, third-year student at Jungdong High School), an examinee who received cheers from his juniors, said, "I didn't expect my juniors to come and cheer," but smiled and added, "I'm not extremely nervous, and since I received their support, I will do my best."

Minister of Education Choi Gyojin also visited a test site to offer words of encouragement. At around 7:35 a.m. that day, Minister Choi visited Yeouido Girls' High School, high-fiving each examinee and saying, "Take the test with a calm mind."

Mr. Wally (41, right) from Canada visited Gyeongbok High School, the first test site of the 15th district in Seoul, on the morning of the 13th, when the 2026 College Scholastic Ability Test was held, handing out chocolate bars to support the examinees. Photo by Choi Youngchan

In front of Gyeongbok High School, there was also a unique show of support. A foreigner was handing out chocolate bars to examinees at the site. Mr. Wally (41) from Canada explained his reason for coming, saying, "I know Korean students go through a lot because of the College Scholastic Ability Test, so I wanted to support them." Mr. Hwang (35), who accompanied Wally, added, "I live nearby, and Gyeongbok High School is the most famous place for supporting examinees, so I wanted to cheer here."

As the entrance deadline approached, the area in front of the test sites became somewhat chaotic. At Banpo High School, at around 8:04 a.m., a student who got out of a police car hurried toward the entrance, cheered on by a police officer. Then, at around 8:08 a.m., a quick delivery driver delivered an examinee's test slip.

Meanwhile, on this day, the police deployed 10,475 personnel, including traffic police, and 2,238 patrol cars around 1,310 test sites nationwide to manage traffic.