On the morning of the 2026 College Scholastic Ability Test, students and their families gathered in front of Changwon Sapa High School, the second test site of the Gyeongnam Office of Education District 88 (Changwon).
Although there was no heated cheering in front of the school gate, test-takers calmly made their way to the site of the decisive exam, receiving encouragement from their families and teachers.
Fortunately, there was no cold snap on the day of the test, so students wore relatively light clothing.
A student taking the 2026 College Scholastic Ability Test at Changwon Sapa High School, the second testing center in the Gyeongnam Office of Education 88 (Changwon) District, is hugging his mother before entering the exam hall. Photo by Lee Seryung
Parents encouraged their children with words like, "Take it easy," and "Just do as you always do, it's okay."
Some parents gazed longingly at their children as they walked toward the exam hall, reluctant to part, while others captured the moment with their mobile phones.
Some parents shouted "Fighting!" to their children as they got out of the car, while others followed them to the school gate and gave them a silent hug.
In front of Changwon Sapa High School, the second examination site of the Gyeongnam Office of Education District 88 (Changwon), a teacher is encouraging a student taking the 2026 College Scholastic Ability Test by patting the student's shoulder. Photo by Lee Seryung
Teachers, who arrived early for the students assigned to this site, helped ease the tension by patting students on the shoulder or making lighthearted jokes.
The test-takers responded with clenched fists, saying "Fighting!" or reassured their teachers and families by saying, "I'll do well!" and "See you after the test."
Paek Jonghun, Superintendent of Gyeongnam Office of Education, is encouraging a test taker taking the 2026 College Scholastic Ability Test in front of Changwon Sapa High School, the second test site of Gyeongnam Office of Education District 88 (Changwon), by touching palms. Photo by Lee Seryung
Paek Jonghun, Superintendent of Gyeongnam Office of Education, also visited the test site to offer his last encouragement as superintendent for the College Scholastic Ability Test.
He greeted each student entering the test hall with a palm-to-palm gesture, saying, "You'll get three more questions right. The questions will go very well for you," boosting their spirits.
He added, "This is now my 12th time visiting a test site to offer encouragement," and said, "I will pray that all 33,000 test-takers in Gyeongnam can perform to the best of their abilities with peace of mind."
At the Suneung examination site inside Changwon Sapa High School, the second test center of Gyeongnam Office of Education District 88 (Changwon), examinees are preparing to start their exams. Photo by Lee Seryung
By around 8:10 a.m., after all students had entered, they reviewed their summary notes or looked over the last national mock test papers they had brought, wrapping up their preparations.
Some students clasped their hands together to steady their breathing, while others carefully inserted their own lead into the mechanical pencils provided, getting ready for the exam to begin.
A total of 32,955 students took the test in the Gyeongnam region on this day. They sat for the exam at 1,277 general test rooms across 105 schools throughout the province.
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