The annual College Scholastic Ability Test began Thursday morning, with tens of thousands of exam takers sitting for the test across the country.
High school seniors, those retaking the exam, as well as older takers — including this year’s oldest applicant, 77-year-old Seo Hey-sook — will be putting their knowledge to the test for over nine hours.
Many exam takers entered the halls as friends and family wished them good luck, while others rushed to the exam sites with the help of police and local governments to arrive before the 8:10 a.m. deadline.
A student holds a puppy in front of Ewha Girls’ Foreign Language High School in Jung-gu, Seoul, on Thursday, the day of the 2026 College Scholastic Ability Test. (Yonhap)
A student arrives on a motorcycle at an exam site set up at Gyeongbok High School in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on Thursday, the day of the 2026 College Scholastic Ability Test. (Yonhap)
A soldier taking the 2026 College Scholastic Ability Test heads to an exam site Thursday morning at Seonin High School in Michuhol-gu, Incheon. (Yonhap)
A parent hugs a student in front of Ewha Girls’ Foreign Language High School in Jung-gu, Seoul, on Thursday, the day of the 2026 College Scholastic Ability Test. (Yonhap)
A parent hugs a student in front of Ewha Girls’ Foreign Language High School in Jung-gu, Seoul, on Thursday, the day of the 2026 College Scholastic Ability Test. (Yonhap)
Students prepare to take the 2026 College Scholastic Ability Test at an exam site set up at Gyeongbok High School in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on Thursday. (Yonhap)
Students wait to begin the 2026 College Scholastic Ability Test at Inhwa Girls’ High School in Michuhol-gu, Incheon, on Thursday morning. (Yonhap)
Students prepare to take the 2026 College Scholastic Ability Test at Gyeongbok High School in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on Thursday. (Yonhap)
