September 2 Mock Test... 111,925 Graduates Mark Record High

500,000 Applicants, 1 in 5 Are Graduates
388,000 Current Students and 112,000 Graduates Take the Test

The mock evaluation for the September 2027 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) will take place on the 2nd of next month. In this September mock exam, the number of test-takers including high school graduates reached 111,925, marking the largest turnout since the 2011 academic year.

On the 3rd, at Geumcheon High School in Geumcheon-gu, Seoul, where the 2026 College Scholastic Ability Test mock evaluation was held, 12th-grade students are preparing for the exam. Photo by Yoon Dongjoo

On the 25th, the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation announced that the September mock evaluation will be held on the 2nd of next month at 2,162 high schools nationwide (including education offices) and 574 designated institutes.

The number of applicants for the September mock evaluation is 500,128, with 388,203 current students (77.6%) and 111,925 test-takers who are graduates or equivalent (22.4%). This means that one out of five participants is a graduate.

Compared to last year's September mock evaluation, the total number of applicants decreased by 15,772, with the number of current students dropping by 22,007, while the number of graduates and other test-takers increased by 6,235.

According to the analysis by Jongno Academy, the number and proportion of graduates registering for this September mock evaluation is the highest since statistics were first released in the 2011 academic year.

This is believed to be due to an increase in graduates who feel pressured by changes in the college admissions system, as this year's CSAT will be the last exam held under the current system.

Starting from the 2028 academic year, elective subjects in Korean and Math will be abolished. In the inquiry section, regardless of humanities or sciences, test-takers will be required to take both "Integrated Social Studies" and "Integrated Science." The recent introduction of the Regional Medical Doctor System is also cited as a factor that has attracted more repeat test-takers aiming for top medical schools. According to Jongno Academy, "With the full-scale overhaul of the 2028 CSAT and school academic records (now a five-tier grading system) starting next year, many consider the 2027 academic year to be the last real opportunity and are actively attempting another try," adding, "The expansion of medical college admissions due to the introduction of the Regional Doctor System has also contributed to the increase in top-tier repeat test-takers."

This September mock evaluation will be conducted according to the current CSAT system.

For the Korean and Math sections, under the "common + elective subject" structure, all test-takers must sit for the common subject, and must choose and take just one elective subject within each section. The exam paper will include both the common subject and all elective subjects, so test-takers must find and solve the questions pertaining to their chosen elective subject within the paper.

For the Social Studies and Science Inquiry sections, test-takers may choose up to two subjects among the 17 offered. In the Vocational Inquiry section, up to two subjects may be chosen among six offered; if two subjects are chosen, "Successful Vocational Life," the common specialized subject, must be included. If only one subject is chosen, it must be selected from one of the remaining five subjects (excluding the common specialized subject).

The results of this September's mock evaluation show that the "Satam-Run" phenomenon has become more pronounced. According to Jongno Academy, "The proportion of applicants choosing Social Studies stands at 68.3%, the highest since the disclosure of September evaluation statistics in the 2011 academic year," adding, "With a large number of science-track students now selecting Social Studies subjects, there could be greater cross-application from science students to humanities-focused programs."

Scores for the September mock evaluation are scheduled to be announced on the 29th, following the objection submission period from the 2nd to the 5th, the review period from the 7th to the 15th, and final answer confirmation on the 15th.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.