The 2026 college scholastic ability test will be held on Nov. 13.
The Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation (KICE) announced details of the 2026 college scholastic ability test plan on the 6th.
The Evaluation Institute noted that this year's college scholastic ability test will exclude so-called "killer questions" (extremely difficult questions) but aims to secure appropriate discrimination power. Specifically, it will create questions that students can solve if they have received adequate education and supplemented it with EBS-related materials and lectures. The appropriate discrimination power will be secured by considering the results of the mock evaluations in June and September and the characteristics of each subject area.
Since the revised 2015 curriculum will be applied across all areas and subjects, questions will be formulated in accordance with the content and level of that curriculum, and after the college scholastic ability test, the achievement standards for each question will be disclosed based on the curriculum.
The linkage between EBS college scholastic ability test materials and lectures and the college scholastic ability test questions will be made indirectly, using materials such as charts, images, and texts included in the linked study materials to enhance the perceived linkage. The linkage rate will be maintained at about 50% based on the number of questions by subject area.
The mandatory Korean history subject will assess basic knowledge of our country's history that high school graduates are expected to have, focusing on core and important content, and the questions will be designed to be straightforward. If a candidate does not take the test, their participation in the college scholastic ability test will be rendered invalid, and their scores will not be provided.
According to the exam system introduced in the 2022 college scholastic ability test, the Korean, mathematics, and vocational exploration areas will apply a "common subjects + elective subjects" structure, while social and scientific inquiry will allow candidates to select a maximum of two subjects among 17 elective subjects without distinguishing between social and scientific categories. English, Korean history, and second foreign language/classical Chinese will be assessed on a pass/fail basis.
The period for on-site submission of application forms is from Aug. 21 to Sept. 5. Starting this year, candidates across the country can register photos and input application details using a PC or mobile phone. The application fee must be paid through the issued virtual account.
The score report will be distributed to candidates by Dec. 5. Current students can receive their score reports at their school, while graduates and those who took the equivalency exam will receive them online only. Although online score reports will not be provided to current students, score certificates can be obtained starting Dec. 8 from the score certificate issuance website through identity verification.
Candidates who do not take the college scholastic ability test due to natural disasters, illness, final acceptance for rolling recruitment, military enlistment, loss of eligibility, or other reasons will receive a partial refund of the application fee following a specific application procedure. The refund application period is from Nov. 17 to 21.