D-3: Korea prepares for 'life changing' college exam

Workers distribute College Scholastic Ability Test papers and answer sheets at a printing office in Sejong City, Monday. / Yonhap

By Chyung Eun-ju

With just three days left until the annual Korean College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), the ultimate exam that can make or break one’s future, students across the nation are studying furiously.

Distribution of the exam papers and answer sheets started nationwide on Monday, according to the Ministry of Education.

A total of 593,527 people will take the test, 12,460 fewer than in 2016.

The exam papers will be transported to all 85 districts on Wednesday, and will be moved to 1,180 test centers on the day of CSAT, Thursday morning.

About 400 people will be responsible for transporting the test papers, with police guarding the transport vehicle.

The ministry urged people to “cooperate with police requests when near the transport vehicle.”

The National Police Agency also set special traffic conditions for CSAT on Monday. Around 15,000 police will help to take those sitting the exam to the test centers to ensure people are not late.

Seoul City will also increase the number of subway, bus and taxi services and have available 800 emergency transport vehicles.

The city also delayed the clock-in time to work from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and asked people to use public transport to minimize traffic.

Test-takers who have difficulty getting to a center should phone 119 for help.