Lunchboxes, analog watches: essentials for Korea’s college entrance exam

High school seniors discard books they used at Sungji Girls High School in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, Monday, a tradition marking the completion of their preparations for the College Scholastic Ability Test, scheduled for Thursday. Yonhap

As this Thursday’s College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), known in Korean as “suneung,” approaches, people planning on taking the exam are preparing in ways that go far beyond hitting the books — they're packing lunchboxes and choosing analog watches.

The annual nationwide exam, which is considered so important that the police will escort test-takers who are running late and nearby air traffic is suspended during the English listening section, also sparks a scramble for items rarely needed in daily school life but suddenly indispensable for this single day.

That demand is now reflected in shopping habits. Searches for insulated lunch boxes on Bungaejangter, a secondhand marketplace commonly known as "Bunjang," surged 107 percent in October from the previous month, the company said Tuesday.

Test-takers must bring their own lunch on exam day, as school cafeterias do not operate during the CSAT.

Insulated lunch boxes are listed for sale on Bungaejangter, an online secondhand marketplace, Tuesday. Captured from Bungaejangter

“It was really important to bring a warm, comforting lunch when I took the exam, too,” said Wang Sung-jun, 30, an artificial intelligence researcher who sat for the CSAT in 2014 and 2015.

“My mom packed foods that were easy to digest, such as rice porridge and dried seaweed,” Wang said. “It wasn’t about having something special. It was about eating something familiar, so I wouldn’t get sick on the important day.”

Preparations go beyond food.

Searches on Bunjang for analog watches increased 59 percent in October compared to the previous month. Only analog watches with hour and minute hands are allowed in CSAT testing rooms — Bluetooth devices and digital displays are prohibited to prevent cheating.

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Likewise, demand has risen for mechanical pencils, even though test-takers cannot bring their own on the day of the exam. On Bunjang, “CSAT mechanical pencil” was the most-searched keyword from August to October.

Since 2006, the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation and the Ministry of Education issued mechanical pencils to every CSAT test-taker to prevent hidden devices or notes from being concealed inside them.

Still, official pencils from previous years are actively traded secondhand, with some people buying them to practice before the test and others seeking pencils used by high scorers in hopes of luck.

Official CSAT mechanical pencils from previous years, along with pencil lead and other exam supplies, are listed for sale on Bungaejangter, Tuesday. Captured from Bungaejangter

“These are items I collected with care. Please contact me only if you truly need them,” one seller wrote on Bunjang, listing five official CSAT mechanical pencils from previous years, along with pencil lead and other exam supplies for 10,000 won ($6.82).

“No trades, discounts or reselling,” the post continued. “If you buy this and try to resell it, I will report you.”

This year, roughly 554,000 test-takers will take the CSAT. On exam day, they must arrive at their assigned testing site by 8:10 a.m., carrying their ID and admission slip.

Electronic devices with Bluetooth capability, e-cigarettes and portable chargers are considered cheating, even if they are only in a test-taker’s possession. Mobile phones, tablets and all other smart devices are also banned.

Those taking the exam must turn in any prohibited items to proctors or supervisors before the first session begins; they are returned after the exam ends.