Final Mock Exam for College Entrance Exam Set for October 20

The final mock exam for this year's college entrance exam, known as the 'National Academic Ability Assessment,' will take place on October 20 across the country, including Seoul, exactly one month before the 2027 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT).

This assessment aims to help third-year high school students gauge their exam readiness and set their self-directed study strategies. Notably, the exam will reflect the structure of the 2027 CSAT, incorporating common and elective subjects in Korean and mathematics while excluding extremely difficult questions often referred to as 'killer questions.' The focus will be on evaluating students' creative thinking and problem-solving abilities, ensuring that those who have studied diligently within the public education curriculum can adequately tackle the questions.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, a total of 372,000 third-year students from 1,855 schools nationwide will participate, including 64,000 from 263 schools in Seoul. The subjects tested will include Korean, mathematics, English, Korean history, inquiry (social studies and science/vocational), and a second foreign language and classical Chinese (excluding Arabic I and Vietnamese I). The exam will be conducted in five sessions from 8:40 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.

The Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation, responsible for processing the scores, will distribute individual score reports on November 5. In a significant development, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education will pilot an initiative allowing 130 out-of-school youth to participate in the exam, breaking the previous limitation that only enrolled students could take it.

With the exam just 30 days away, experts advise students to focus on assessing their objective skill levels and developing tailored finishing strategies rather than engaging in excessive problem-solving. Etoos Edu recommends that students use the remaining month to refine their understanding of previously solved past exam questions and incorrect answers from the June and September mock exams, rather than tackling new problem sets.

According to Etoos' Educational Assessment Research Institute, concentrated strategies tailored to each subject's achievement level are crucial.

For top students, it is essential to minimize mistakes on familiar question types, as a few errors can significantly impact their grades. They should focus on managing their time effectively during the exam.

For mid-tier students, targeting 'weak types'—concepts they understand but frequently miss—will be key to increasing their correct answers.

For lower-tier students, mastering basic concepts and essential question types through repetition will help solidify their performance on easier questions.

Additionally, students applying for early admissions should identify areas where they can meet the minimum academic standards based on the results of the June and September mock exams and this assessment. Those applying for regular admissions should flexibly allocate their study time according to the weight of each subject at their target universities, Etoos Edu added.