Students wearing smart glasses equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) during the 2027 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) on November 19 will face immediate disqualification from the exam and lose eligibility for the following year's test. The Education Ministry has announced a strict policy that includes criminal penalties for planned and deliberate cheating using smart glasses.
On November 9, the Education Ministry released guidelines for the 2027 CSAT, highlighting significant changes compared to the previous year. These changes include new regulations targeting smart glasses, the introduction of an official scoring sheet on the back of the exam ticket, and the allowance for students to bring their own black pens for writing.
The most notable change is the stringent guidelines regarding smart glasses. Following a nationwide investigation that uncovered four instances of cheating using AI smart glasses in school evaluations, the Education Ministry has prioritized the prohibition of these devices in exam venues and established specific penalties.
Specifically, wearing smart glasses, regardless of whether they are functioning during the exam, will be considered as having used them. If caught, students will have their current exam invalidated and will be barred from taking the 2028 CSAT. Simply possessing smart glasses in a bag will also result in disqualification.
New powers have been granted to exam supervisors, who can request to inspect students' glasses to check for smart glasses. If a student refuses to comply, they may face disqualification from the current exam and lose eligibility for the following year.
Moreover, if a student engages in planned and deliberate cheating using smart glasses, the ministry plans to pursue criminal charges, which could lead to imprisonment, as seen in past cases involving organized cheating with mobile phones.
Changes have also been made to improve student convenience regarding answer sheets and scoring regulations. Previously, students would hastily write notes on the back of their exam tickets or on separate sheets. Starting this year, an official scoring sheet format will be printed on the back of the exam ticket.
However, students must complete the scoring sheet before the end of each exam session. If they are caught writing on the scoring sheet after the end bell has rung, it will be treated as cheating.
Additionally, while black pens for writing answers will still be distributed in the exam room, students are now officially allowed to use their own black pens to enhance convenience.
Students must adhere strictly to the rules regarding prohibited items and exam procedures. They are required to attend a preliminary meeting on November 18 to receive their exam tickets and confirm their subject choices and exam locations. On the exam day, they must bring their exam ticket and a valid photo ID (mobile IDs are not accepted) and enter the exam room by 8:10 AM.
All electronic devices, including mobile phones, smartwatches, tablets, Bluetooth earphones, electronic cigarettes, power banks, and any device with an electronic display, are prohibited in the exam room. Only pure analog watches with hour and minute hands are allowed, while medical items such as hearing aids, magnifying glasses, and continuous glucose monitors must be inspected by supervisors before each session. If students must bring electronic devices, they must submit them to the supervisor before the start of the first session.
Failure to participate in the mandatory fourth session on Korean history will result in the invalidation of the entire CSAT score. In the subsequent social and science inquiry sections, students must place only the question papers for their chosen subjects on their desks and cannot write or modify answers for the first subject during the second subject's time. Doing so will be immediately classified as cheating.
Education Minister Lee Joo-ho urged students to familiarize themselves with the guidelines to avoid any issues that could undermine their hard work. He emphasized the ministry's commitment to ensuring that students can perform to the best of their abilities in a stable environment.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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