College Scholastic Ability Test facts for kids

The College Scholastic Ability Test, often called Su-Neung, is a big test in South Korea. It's a national test that students take to get into university. This important test happens every year on the second Thursday of November. The Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation (KICE) is in charge of creating and running the test. If you want to go to a university in Korea, you usually need to take this test. Most universities in Korea use the Su-Neung results to decide which students they will accept.

What Subjects Are in the Test?

The Su-Neung test has five main parts. These are Korean language, Math, English language, Social Studies/Sciences/Vocational Education, and Foreign Language/Chinese Character. Students can choose which parts they want to take. This choice often depends on their skills, what they are good at, and what the university they want to attend requires.

Mandatory Subjects

The Korean and English sections are required for all students taking the test.

Choosing Other Subjects

For the other sections – Math, Social Studies/Sciences/Vocational Education, and Foreign Language/Chinese Character – students must pick specific types or subjects.

Math Choices

For the Math section, students choose between two types: "A" or "B".

• Type "A" covers Math 1, Basic Calculus, and Statistics.
• Type "B" is more advanced. It includes Math 1, Math 2, Geometry and Vector, Integral Calculus, and Statistics.

Social Studies, Sciences, and Vocational Education Choices

In this section, students pick one main category from three options. Each category has several subjects to choose from.

• In the Social Studies section, students can choose up to two subjects from ten options. These include Ethics, Korean History, World History, Geography, Law, Economics, and Society and Culture.
• In the Sciences section, students can choose up to two subjects from eight options. These include Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Earth Science, each with two levels (I and II).
• In the Vocational Education section, students can choose one subject from ten options. These cover topics like Agriculture, Industry, Accounting, Oceanography, and Computers.

Foreign Language and Chinese Character Choices

Students who take the Foreign Language/Chinese Character test choose one subject from nine options. These include languages like German, French, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Arabic, and Vietnamese. There is also a Chinese Characters and Classics option.

Test Day Timetable

The Su-Neung test day is very long. It starts early in the morning and finishes in the late afternoon.

Extra Time for Students with Disabilities

Some students with disabilities get extra time to complete their tests. For example, blind students get 1.5 times the normal time for each section. Students with weak eyesight or cerebral palsy get an extra 20 minutes for each section.