CSAT Second Language/Hanja exam-day guide
CSAT Second Language/Hanja · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission ticket (수험표) printed and checked
Print the admission ticket from the registration system and verify that your name, date of birth, and the session/time printed on it match your registration. If the ticket has not arrived or the details look wrong, contact the administering body immediately; do not assume a correction can be made on test day.
Valid photo ID matching the registered name
Bring the original government-issued photo ID (resident registration card, passport, or driver's license) that matches the name on your registration. A copy or photo on a phone is normally not accepted. If you registered under a name that differs from your ID (for example, a romanized vs. Hangul name), confirm with the provider in advance which name must appear.
Black pens/pencils and an eraser in a clear case
Objective answer sheets are machine-read, so bring black writing instruments and a clean eraser. Avoid correction tape or fluid on machine-read sheets. Confirm with the provider whether the answer sheet must be filled with a specific pen type.
Watch (non-smart, no communication function)
Many test rooms do not have a visible clock, and timing is tight in the Hanja and second-language sections. A plain analog or digital watch without smart features is the safest choice; smartwatches and phones are usually collected or banned.
No phone or smart device at your seat
Turn off and hand in or stow your phone, smartwatch, and earbuds exactly as the proctor instructs. A device that vibrates or rings during the test can be treated as misconduct even if you never touch it.
Transparent water bottle and light snack for the break
Bring water in a clear bottle and a small snack if there is a break between sections. Confirm with the provider whether food and drink are allowed at the desk or only outside the room.
Know your test site and route in advance
Look up the building and room assignment on the admission ticket and plan the route. Sites are often schools or university buildings with similar names; arrive at the correct building, not just the correct neighborhood.
Arrive with buffer before the reporting time
Aim to be at the site well before the reporting time printed on the ticket, because ID checks and seat assignment take time. Confirm with the provider how late arrival is handled; entry after the test has started may be refused.
Review the answer-sheet format you will use
Practice filling the exact style of answer sheet used for this exam (bubble grid, marking method, correction rules) so you do not lose minutes on formatting. Confirm with the provider which sheet format applies to your level.
Confirm which sections are scored and how they are weighted
The CSAT second-language/Hanja area is one elective subject among several, and the score conversion and weighting are set by the administering body. Check the current-year guide for the conversion table rather than relying on older material.
Check whether a calculator or dictionary is prohibited
Assume that dictionaries, electronic dictionaries, and calculators are not allowed unless the current guide says otherwise. Confirm with the provider for your specific subject before bringing anything.
Read the current-year administration guide for rule changes
Rules on ID, devices, and answer sheets can change between administrations. Read the official guide for your test date and treat any older blog or forum post as unreliable.
Plan the day
Switch from learning new material to consolidating. Review your error log and the high-frequency Hanja readings and second-language grammar patterns you have repeatedly missed, and do a timed full run of the paper under exam conditions. Check the admission ticket, ID, and site route now so that a missing document can still be resolved with the provider.
For Hanja, rehearse the reading and meaning of characters that commonly appear in two-character words, and practice distinguishing similar-looking characters. For a second language, rehearse the section timing and the question types that cost you the most time. Do not start a new textbook or a new vocabulary list at this stage.
Do a light review only: skim your summary notes and the answer-sheet format, then stop. Pack the admission ticket, ID, black pens, eraser, and watch in one bag and leave it by the door. Set two alarms, confirm the reporting time and travel time, and get a normal night's sleep rather than cramming.
Eat a normal breakfast, leave earlier than the calculated travel time to absorb delays, and arrive at the correct building with buffer. Keep your phone off and out of reach before entering the room. Use the waiting time to review your own summary notes, not to attempt new problems.
Follow the proctor's instructions for filling in your identification on the answer sheet, check that the sheet matches the subject and level you registered for, and note the start and end times on your watch. Read the instructions on page one even if you have seen them before.
Set a per-question time budget and move on when a question stalls. Mark uncertain answers and return to them only after the rest of the section is complete. Leave a few minutes at the end to transfer or verify answers and to check that no question is blank if there is no penalty for guessing.
Stop writing when the proctor calls time, put the pen down, and follow the collection procedure exactly. Check that your answer sheet and question booklet are handed in as instructed before you leave.
Rules to check
Bring the original photo ID that matches your registered name; copies and phone images are generally not accepted. If your registered name and ID name differ, confirm with the provider before test day.
Phones, smartwatches, and other communication devices must be off and stowed or handed in as the proctor directs. A device that rings or vibrates during the test may be treated as misconduct even if you do not use it.
Dictionaries, electronic dictionaries, calculators, and notes are not permitted unless the current administration guide explicitly allows them. Confirm with the provider for your subject rather than assuming.
Follow the proctor's instructions on when you may open the booklet, when you may write, and when you must stop. Writing after time is called can lead to invalidation of your answers.
Breaks, if any, are announced by the proctor; do not leave the room or use a device during a break unless you are told you may. Confirm with the provider how breaks are handled at your site.
Scoring uses the conversion and weighting published for the current administration; raw scores are not the final reported scores. Check the current-year guide for the conversion table instead of relying on older material.
If you believe there is a problem with your answer sheet, seat, or timing, raise it with the proctor immediately rather than after the test, and confirm with the provider how later appeals are handled.
Any accommodation you need (extra time, separate room, medical arrangements) must be requested and approved before test day; confirm with the provider well in advance, because it generally cannot be arranged on the morning of the test.