Leak of CSAT Mock Exam Questions... Turns Out It Was a Student's Doing

On the 1st, repeat test takers are taking the mock exam at the Jongno Academy Gangbuk Main Branch in Mapo-gu, Seoul, where the 2022 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) September mock evaluation is being conducted. Photo by Jang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Ju Cheol-in] It has been revealed that the prior leak of the mock college scholastic ability test papers held on the 1st originated from illegal filming by a student at a high school in Gyeongnam.

On the 6th, the Gyeongnam Provincial Office of Education held a press conference and stated, “A third-year student A at a high school in the province confessed to their homeroom teacher that they illegally filmed the world geography subject test paper before taking the September mock exam.” It is known that Student A decided to confess due to psychological pressure after the suspicion of the test paper leak was reported in the media.

Earlier, on the 1st, a report was submitted to the National Sinmungo (People’s Petition) stating that the world geography test paper for the September mock exam was posted in advance in a KakaoTalk open chat room, and the Gyeongnam Provincial Office of Education requested an investigation by the police.

According to the investigation, Student A visited the school around 10 p.m. on the 31st of last month, the day before the mock exam, to retrieve an item they had left behind after everyone had gone home. Student A explained that they entered the building through a first-floor window and, since they were at school, went to the academic counseling office to take an umbrella.

There, Student A found the mock exam test papers, took out the world geography subject paper, photographed it with a smart pad, resealed the test paper in its original state, and then left the school. It is said that the student did not intend to leak the test paper from the beginning but committed the act after accidentally discovering the test paper.

The education office explained that the truth of the student’s statement regarding the crime process needs to be confirmed through further investigation. It also stated that whether the student illegally filmed test papers for other subjects should be clarified through the police investigation.

The motive behind the student’s crime has not yet been accurately revealed. Initially, it is known that the student sent the photo file of the test paper to a specific private tutor via a KakaoTalk open chat room on the morning of the mock exam day, mentioning that the mock exam results were important to enter the early admission school principal recommendation track and requested help solving the problems.

However, the education office explained that the mock exam scores do not provide any benefits in processes such as early admission. The office has started an internal audit, viewing the school as having managed the test papers carelessly.

All test papers, including the mock exam, must be stored in the evaluation management office in the teachers’ office with a double lock system. The education office plans to strictly hold those responsible accountable by reviewing whether similar issues have occurred in the past, including this incident.

Earlier, on the 1st, a complaint was filed with the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education’s National Sinmungo, reporting that the September mock exam test papers had been leaked in advance. The complainant received a photo of the world geography test paper from a student in a KakaoTalk open chat room used for private tutoring applications and was asked to solve the problems, which raised suspicion and led to the report.

The Ministry of Education previously requested an investigation by the National Police Agency, stating that swift and strict follow-up measures were necessary regarding this incident. The Gyeongnam Provincial Office of Education considers the complaint received by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, based on Student A’s statement, to be related to this case.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.