Until now, many test-takers jotted their answers in the corner of the question booklet and checked them after the exam. That changes a little this year. Starting with the 2027 CSAT, a self-scoring sheet is printed on the back of the admission ticket, and examinees may fill it in during each session. Examinees may also swap in their own black computer marking pen if it meets the requirements. The exam is on Thursday, November 19, 2026, and score reports come out on December 11. This guide covers how to use the self-scoring sheet, how far to trust the numbers afterward, and the order in which to use them.

A self-scoring sheet printed on the back of the ticket - nothing extra to prepare

News reports on the 2027 CSAT plan, released by the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation around June 30, 2026, all say the same thing. The self-scoring sheet comes pre-printed on the back of the admission ticket, so there is no need to pick up a separate answer-check sheet from a cram school or your school. The reports do not say how the boxes are laid out or how many there are per subject. When you receive your ticket, turn it over first, and if the format looks unfamiliar, look it over the day before the exam.

You can write only until the end-of-session bell

The key condition is timing. Writing during each session is allowed, but filling in the sheet after the end-of-session bell counts as cheating. Practice putting your pen down the moment the proctor says "stop," so you never finish marking your answer sheet or copying to the self-scoring sheet after the bell. Types of cheating and how they are penalized are covered in our guide to watches and prohibited items.

The self-scoring sheet is not your answer sheet

Your score is calculated only from what you mark on the OMR answer sheet. The self-scoring sheet is a personal record for checking your answers after the exam. Copying every answer as you solve it eats into your time, so decide on your own method, for example copying everything at once after you finish marking. This is a suggestion, not a rule. The riskiest thing is trying it for the first time on exam day, so draw a self-scoring sheet on paper while working past papers or mock tests, fill it in the same way, and time how long it takes.

When you can use your own pen - black, and meeting the requirements

Computer marking pens will still be handed out at the exam site as before. On top of that, from this year examinees are also allowed to bring and use a black computer marking pen that meets the requirements. The one restriction reported is this: a writing instrument that mixes in functions not allowed among the items you may carry during the exam, such as a product with a red pen attached, cannot be used. The other detailed requirements are in KICE's detailed implementation plan. Do not assume from news wording that a particular product is fine; check KICE announcements and the notice on your admission ticket before the exam.

If you plan to use your own pen, test it beforehand

Even a pen you know well creates risk once you switch. If its thickness or bleeding differs from the issued pen, marks may spill outside the bubble or smear. So mark a practice answer sheet with the same pen and check for bleeding and line width. Bring a spare in case a pen dries out, but both pens must meet the requirements. If you are not sure, simply use the pen issued at the site.

After the exam - checking raw scores with your self-scoring sheet

By convention, KICE posts the questions and answers in sequence on exam day and the following day. Check the 2027 detailed implementation plan for the exact posting times. Once the answers are up, compare the self-scoring sheet and your marks in the booklet to calculate raw scores by section. Comparing the result with grade forecasts from admissions companies comes next. But those cut-off forecasts differ by company and are not official, so your confirmed grades and standard scores come only from the December 11 score report. How standard scores, percentiles, and grades on the report differ is explained in the three numbers on a CSAT score report.

Where to use your self-scored results - CSAT minimums and answer appeals

For students who applied for early admission, the first use of a self-scored result is a rough judgment of whether you meet a university's CSAT minimum requirement. Many are set as a sum of grades, so raw scores alone are not enough; you need a grade forecast. Points where universities differ, such as how two inquiry subjects are counted or the Korean History standard, are covered in our CSAT minimum calculation guide. If your result sits on a grade boundary and you object to a question or answer, you must file within the appeal period, so read the preliminary answer appeal procedure in advance.

Order of steps

(1) When you get your ticket, check the format of the self-scoring sheet on the back. (2) Try the same method on mock tests and time it. (3) If you use your own pen, confirm it is black with no red pen attached, and practice marking. (4) On exam day, finish both the self-scoring sheet and your marking before the end-of-session bell. (5) After the answers are posted, calculate raw scores from the sheet, and confirm your grades with the December 11 score report.

Sources are reports from late June 2026 on the 2027 CSAT plan by Herald Business, SBS Biz, YTN, Asia Today, Kookmin Ilbo and others, compiled as of October 1, 2026. The final rules on the self-scoring sheet format and personal-pen requirements are in KICE's detailed implementation plan and the notice on your admission ticket, so please check the originals again. This article explains exam rules in general terms and does not replace a judgment about any individual examinee's situation.