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Source: Yonhap / Graphic: Reporter Park Jong-kyu (AI-generated image)

If test takers are caught wearing smart glasses equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) functions during this year's College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), their exam will be invalidated and their eligibility to take next year's CSAT will be suspended. Merely possessing them will also result in the invalidation of the test.

The Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation (KICE) released the "Instructions for Test Takers of the 2027 Academic Year CSAT" containing these guidelines on the 15th.

According to the instructions, failing to submit wireless devices such as smart glasses or smartwatches before the start of the first period and wearing them during the exam constitutes serious cheating under the Ministry of Education's CSAT management regulations, resulting in the invalidation of the exam and a one-year suspension of eligibility to take the test the following year.

Bringing smart glasses into the test room or merely possessing them will also result in the exam being invalidated. Refusing an exam proctor's request for verification can lead to penalties for serious cheating following deliberation. If wearing smart glasses is suspected, proctors may inspect them by asking the test taker to remove the glasses and place them on the desk.

This measure comes after cheating incidents involving smart glasses were successively uncovered during early admission essay exams at Yonsei University and the University of Seoul. The Ministry of Education plans to distribute proctor guidelines to universities across the country, outlining tips for identifying smart glasses and methods of inspection.

However, concerns are also emerging on the ground that the workload for proctors could increase significantly.

Launching a nationwide teacher petition campaign on this day, the Secondary School Teachers' Union urged authorities to "secure the necessary time and support personnel for additional proctoring duties, such as checking AI devices, and clarify the verification and evaluation procedures for suspicious situations, along with where accountability lies."

                                                                                                              Park Ji-sook