High school students on Nov. 13 receive their identification slips the day before this year's College Scholastic Ability Test. (Yonhap News)

By Kang Gahui and Lee Hana

High school seniors in Korea on Nov. 14 will take the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), which is more commonly known as the university entrance exam.

Around 548,000 students will take the CSAT at any one of 1,158 venues in 86 test zones nationwide. To ensure all students make it to their test centers on time and take the test in the best environment, the government has prepared measures starting with managing traffic flow on the morning of the exam.

From 6 a.m., subways and city buses will operate at shorter intervals and a higher frequency. From 4 a.m. to noon, private taxis will be permitted to operate to increase the number of available cabs at subway and bus stations and test centers.

To reduce traffic congestion, public offices and select private organizations will open an hour later than usual. Areas within 200 meters of a test center must restrict car access and ban parking.

Once the CSAT begins, efforts will be made to reduce noise as much as possible. The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced a 35-minute ban on all planes from taking off and landing between 1:05 p.m. to 1:40 p.m. during the English listening portion of the test, except for emergencies. Trains will run slower around test centers and cannot sound their horns except in case of emergency.

Also during this time, the military will not conduct drills that involve activities like the firing of guns and the operation of tanks. Noise at event venues, construction sites and other public spaces will also be kept to a minimum.

To prepare for emergencies on test day, all firefighting departments will be on call and special rescue units will be dispatched to areas previously hit by earthquakes.

"We ask for everyone's support so that all students can successfully take the test. Our ministry will cooperate with all related organizations to prepare for this important day," said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hae.

kgh89@korea.kr