Starting in 2027, the Public Service Aptitude Test (PSAT) used for South Korea's Grade 5 and Grade 7 national civil service recruitment examinations will be administered as a separate qualifying examination. Even after registering for and taking the PSAT, candidates must submit a separate application for the national civil service recruitment examination they intend to take. The application deadline is March 8, 2027, for Grade 5 recruitment and July 16, 2027, for Grade 7 recruitment. Scores from alternative examinations, including English and Korean history tests, must also have been officially released by the applicable deadline to be accepted.
Registering for the PSAT does not automatically register you for the civil service recruitment examination. From 2027 onward, candidates must manage their PSAT registration and national civil service recruitment application as two separate processes.
Why Do You Need to Register Twice for the 2027 PSAT and National Civil Service Examination?
Starting in 2027, the Public Service Aptitude Test (PSAT) will change from an examination administered directly as part of the national civil service recruitment process to a separate qualifying examination.
Under the new system, candidates take the PSAT first, and their scores are subsequently used in the first-stage assessment of the actual recruitment examination.
As a result, candidates must complete both of the following procedures:
1. Register separately for either the Advanced or Basic PSAT.
2. Submit a separate application for the national civil service open competitive recruitment examination they intend to take.
The Grade 5 national civil service examination and the Diplomatic Candidate Selection Examination use Advanced PSAT scores, while the Grade 7 national civil service examination uses Basic PSAT scores.
The two PSAT examinations also have different registration periods, test dates, and score announcement dates.
Which PSAT Should You Take for Grade 5 or Grade 7 Recruitment?
Grade 5 Recruitment and Diplomatic Candidate Selection
PSAT type: Advanced
2027 registration: January 18–22
Test date: February 27
Score announcement: March 23
Grade 7 Recruitment
PSAT type: Basic
2027 registration: May 17–21
Test date: July 10
Score announcement: August 3
Because the Advanced and Basic PSAT examinations are used for different recruitment examinations, candidates must register for the version corresponding to their intended grade.
The Advanced PSAT consists of Verbal Reasoning, Data Interpretation, Situational Judgment, and Constitutional Law. The Basic PSAT consists of three sections: Verbal Reasoning, Data Interpretation, and Situational Judgment.
According to the announcement, there is no separate registration fee for the PSAT.
When Are the Grade 5 and Grade 7 National Civil Service Application Periods?
Comparing the PSAT registration schedule with the actual recruitment application schedule makes the distinction clear.
| Category | Grade 5 Recruitment | Grade 7 Recruitment |
|---|---|---|
| PSAT type | Advanced | Basic |
| PSAT registration | January 18–22 | May 17–21 |
| PSAT test date | February 27 | July 10 |
| Recruitment application period | March 4–8 | July 12–16 |
| PSAT score announcement | March 23 | August 3 |
| First-stage results announcement | April 16 | August 20 |
For both examinations, applications close at 6:00 p.m. on the final day of the application period.
There is one particularly important detail to remember.
For both Grade 5 and Grade 7 recruitment, the application period ends before the PSAT scores are announced.
Grade 5: Recruitment applications close on March 8 → PSAT scores are announced on March 23.
Grade 7: Recruitment applications close on July 16 → PSAT scores are announced on August 3.
Therefore, waiting until your PSAT results are released before submitting your national civil service application could cause you to miss the deadline.
You must submit your recruitment application during its designated application period without waiting for the PSAT score announcement.
By When Must English and Korean History Test Scores Be Released to Qualify?
The recognition deadlines for alternative English, foreign language, and Korean history test scores will also change in 2027.
Previously, scores announced by the day before the first-stage examination were accepted. Starting in 2027, the applicable standard will be the recruitment application deadline for each examination.
Grade 5 Recruitment and Diplomatic Candidate Selection
Score recognition deadline: March 8, 2027
English, foreign language, and Korean history alternative examination scores must have been officially announced by this date.
Grade 7 Recruitment
Score recognition deadline: July 16, 2027
English, foreign language, and Korean history alternative examination scores must have been officially announced by this date.
For example, a candidate preparing for Grade 5 recruitment might take an English examination in early March. However, if the results are not announced until March 9, they may fall outside the score recognition deadline.
Checking only the date you took the examination is not sufficient. You must check the actual score announcement date.
There is an exception for the Foreign Affairs and Consular Service track within Grade 7 recruitment. For foreign language proficiency test scores used in place of the foreign language elective subject, the existing recognition deadline remains unchanged: the day before the scheduled second-stage examination.
Therefore, do not apply the general Grade 7 English and Korean history score deadlines to the foreign language elective requirement for the Foreign Affairs and Consular Service track.
How Are First-Stage Recruitment Results Processed After You Take the PSAT?
For South Korea's 2027 Grade 5 and Grade 7 national civil service recruitment examinations, PSAT scores will be used in the first-stage assessment of the corresponding recruitment examination.
The applicable PSAT scores are as follows:
Grade 5 national civil service recruitment, administrative and science and technology tracks: Advanced PSAT
Diplomatic Candidate Selection Examination: Advanced PSAT
Grade 7 national civil service recruitment: Basic PSAT
PSAT results are provided in formats including raw scores and percentile scores. Candidates can also obtain their PSAT score certificates online through Government24, South Korea's government services portal.
However, additional points for eligible employment support recipients, persons who have rendered meritorious service or are eligible under the relevant medical or injury-related provisions, and qualification certificates are not incorporated directly into the PSAT score itself. Additional points are applied according to the rules of each recruitment examination.
For detailed eligibility requirements, recruitment numbers, examination subjects, and additional-point conditions, candidates must consult the separate official recruitment announcement for their examination.
How to Organize Your 2027 National Civil Service Examination Schedule
To avoid missing an application deadline, it is best to manage the PSAT schedule and the recruitment application schedule separately rather than treating them as a single examination process.
For Grade 5 Recruitment Candidates
1. January 18–22, 2027: Register for the Advanced PSAT.
2. February 27: Take the Advanced PSAT.
3. March 4–8: Submit an application for Grade 5 national civil service recruitment or the Diplomatic Candidate Selection Examination.
4. March 8: Deadline for recognition of alternative examination scores, including English and Korean history.
5. March 23: Advanced PSAT scores announced.
6. April 16: First-stage results announced.
For Grade 7 Recruitment Candidates
1. May 17–21, 2027: Register for the Basic PSAT.
2. July 10: Take the Basic PSAT.
3. July 12–16: Submit an application for Grade 7 national civil service recruitment.
4. July 16: Deadline for recognition of alternative examination scores, including English and Korean history.
5. August 3: Basic PSAT scores announced.
6. August 20: First-stage results announced.
Applications are submitted through South Korea's National Civil Service Recruitment System. To avoid mistakes, check your PSAT registration and your actual recruitment application separately, and independently confirm that each registration has been completed successfully.
The Most Important Things to Remember About 2027 PSAT and National Civil Service Applications
The PSAT is now a separate examination from the national civil service recruitment application process. Grade 5 candidates must register for the Advanced PSAT, while Grade 7 candidates must register for the Basic PSAT. Taking the PSAT does not automatically complete your recruitment application.
In particular, remember these key dates separately:
March 8, 2027: Grade 5 recruitment application deadline and alternative examination score recognition deadline.
July 16, 2027: Grade 7 recruitment application deadline and alternative examination score recognition deadline.
PSAT score announcement dates: March 23 for Grade 5 and August 3 for Grade 7.
When preparing for these examinations, manage PSAT registration, recruitment application submission, and English and Korean history score announcements as three separate deadlines. This will help you avoid missing an essential registration or qualification requirement.
