Mental Care Guide for Parents of Exam Takers | From Pre-Suneung Anxiety to Post-Exam Conversations

📌 Why Parents Facing the CSAT Also Need Mental Care

Parents of exam takers often tend to put their own anxiety aside while managing their child's schedule and well-being. Even while working, they may wonder if their child is preparing well, or hesitate about what to say after returning home.

The National Center for Health Knowledge at Seoul National University explains that not only test-takers but also parents can experience test anxiety. Just as parents monitor their children's condition, they also need to reflect on their own tension and communication within the family.

The company can provide information on consultation channels so that employees can seek help when needed. The fact that concerns about children and family relationships can also be topics of counseling Please provide guidance on the application method.

The date of the 2027 academic year CSAT is November 19, 2026 , the grade notification date is December 11th It is recommended to prepare the guide by dividing it into the period immediately after the exam and the period waiting for results, rather than finishing it just once before the exam.

🌿 Before the CSAT, we take care of parents' anxiety first.

STEP 1. Write down what you are worried about in one sentence.

The worry that “my child might not do well on the test” can be mixed with various emotions. Please write down whether you are worried your child might get hurt, afraid that the expected results won’t come out, or feeling frustrated because you don’t know how to help.

Parents' anxiety and children's feelings are not always the same. Rather than trying to resolve unspoken emotions by guessing, it is better to ask directly what the child needs right now.

STEP 2. Focus on what you can take care of today.

Although you cannot know the results in advance, you can make sure to eat regularly and take breaks. Take a break from college admissions information, go for a walk, or share your worries with someone you trust, and take care of your own daily life as well.

If your voice gets raised while talking, try pausing the conversation for a moment by saying, “I talked a bit because I was worried about you. Let’s take a break and talk again.”

STEP 3. Instead of giving the correct answer, ask what kind of help is needed.

Ask for specific choices, such as, “Is there anything I can do for you?” or “Do you want to be alone right now, or would you like me to stay with you?” If you keep giving unwanted advice or constantly checking if they are okay, it can actually put pressure on them to answer.

💬 Instead of words that add to the burden, prepare words that open the heart.

Even words intended to be encouraging can sound like evaluation or nagging to your child. Please refer to the conversation examples below to see which expressions can help reduce the burden.

To have a natural conversation with your child, ask them how they are feeling right now, rather than comparing or judging them. Starting by understanding your child's feelings allows for a more constructive dialogue.

If your child says, “I don’t want to talk,” do not pry into the reason; give them time. Say, “Okay. I’ll listen when you want to talk,” and ask for their opinion first when you talk again.

Even parents find it difficult to fully listen to their children on exhausting days. Take a break or share responsibilities with another caregiver, and if communication difficulties persist, find a solution with a counselor.

🗓️ We continue providing care from the day the exam ends until the grades are announced.

Not everyone feels relieved immediately just because the exam is over. Anxiety may persist due to the remaining admission schedule or preliminary scores that differ from expectations, and one may feel a sense of emptiness after having passed a major goal.

• The day I returned from the exam: Start by saying, "You've worked hard," and ask if they want to talk now or rest first.
• When bringing up the topic of grading and results: First, ask if your child is ready to talk, and decide when to review the preliminary results together. Check the necessary admissions schedule separately.
• When the result is not what was expected: Rather than quickly brushing it off with "It's okay, it's no big deal" or arguing about the cause, acknowledge their feelings first by saying, "You must be very upset." You can discuss the next steps after they have calmed down a bit.
• After the grades are announced: Without comparing your child's results to those of friends or relatives, explore their next options together if they wish. Please help them return to their daily routine by getting enough rest and engaging in activities they enjoy.

Do not immediately conclude that there is a problem just because a person becomes less talkative or wants to rest alone after an exam. However, if significant difficulties persist in daily life, such as with sleep or eating, please seek help through professional counseling or medical treatment.

Parents may also need time to process the results. Sharing your disappointment with another adult or counselor first, rather than pouring it all out on your child, can help you organize what to talk about with them later.

🧭 With EAP, you can also talk about worries about your child and your own anxiety.

EAP is a support service that allows you to counsel not only on work stress but also on difficulties in family relationships and daily life. Even when you frequently argue with your children or your own anxiety grows, you can organize your thoughts and find ways to communicate with a counselor.

• Parents' own hearts: Organizing thoughts and emotions when worries grow, dealing with irritation and guilt, and reflecting on my expectations
• Conversation with Children: Changing the way you converse when advice turns into nagging, reflecting on moments when it is difficult to listen to your child.
• Family relationships after the exam: Resolve the conflict surrounding the results, listen to each other's positions, and prepare for the next conversation

Please provide separate guidance regarding the employee's own consultation and direct use by their children or family. The eligibility criteria, age, and application/consent procedures for family counseling vary depending on the company's contract, so please check with the operating company first.

The method of operating family counseling EAP Operation Case Study Supporting Employees and Their Families Please refer to this.

📋 Support Checklist for HR, Health, and Safety Managers

HR, Health, and Safety managers should check the items below and guide employees to use counseling when needed. Checking application channels and usage scope, and preparing periodic notices You can start from there.

HR personnel should verify announcements and usage scope, and health managers should prepare a counseling channel to connect employees when they share their concerns. Safety managers should review delivery methods to ensure that field and shift workers also receive the same guidance.

Please utilize channels that are easily accessible on-site, such as viewing times and shared employee bulletin boards, in addition to internal email. Instead of collecting a separate list of examinees' parents, informing all employees allows those who need it to check directly.

There is no need to collect information regarding children's school or grades, or whether staff members used counseling. The person in charge Checking whether the notice has been distributed and whether the application link and contact information are working properly Please check.

📨 Mental Care Guide for Employees to Send Directly

under Staff Notice Please add the internal EAP application link and contact information to it.

In the attached Excel Writing Guide · Support Preparation Checklist by Period · Staff Guidelines · Parent Conversation Examples I have divided and included the following. Please write down the tasks to be prepared, the person in charge, and the scheduled date, and copy and paste the instructions and conversation examples to fit the company's actual support scope.

📥 Download Excel Guide Kit for Exam Parents

❓ FAQ

Q1. Can parents use EAP first even if their child does not want counseling?

You can first consult about the employee's own anxiety or difficulties experienced when communicating with children. If your child wishes to receive counseling directly, please check the scope of family support and the consent procedure separately.

Q2. How do you talk to your child if they don't say anything after the CSAT?

Rather than immediately asking about the score or the reason, check if they want to take a break and let them know you will listen when they want to talk. If changes continue to significantly disrupt their daily life, it is best to confirm the matter through counseling or medical treatment.

Q3. If the company EAP does not include family counseling, where can you refer me?

Youth Counseling 1388 is available to adolescents and parents/guardians of adolescent children. The current method of use is Guide to the Youth 1388 Official Online Counseling Center You can check here. Please guide employees for company EAP counseling and public counseling through different channels.

Q4. Does the person in charge need to check whether the employee has used the consultation service?

There is no need to verify whether individual consultations have been used. Please ensure that notices are distributed and that application channels and contact information are checked so that employees can apply on their own.

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