Search Ad Marketer is a certification exam that tests your ability to run search result ads. The Korea Association of Information and Telecommunication (KAIT) runs it online as a remote exam. The last regular exam of 2026 is round 2604 on Saturday, December 19, and registration runs from November 2 to November 13. As of October 4, 2026, the fee is 50,000 KRW and the passing score is 70 points or higher. Below you will find the schedule for each round, the exam structure and pass rule, the scope of questions, and the steps on exam day.
Search Ad Marketer exam schedule 2026: registration and exam dates by round
The Search Ad Marketer exam is held four times a year. The 2026 schedule posted in the KAIT Search Ad Marketer guide is shown below, and the first three rounds have already taken place. You apply for your round on that guide page during the registration window. Once registered, you can print your admission ticket from 5 days before the exam.
| Round | Registration period | Exam date | Results announced |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2601 | Feb 9 to Feb 20 | Mar 28 (Sat) | Apr 17 (Fri) |
| 2602 | May 11 to May 22 | Jun 27 (Sat) | Jul 17 (Fri) |
| 2603 | Aug 3 to Aug 14 | Sep 19 (Sat) | Oct 16 (Fri) |
| 2604 | Nov 2 to Nov 13 | Dec 19 (Sat) | Jan 8, 2027 (Fri) |
If you want to take the exam this year, round 2604 is your last chance. The registration window is short, from November 2 to November 13, so it is safest to have the registration page open on November 2. If you took round 2603, results are announced on October 16.
Search Ad Marketer Level 1 exam structure and passing score
The exam is offered at Level 1 only, and there are no eligibility restrictions, so anyone can register. The question format, pass rule and fee are as follows.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of questions | 40 multiple-choice, 20 short-answer |
| Exam time | 90 minutes (14:00 to 15:30) |
| Passing score | 70 points or higher; below 40% in any question type is an automatic fail (if any one section is under the cutoff, you fail regardless of your total score) |
| Exam fee | 50,000 KRW |
| Format | Remote exam (taken online) |
Because of the section cutoff, a total above 70 points may still not be a pass. The official guide says that scoring below 40% in any question type is an automatic fail. The question types here are multiple-choice and short-answer, so you must clear 40% in both. You cannot do well on multiple-choice and leave the short-answer section blank.
Search Ad Marketer exam scope and study order
The exam covers three areas: online business and digital marketing, practical use of search ads, and search ad strategy. As the names suggest, it starts from general marketing concepts and moves on to how search ads are run and the strategy behind them.
If you are starting from scratch, skim the digital marketing concepts first, then study the practical search ad area alongside the ad management screen. Concepts stick after one read, but practical terms stop you cold in the short-answer section if you have never seen them on screen. Once you know where terms like campaign, ad group, keyword and bid appear in the interface, the questions get easier.
Short-answer questions give no options, so you must write each term with the exact spelling. Do not stop at "I think I know it" as you might with multiple-choice. Write the terms out by hand as you memorize them.
What to do after registering: exam day steps
The remote exam is taken online instead of at a test center. The biggest thing to watch on exam day is the entry time. You must complete entry by 13:50, and the exam starts at 14:00. After the entry time, you cannot connect to the online exam.
Even though the exam starts at 14:00, the connection deadline is 13:50, so finish checking your internet connection and setup before then. After 13:50, you cannot enter the exam.
Search Ad Marketer exam FAQ
Is there a Search Ad Marketer Level 2 exam?
The 2026 KAIT guide states that only Level 1 is offered. There is no step for choosing a level, so you take Level 1 only.
When can I print my admission ticket?
You can print it 5 days before the exam date. Check once at 5 days before the exam so you do not register and then miss the printing.
How do I get the certificate after I pass?
Issuing the certificate costs 6,300 KRW (shipping included), separate from the exam fee.
To take the December exam, open the registration page on November 2. After you register, work through each past-exam question type at least once so you can finish both the multiple-choice and short-answer sections within 90 minutes.
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