[2022 CSAT] Teachers' Group: "Math Similar to June and September Mock Exams... Probability & Statistics and Geometry Slightly Difficult"

Mathematics Subject Teacher Group Evaluation "Attempt to Reduce Advantages and Disadvantages of Elective Subjects"
Common Subjects Feature More Medium-Difficulty than High-Difficulty Questions
"Top Tier Perceives Lower Difficulty, While Middle-Lower Tier Finds It Challenging"
Probability and Geometry Slightly Difficult, No Highest Difficulty Calculus Questions

On the morning of the 18th, when the 2022 College Scholastic Ability Test was held, examinees were seen studying until the last moment at the testing site set up at Yeouido High School in Seoul. Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The difficulty level of the 2022 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) mathematics section was evaluated to be similar to the June and September mock exams. Among the elective subjects, Probability and Statistics and Geometry were more difficult than the September mock exam, while Calculus was at a similar level.

On the 18th, Oh Su-seok, a teacher at Somyeong Girls' High School and a member of the Korea Council for University Education (KCUE) college admission counseling teachers group who analyzed the 2022 CSAT math questions, said, "The overall level is similar to the June and September mock exams," adding, "In June and September, high-difficulty questions were included to differentiate top-tier students, but this CSAT had many medium-difficulty questions and problems that assessed problem-solving through reasoning."

He analyzed that the number of ultra-high-difficulty questions distinguishing the top 1st and 2nd grades decreased, so the perceived difficulty might have been somewhat lower for top students but felt difficult for middle and lower-tier students.

Oh explained, "Although the number of high-difficulty questions decreased, the number of medium-difficulty questions increased, so if students did not accurately understand the unit concepts, they would have found problem-solving challenging," adding, "There were some problems that required reasoning based on mathematical concepts rather than complex solution processes, so the test maintained its discriminatory power."

It was also analyzed that the question committee paid attention to adjusting the difficulty of elective subjects to minimize controversy over advantages and disadvantages among electives. This is interpreted as being conscious of concerns that Calculus, which had the highest standard score, was advantageous, while students mainly taking Probability and Statistics, mostly liberal arts students, might be disadvantaged.

In the September mock exam, the highest standard scores in mathematics were 145 points for Calculus and 139 points for Probability and Statistics, a 6-point difference. In the June mock exam, the scores were 146 points for Calculus and 142 points for Probability and Statistics.

Kim Jeong-won, a teacher at Hyehwa Girls' High School in Daegu, said, "The common subjects had similar difficulty levels, and Probability and Statistics and Geometry were somewhat difficult. In the common subjects, question 12 was a new type, and question 15 was a high-difficulty question," adding, "The number of high-difficulty questions decreased and medium-difficulty questions increased, so the perceived difficulty will vary depending on the student's score position."

Among the elective subjects, Probability and Statistics, which liberal arts students mainly take, was evaluated to be easier than the June mock exam but more difficult than the September mock exam.

Jang Young-il, a teacher at Segwang High School in Cheongju, said, "New types of questions appeared in Probability and Statistics, so students likely felt confused and found it difficult," adding, "There were many calculation problems that involved reasoning to find the number of cases rather than repetitive calculations," and "The high-difficulty questions were numbers 28 and 30, and the new type was number 29."

In Calculus, compared to last year's CSAT, there were no notably highest-difficulty questions, but overall difficult questions appeared. Geometry was evaluated to have many differentiated questions.

Jang explained, "There were no highest-difficulty questions in Calculus, so it was a challenge level worth attempting for top students who managed their time well, and it was similar to the September level," adding, "Questions 28 and 30 were high-difficulty types."

He continued, "Geometry likely felt difficult to most students, and there were many questions different from previous ones, requiring understanding and application of concepts to solve," adding, "The high-difficulty questions were numbers 29 and 30."

The teachers' group advised that since the test-taking groups differ between the mock exams and the CSAT, the CSAT raw scores alone should not be used to gauge performance.

Oh Su-seok of Somyeong Girls' High School said, "Scores received in Korean and Mathematics can vary depending on the final test-taking group's average and standard deviation, so it is necessary not to overreact to the raw scores received after the CSAT and to patiently wait for the final CSAT score announcement."

Oh advised, "When considering regular admission applications, it is important to carefully check whether cross-application between designated fields for Calculus and Geometry subjects is possible, accurately recognize the relative position of the CSAT score, and then devise application strategies targeting universities and departments where the calculated scores are competitive."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.