Record Number of Repeat Test Takers Join June Mock Exam... "Large Fluctuations in Grades and Scores Expected"

Significant Increase Expected in Enrollment Rates for Unmae and Calculus Examinees
March Academic Assessment Participation Rates Surpass CSAT Across the Board
Score Fluctuations May Occur More Dramatically Than Expected

On the morning of the 3rd, high school seniors preparing for the 2022 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) are getting ready for the June mock exam at Yeouido Girls' High School in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. A total of 482,899 students registered for the first mock exam of the 2022 CSAT, which has been reorganized into an integrated liberal arts and science format. Among them, 415,794 (86.1%) are current students, and 67,105 (13.9%) are graduates and others.

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The June mock exam, which will serve as a directional key for the 2023 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), is just 5 days away. It is predicted that the number of repeat test-takers will be the highest in 12 years, leading to greater fluctuations in scores and grades.

The Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation will conduct the June CSAT mock exam on the 9th at 2,092 high schools nationwide and 451 designated academies. This year, 477,148 students are registered to take the mock exam, with 400,473 (83.9%) being current students and 76,676 (16.1%) being graduates or repeat test-takers. The total number of applicants has decreased by 5,751 compared to last year, and the number of current students has dropped by 15,321, but the number of graduates and repeat test-takers has increased by 9,570. Since the announcement of mock exam registration statistics in 2011, this is the highest proportion of repeat test-takers.

With the higher proportion of repeat test-takers, the participation rates for Language and Media and Calculus are increasing, which is expected to cause greater score fluctuations in the June mock exam than anticipated. Last June, the percentage of students choosing Language and Media as their elective subject was 27.8%, but this year it is expected to rise to the mid-30% range. In mathematics, the selection rate for Calculus may increase significantly to the mid-40% range compared to 37.1% last year.

According to Jongro Academy, the participation rate for Language and Media in the March academic assessment this year was 34.7%. This is 8.3 percentage points higher than March last year (26.4%) and has surpassed the elective subject participation rate in last year’s CSAT (30%).

The participation rate for Calculus was 39.1% in March this year and 41.1% in April, higher than the 39.7% elective subject participation rate in last year’s CSAT. For Geometry, the participation rate is in the low 4% range, about half of the 8.7% rate during the CSAT.

Changes in the Participation Rates for Korean and Mathematics Elective Subjects in the 2022-2023 Academic Year (Data Provided by Jongro Academy)

Language and Media, Calculus, and Geometry are subjects mainly taken by top-tier students, and their average scores are higher than those of students choosing other subjects, which leads to an increase in standard scores. In the March academic assessment, the highest standard score for Language and Media was 144 points, while for Speech and Composition it was 139 points, a difference of 5 points. In mathematics, Geometry scored 165 points, Calculus 164 points, and Probability and Statistics 158 points, with a maximum difference of 7 points.

With the large influx of repeat test-takers and changes in elective subject participation rates, it is analyzed that score fluctuations beyond expectations will occur. As the number of repeat test-takers increases, scores and grades may be lower than those in the March or April mock exams. However, because of this trend, changing elective subjects may increase the learning burden, so a cautious approach is necessary.

Representative Lim explained, "For students confident in grammar, it may be advantageous to switch to Language and Media even after the June mock exam, but they should consider whether it is possible to resolve remaining issues within the available time. In mathematics, for liberal arts students, it may be advisable for top-tier students with little score difference between elective subjects or lower-tier students to choose Calculus or Geometry, but mid-tier students, who are expected to have a significant increase in incorrect answers, should approach this very cautiously."

It is recommended to thoroughly analyze the results of the June mock exam and establish strategies to achieve high scores in the September mock exam, which covers the same scope as the CSAT. Representative Lim advised, "During final exams and summer vacation, detailed individualized CSAT study strategies should be developed, and full effort should be made in the September mock exam conducted by the Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation. Depending on the results of the September mock exam, students can maintain confidence and proceed at their original pace until the CSAT."

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