Perfect Score on CSAT Again by Science Student... Community Stirred by 'Liberal Arts Invasion'

Highest Standard Scores: Korean 134, Math 145
Complaints from Liberal Arts Students on CS Forums
Science Students Considering Cross-Application to Liberal Arts

Students are preparing for exams. The photo was taken on the morning of the 17th of last month at Daeryun High School exam site in Suseong-gu, Daegu. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] "The liberal arts are doomed." , "Is there nothing science students can do? ㅠㅠ"

According to the '2023 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) Scoring Results' announced by the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation on the 8th, the highest standard score in the mathematics section was more than 10 points higher than that of the Korean language section. The highest standard score was 134 points in Korean and 145 points in mathematics. Also, since all three perfect scorers came from science and engineering fields, there are self-deprecating jokes in CSAT-related communities about the complete defeat of liberal arts students.

The standard score is a kind of indicator that shows the difficulty level of the exam. If the exam is difficult and the average score is low, the highest standard score increases. Conversely, if the exam is easy, the highest standard score decreases. In this regard, the highest standard score in mathematics being 11 points higher than in Korean is expected to work to the advantage of science students. This is why liberal arts students are lamenting.

On the same day, various comments were made on the CSAT-related community 'Orbi' comparing the situation. One test taker posted, "As expected, the big deal is science," highlighting that all perfect scorers came from science and engineering fields. According to the evaluation institute, there were three perfect scorers in all subjects: two current students and one graduate. All of them chose science inquiry subjects, and a perfect scorer means a student who answered all questions correctly in Korean, mathematics, and inquiry subjects, and achieved grade 1 in English and Korean history, which are graded on an absolute scale.

With all perfect scorers coming from science and engineering, a netizen who appears to be a liberal arts student lamented, "How can this be?" There is a gloomy outlook that the so-called 'liberal arts invasion,' where science students with high math scores sweep into humanities departments, will continue.

Last year, when there was a 2-point gap between the highest standard scores in Korean and mathematics, the 'liberal arts invasion' phenomenon occurred, with 60.3% of students admitted to humanities and social sciences at Kyung Hee University having taken calculus or geometry, which are science subjects.

This 'liberal arts invasion' phenomenon by science students is expected to intensify this year. According to a survey conducted by Jongro Academy from the 4th to the 16th targeting 1,743 test takers this year, 59.0% of 1,263 science students expressed an intention to cross-apply to liberal arts, and when cross-applying to liberal arts, the most considered factor was the university brand (73%) rather than the department. This has drawn criticism for deepening the trend of chasing 'university prestige' rather than encouraging students to study according to their interests and aptitudes, which is the purpose of the integrated CSAT.

Lee Man-gi, director of the Uway Education Evaluation Research Institute, said, "The 'liberal arts invasion' by science students is expected to continue for the time being," adding, "Liberal arts students need to devise good strategies." He also said, "It is realistically unlikely that the (integrated CSAT) exam itself will be adjusted or changed." Additionally, some suggest that if the integrated CSAT system cannot be changed, universities should consider measures to restrict cross-application at the institutional level.

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