Two-Digit Number of Perfect Scorers on the CSAT... "Focus on Distribution of Korean and Math Scores, Advantages and Disadvantages of Elective Subjects"

Interest in Top-Tier Differentiation
"No Significant Score Gap Among Medical School Applicants"
Focus on Distribution and Gap Between Korean and Math
4th Year of Integrated CSAT, Exploration Advantage Expected to Increase

With the announcement of the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) scores scheduled for the 6th, there are projections that the number of perfect scorers will reach double digits. Considering the relatively easy nature of this year’s CSAT for top-tier students, the admissions industry analyzes that attention should be paid to the distribution of scores across subjects. In particular, there are forecasts that the issue of advantages and disadvantages among elective inquiry subjects will intensify this year.

According to the education sector on the 3rd, the preliminary scoring results predict that the number of perfect scorers this year will be between 10 and 12. At Sehwa High School in Seocho-gu, Seoul, two perfect scorers have already emerged, and each school and admissions academy estimates the total will exceed 10.

On the morning of November 16, at Gangnam Hyper Academy in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, an attendee is looking at the placement chart during the 2025 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) preliminary scoring and medical school regular admission landscape briefing session. Photo by Yonhap News.

The admissions industry views that both Korean and Mathematics were relatively easy for top-tier students in this year’s CSAT. Based on the preliminary scoring results from EBSi, the Korean standard score dropped from 150 points last year to 138 points this year, and Mathematics decreased from 148 points to 145 points.

Accordingly, there is also a forecast that the score differences among top-tier applicants applying to major university medical schools will not be significant. Nam Yungon, head of the admissions strategy research center at MegaStudy, said, "In the case of Seoul National University College of Medicine, the score difference could come down to a single question," adding, "The score differences among other medical schools in the Seoul area will also be minimal."

Because of this, advice has emerged that the distribution of scores across subjects should be analyzed after the score announcement. Lim Seongho, CEO of Jongro Academy, explained, "The balance between Korean and Mathematics scores is expected to be more important than the number of perfect scorers," adding, "In previous CSATs where the gap between Korean and Mathematics scores had a significant impact, there were actually students who scored a 4th grade in Mathematics but still got accepted into medical schools through regular admissions." The analysis suggests that in an easier CSAT, the subjects that still have some discriminative power will play a key role in determining admission outcomes.

Additionally, if both Korean and Mathematics have low discriminative power, there is a possibility that advantages and disadvantages will arise in the inquiry area. This year marks the fourth year of the ‘Integrated CSAT,’ which is taken without distinction between humanities and sciences, and the issue of advantages and disadvantages among elective subjects has been pointed out as a drawback.

Nam said, "(Based on medical school application standards) Chemistry was easy, and Earth Science was difficult, so students who chose Earth Science or Life Science will have an advantage, while those who did not will be at a disadvantage."

Meanwhile, the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation will notify test takers of their CSAT scores on the 6th. Following this, regular admission application submissions will take place from the 31st of this month to January 3rd of next year.

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