The results of the 2024 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT, 수능 or Suneung) are in, and all three major subjects – Korean language, mathematics, and English – were found to be more difficult than the previous year's exams. This news comes as a surprise to many, as the government had emphasized its efforts to exclude "killer questions" from the exam this year.
The Korean language section broke records with a 16-point jump in the highest score (150), surpassing 150 for the first time. Increased difficulty was evident in the 7-point rise in the first-grade threshold (133). Mathematics also saw a small increase in the highest score (148), but perfect scores plummeted from 934 to 612. English experienced the most significant drop, with the lowest first-grade rate (4.71%) since 2018's evaluation change.
Despite the overall increase in difficulty, the government maintains that the CSAT remains a fair and reliable test. Moon Young-joo, head of the CSAT Division of the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation, said that the "discrimination" of the test seems to have been strengthened and that the mid-level difficulty seems to have maintained last year's level.
This year's CSAT results are sure to raise concerns among parents and students alike. With all three major subjects becoming more difficult, it will be even more challenging for students to achieve high scores on the exam. It remains to be seen whether the government will take any steps to address the increase in difficulty, or whether students will simply have to adjust their study strategies accordingly.
Despite the overall increase in difficulty, the government maintains that the CSAT remains a fair and reliable test. Moon Young-joo, head of the CSAT Division of the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation, said that the "discrimination" of the test seems to have been strengthened and that the mid-level difficulty seems to have maintained last year's level.
This year's CSAT results are sure to raise concerns among parents and students alike. With all three major subjects becoming more difficult, it will be even more challenging for students to achieve high scores on the exam. It remains to be seen whether the government will take any steps to address the increase in difficulty, or whether students will simply have to adjust their study strategies accordingly.
The test is a standardized test administered in South Korea every November. It is used to assess the academic abilities of high school graduates and other applicants to college. The CSAT consists of five subject tests: Korean language, mathematics, English, social studies, and science.