While the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) has long been debated for its cognitive demands, this year’s English section was widely regarded as exceeding acceptable standards.

The exam’s unusually high level of rigor resulted in only 3 percent of test-takers achieving the highest grade, a figure that diverged sharply from expectations under South Korea’s absolute grading system.

This outcome triggered widespread social concern, as English plays a decisive role in college admissions in the country. Unlike Korean and mathematics, which are evaluated through relative grading, English is assessed on an absolute scale, meaning students must reach a fixed cutoff score to earn the top grade. Typically, examinees are required to score at least 90 out of 100 to achieve Grade 1, a threshold intended to ensure broad accessibility rather than strict differentiation.

In subjects with relative grading, approximately 4 percent of students are expected to receive the highest grade each year. Against this benchmark, the 3 percent Grade 1 attainment rate in English came as a shock to students, educators, and policymakers alike. As a result, a number of high school graduates failed to meet the minimum English score required by universities, effectively barring them from enrolling in college despite otherwise competitive academic records.

According to a BBC report, even native English speakers reportedly struggled to grasp the central themes of several reading passages. This observation further fueled criticism that the textual complexity of the exam had surpassed reasonable expectations, thereby undermining the original intent of absolute grading in the English section.

The controversy soon extended beyond the education sector, culminating in the resignation of the head of the CSAT evaluation committee on December 12, just two weeks after the exam. The incident raised broader questions about fairness, assessment standards, and the purpose of difficulty calibration in high-stakes national testing.

In response to mounting criticism, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has announced a proposal to transition all CSAT subjects to an absolute grading system by 2033, with the stated aim of curbing excessive academic competition and reducing the pressure placed on students.

※ Resource :
https://news.ebs.co.kr/ebsnews/menu1/newsAllView/60672896/H?eduNewsYn=N&newsFldDetlCd=TARGET_03
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3w792x0ggyo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEWw5yyIyYg

김예주 강남포스트 학생기자  webmaster@ignnews.kr

<저작권자 © 강남포스트, 무단 전재 및 재배포 금지>