CSAT Grading Results Announced, Excluding ‘Killer Questions’
The annual CSAT grading results were announced today, unveiling a new policy of excluding so-called ‘killer questions’ in the exam. The exclusion of these difficult questions has sparked controversy, with critics arguing that it has made the test more challenging than ever.
Difficulty Levels on the Rise
Korean, mathematics, and English sections of the exam were all found to be more difficult compared to previous years. The maximum standard score for the Korean language section has increased by 16 points this year, reaching a level not seen since 2005. Similarly, the highest standard score in mathematics has risen by 3 points, while the English section saw a dramatic drop in the number of students achieving a grade 1.
Government’s Standpoint
The government has defended its decision to exclude ‘killer questions,’ stating that it is aimed at reducing the burden of private education. However, critics argue that the difficulty level of the exam may lead more students to seek additional help from private academies.
Public Opinion
Public opinion on the exclusion of ‘killer questions’ remains divided, with some test-takers expressing confusion over the government’s intentions. While the government has promised to take measures to counteract the temptation of private education, concerns persist that the move may inadvertently drive students back to private academies.
Ji Yun-su, Reporting for MBC News
Video commentary: Kim Kyung-bae / Video editing: Park Jeong-ho
◀ Anchor ▶
This year’s CSAT grading results were announced today, revealing the principle of excluding so-called ‘killer questions’.
Korean, maths and English were all found to be more difficult than last year.
There is also criticism that the purpose of reducing the burden of private education has been defeated, as some say it has been the most difficult ever.
Reporter Ji Yun-soo will report.
◀ Report ▶
The maximum standard score for the Korean language section of the CSAT this year is 150 points.
This is 16 points higher than last year, and is the highest level since 2005 when standardized scores began to be used.
The highest standard score in mathematics was 148 points, 3 points higher than last year.
The number of people with perfect scores in the September mock assessment fell from 2,500 to 600.
In the English section, if you score 90 points or higher, you will receive a grade 1, but in this CSAT, grade 1 was only in the top 4.71%.
Compared to last year’s grade 1 maths score of 5.26%, this year’s English, which is an absolute assessment, was more difficult than last year’s maths.
There is only one person in the country with a perfect score.
The government evaluated itself as having secured the ability to distinguish between the top positions without any killer questions.
[심민철/교육부 인재정책기획관]
“First, we believe that excluding the killer question is an opportunity to restore trust in public education.”
However, as it is regarded as the ‘most impossible exam ever’, there has been a series of criticisms that it has failed to adjust the difficulty level appropriately.
Some of the test takers responded by saying, ‘I don’t know what effect the exclusion of killer questions has.’
[수험생]
“Because the percentage of correct answers is lower than the number of correct answers. What on earth are you talking about as a killer? If this happens, wouldn’t they trust the academy more than the Ministry of Education?”
The government’s original intention to exclude killer questions was to lighten the burden of private education on parents.
However, there are even predictions that students will again flock to private academies as more and more difficult questions are asked.
[입시업계 관계자 (음성변조)]
“If you put out test questions like this, it’s inevitable that the private education market will grow bigger. You will have to send people to private academies, because the test is difficult, so it ends like this…”
In response to criticism that people could be tempted to pursue private education, the government said that this is a matter of personal opinion and that it will endeavor to remove the temptation to pursue private education by linking it to EBS.
This is Ji Yun-su from MBC News.
Video commentary: Kim Kyung-bae / Video editing: Park Jeong-ho
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