Seong Ki-seon, former head of the Evaluation Institute, explains the direction of the 2021 College Scholastic Ability Test in the briefing room of the Ministry of Education at the Sejong Government Complex. Photo = Yonhap News
“I agree with the statement that it would be nice if the ‘killer questions (ultra-difficulty questions)’ in the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) were reduced. However, as much as the killer questions were removed, the difficulty level is increased two to three times.”
In a telephone interview with Ajou Economics on the morning of the 28th, Seong Ki-seon, former head of the evaluation center (currently a professor at the Catholic University of Korea), said in a telephone interview with Ajou Economics that while he was the head of the evaluation center, he had tried not to present extremely difficult questions in the CSAT, but it was difficult.
There are less than 5 months left for this year’s college entrance exam. Seong said, “I’m worried about whether the exam will go smoothly.” He explained, “Even if a new head of evaluation is appointed, it will take at least three months.” The following is a Q&A with former director Seong.
-The Ministry of Education’s position is that providing ‘parts not covered in public education’ is a killer question.
“Currently, there are about 10 types of textbooks (although different for each subject). If the fingerprints from one of these textbooks are presented in the CSAT, what will happen to the students who studied the other 9 textbooks? In the end, the common book is the EBS SAT It is a special lecture, but it is composed of fingerprints that can only be used when writing difficult questions.
If a teacher used textbooks as a basis for developing students’ literacy and wrote numerous other texts, isn’t this within the scope of public education? He said that a killer question in mathematics is something that can be solved by using two or more mathematical concepts. I want to ask if those concepts are outside the public education curriculum.”
-I heard that you tried not to present killer questions while serving as the head of the Evaluation Center.
“In the CSAT, questions of very high difficulty, high difficulty, medium difficulty, and low difficulty are evenly placed. (When I was the head of the evaluation center, I made a mock test question) I tried to reduce the very difficult questions and increase the high difficulty questions to 2-3 questions. The level of difficulty felt by the students has become much higher.In the first place, the 2-3% correct answer rate for the killer question is the result of ‘solving only the pool kids’.
The CSAT is a test to see if you have the ability to study college education. Not everyone graduates with a perfect score like the high school graduation qualification test, but for college entrance. It is questionable whether everyone will cheer if it is unconditionally easy, ignoring the context and the function of the test.”
-Is it a question of whether or not the ability to discriminate will be secured in the end?
“I agree with the statement that the number of super-high-level questions in the CSAT should be reduced. However, the CSAT is a test that needs to be differentiated. Students should be divided into 9 grades based on one test result. There is also a percentage within each grade. Grade 1 is 4%, Grade 2 should be 7%, grade 3 should be accurate, such as 11%. It is also quite difficult to divide the grade cut. In the end, criticism comes out saying ‘why do you take the SAT?’ The questions and evaluation of the SAT are elaborately designed. .”
Photo = Yonhap News
The 2022 CSAT was conducted through the integration of liberal arts and science. Even when solving Korean and mathematics, solve common subjects and choose one such as probability and statistics, calculus, and geometry. The evaluator is adjusting the score of the elective subject after the introduction of the integrated scholastic ability test. If the score of the common subject is high, even if the candidate receives the same raw score in the elective subject, the standard score of the test taker increases.
In the end, it means that students who are good at studying have an advantage, and most of the students are looking for the private education market depending on the pros and cons of their elective subjects. While Seong agrees with the government’s stance to catch up on private education, he expressed concern that the current method will rather encourage it.
◆ “Education policy announced 4 years ago… Serious situation of vacancy of the head of evaluation”
-Looking at the last interview, you said, “The CSAT will exist until 2027.”
“The high school credit system will start in 2025. You can take 7 common subjects in the first year, and you can place elective courses from the second semester of the first year. You just need to meet the total graduation credits. (High school credit system) There is also the advantage of being able to choose subjects according to the number of subjects.
This means that there will be more elective subjects in the CSAT, which consists of Korean language, English, mathematics, social studies, oversight, foreign languages, and direct exploration (job exploration). If so, can the current exam system be maintained? According to Article 34, Paragraph 5 of the Higher Education Act, ‘if there is a major change in the curriculum, it must be announced by the day before the new semester starts four years ago’. The college admission system for the 2028 school year should be finalized by February 28 next year, but the ‘killer question situation’ is absorbing all issues.”
– The position of Director of Evaluation is vacant. Will I be able to safely take the entrance exam this year?
“I don’t know. However, the Institute of Evaluation is not a place where only questions are asked for the CSAT. Half of the employees are in charge of setting questions and the rest are in charge of research. They camp 12 times a year. Starting at the end of March, they start preparing for mock exams in June. At the end of July, they start preparing for mock exams for September. As soon as the mock exams in September are over, they start recruiting members for the main entrance exam. In early October, they start training camps. .
The Director of Evaluation oversees all these complex practices and security issues. It’s never something you can do comfortably. It takes at least three months to appoint a new evaluation director. Even if you start this process right away, it will be September. How is the entrance exam written? It’s a very precarious situation.”
Reporter Information Shin Jin-young yr29@ajunews.com
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