[2022 CSAT] "Math Common Subject Difficult... Elective Subjects Similar to Mock Exam"

To Resolve Advantages and Disadvantages in Math Subject Selection
Make Common Subjects Difficult, Electives Similar
6-Point Gap Between Calculus and Probability & Statistics Top Scores in September Mock Exam
Difficulty of Probability & Statistics Divided Between Hard and Easy
"Liberal Arts Students May Be Disadvantaged in High Scores" Also Pointed Out

On the morning of the 18th, when the 2022 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) was simultaneously held at over 1,300 testing sites across 86 test districts nationwide, a test taker is making final checks at Ewha Girls' Foreign Language High School in Jung-gu, Seoul (Test District 15, Test Site 20). 2021.11.18

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The difficulty level of the 2022 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) mathematics section was similar to that of the June and September mock exams. While the common subjects were difficult, the difficulty of the elective subjects was generally evaluated to be similar to previous mock exams.

On the 18th, Oh Su-seok, a teacher at Somyeong Girls' High School and a member of the College Admission Counseling Teachers Group of the Korea Council for University Education (KCUE), who analyzed the 2022 CSAT math questions, said, "The overall level was similar to the June and September mock exams," adding, "In June and September, high-difficulty questions were presented, which helped differentiate top scorers, but this CSAT had many medium-difficulty questions and problems that assessed problem-solving through reasoning."

It is analyzed that the question committee paid attention to adjusting the difficulty of elective subjects to minimize controversy over advantages and disadvantages among elective subjects. This is interpreted as being conscious of concerns that the highest standard score in Calculus was high, favoring those students, while students who chose Probability and Statistics in the liberal arts track might be disadvantaged. According to the September mock exam results, the highest standard scores in mathematics were 145 points for Calculus and 139 points for Probability and Statistics, a 6-point difference. In the June mock exam, the scores were 146 points for Calculus and 142 points for Probability and Statistics.

Admission Experts: "Common Subjects Difficult, Elective Subjects Similar to Mock Exams"

The admissions industry also commonly agreed that the difficulty was similar to the June and September mock exams. The common math subjects were somewhat difficult, providing differentiation, and the elective subjects were evaluated to be at a similar level to the September mock exam. In particular, Probability and Statistics was generally more difficult than last year's CSAT Type B, while high-difficulty questions appeared in Geometry.

Lee Mangi, director of the Uway Education Evaluation Research Institute, explained, "The difficulty of common subjects and Calculus was similar to September, but Probability and Statistics was somewhat more difficult than in September," adding, "It seems they tried to reduce the difficulty gap between elective subjects and increase the differentiation power of common subjects to minimize advantages and disadvantages based on subject choice."

Kim Byungjin, director of the Etoos Education Evaluation Research Institute, said, "They raised the difficulty of common subjects and adjusted the difficulty of elective subjects; Probability and Statistics was difficult, and Calculus was moderate," adding, "This seems to be an effort to resolve the phenomenon where Calculus takers had a high percentage of top grades in previous mock exams and to reduce the gap between elective subjects."

Woo Yeoncheol, director of the Jinhaksa Admission Strategy Research Institute, evaluated, "Compared to September, the common subjects were somewhat more challenging, and the elective subjects were at a similar level," adding, "Probability and Statistics and Geometry seemed to have posed difficulties for students in problem-solving, while Calculus was somewhat easier. High-difficulty questions were somewhat more frequent in Geometry than in Probability and Statistics or Calculus."

There were also criticisms that the increased difficulty of common subjects would make it difficult for liberal arts students who chose Probability and Statistics to achieve high scores.

Lim Seongho, CEO of Jongro Academy, said, "The common subjects were as difficult as the June and September mock exams this year, so students who chose Probability and Statistics in the liberal arts track will find it difficult to secure high scores," adding, "Among elective subjects, Probability and Statistics was easy, Calculus was at the June and September mock exam level, and Geometry was more difficult than in June and September."

Lim explained, "In June, the difference between the highest standard scores of Probability and Statistics and Calculus was 4 points, and in September it was 6 points. In the actual CSAT, students who chose Probability and Statistics are likely to receive relatively lower standard scores," adding, "Probability and Statistics was relatively easier than Calculus, so it will be difficult to enter the top 1st and 2nd grade brackets."

Fewer Ultra-High-Difficulty Questions... "Perceived Difficulty Drops for Top Students"

On the 18th, when the 2022 College Scholastic Ability Test was held, examinees were making final checks before the exam at Test Site 20, Test District 15, Ewha Girls' Foreign Language High School in Jung-gu, Seoul.
/2021.11.18/Photo by Joint Press Corps

The teachers' group analyzed that the reduction in ultra-high-difficulty questions that distinguish the top 1st and 2nd grades may have lowered the perceived difficulty for top students, but it likely felt difficult for middle and lower-ranked students.

Kim Jungwon, a teacher at Daegu Hyehwa Girls' High School, explained, "The difficulty of common subjects was similar, and Probability and Statistics and Geometry were somewhat difficult. In common subjects, question 12 was a new type, and question 15 was a high-difficulty question," adding, "With fewer high-difficulty questions and more medium-difficulty questions, the perceived difficulty will vary depending on the student's performance level."

Among elective subjects, Probability and Statistics, which liberal arts students mainly take, was evaluated as easier than the June mock exam but more difficult than September.

Jang Youngil, a teacher at Cheongju Segwang High School, said, "New types of questions appeared in Probability and Statistics, which likely confused and challenged students," adding, "There were many calculation problems involving reasoning to find the number of cases rather than repetitive calculations," and "High-difficulty questions were numbers 28 and 30, and the new type was number 29."

In Calculus, compared to last year's CSAT, there were no standout highest-difficulty questions, but overall, difficult questions appeared. Geometry was evaluated to have many differentiated questions.

Jang explained, "There were no highest-difficulty questions in Calculus, so it was a challenge worth attempting for top students who managed their time well, and it was similar to September," adding, "Questions 28 and 30 were high-difficulty types."

Killer questions were identified as question 22 in common subjects, question 30 in Probability and Statistics, question 30 in Calculus, and question 30 in Geometry. Question 22 involved using the differentiation method of polynomial functions to infer the graph's shape and determine the number of real roots of an equation. Probability and Statistics question 30 asked whether the probability of independent trials satisfying given conditions could be calculated. Calculus question 30 involved using the properties of inverse functions to find the value of a definite integral, and Geometry question 30 asked whether the area of an orthogonal projection could be calculated using the properties of a sphere with a given center and radius in coordinate space.