46.2% of CSAT Examinees Say "It Was Slightly Difficult"

EBS Survey Results: 30% Said "Very Difficult"
Perceived Difficulty Order: Math, English, Korean
EBS Predicts Korean Top Grade: 94 in Writing, 89 in Language and Literature
Math Top Grade Predictions: 88 in Probability and Statistics, 85 in Calculus, 86 in Geometry

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] More than 7 out of 10 test takers felt that the difficulty level of the 2023 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) was 'difficult.'

On the 18th, EBS announced that among 459 respondents to the 2023 CSAT perceived difficulty survey conducted since the previous day, 46.2% answered that it was 'somewhat difficult.' The response 'very difficult' accounted for 30.7%. The total percentage of test takers who found it difficult was 76.9%.

By subject area, a high proportion of test takers answered that the math and English sections were very difficult. In math, 41.0% responded 'very difficult,' which was higher than other subjects, while 25.7% answered 'average.'

In the English section, 37.9% answered 'very difficult,' and 36.8% responded 'somewhat difficult.'

In the Korean language section, 27.2% answered 'average,' slightly more than the 26.4% who said 'somewhat difficult.'

On the same day, EBS announced the expected cutoff scores for the top grade in each CSAT subject. For Korean, the expected cutoff scores are 94 points for Speech and Composition and 89 points for Language and Media. The expected standard score cutoff is 128 points.

For math, the expected raw score cutoffs for the top grade are 88 points for Probability and Statistics, 85 points for Calculus, and 86 points for Geometry. The expected standard score cutoff is 135 points.

The cutoff scores for the top grade in social studies subjects are ▲Life and Ethics 44 points (standard score 66) ▲Ethics and Thought 44 points (68) ▲Korean Geography 48 points (65) ▲World History 48 points (66). Compared to last year, Life and Ethics and Ethics and Thought are each 3 points lower, and Korean Geography and World History are 2 points lower.

Additionally, the analysis shows ▲World Geography 47 points (67) ▲East Asian History 50 points (66) ▲Politics and Law 42 points (67) ▲Economics 45 points (69) ▲Society and Culture 42 points (66). East Asian History remains the same as last year, while World Geography is down 3 points, Politics and Law down 8 points, Economics down 5 points, and Society and Culture down 4 points.

For science subjects, the cutoff scores are ▲Physics 1 47 points (68) ▲Chemistry 1 43 points (68) ▲Biology 1 43 points (66) ▲Earth Science 1 43 points (67) ▲Physics 2 44 points (68) ▲Chemistry 2 43 points (66) ▲Biology 2 45 points (68) ▲Earth Science 2 46 points (67). Earth Science 2 increased by 6 points compared to last year, Physics 1 by 4 points, and Biology 1 by 1 point. Physics 2, Chemistry 2, and Biology 2 decreased by 3 points, 4 points, and 1 point respectively compared to last year.