Jongno Academy Reports 33.9% Proportion of Repeat Students for 2025 Academic Year
Impact of Difficult CSAT and Medical School Expansion Noted... "Advanced Classes Starting Earlier"
Even though the 2024 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) scores have not yet been announced, inquiries about retaking the exam are surging in the private academy sector. This is because this year’s CSAT was a difficult "Bulsunung" (a notoriously tough exam) without killer questions, and medical schools are expected to increase their enrollment quotas starting from the 2025 academic year.
In December, more academies are starting comprehensive retake classes about a month earlier than last year. With inquiries about retaking the exam rapidly increasing, it is expected that the number of inquiries will rise even more after students receive their score notifications on the 8th and after the announcement of the first round of early admission results on the 15th.
In particular, if the government’s announcement on increasing medical school quotas comes early next year and top-tier natural science students begin to drop out like dominoes, the number of students retaking the exam aiming for admission to so-called "SKY universities" such as Seoul National University, Yonsei University, and Korea University instead of medical schools is also expected to increase in succession.
Jongno Academy estimated at a retake preparatory class briefing held on the 29th of last month that the number of N-suseng (students retaking the CSAT or more) for the 2025 academic year would reach 175,239, accounting for 33.9% of all test takers.
On the afternoon of the 17th of last month, students and parents were reviewing materials at the Jongno Academy 2024 CSAT Results and Regular Admission Score Prediction Briefing held at Daeyang Hall, Sejong University, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. [Photo by Yonhap News]
This year, the number of N-suseng was 177,942 (35.3%), marking the highest level since the introduction of the CSAT in 1996 (37.4%). Over the past 20 years, the proportion of N-suseng had remained in the 20% range but exceeded 30% for the first time starting from the 2023 academic year (31.1%).
Lim Seong-ho, CEO of Jongno Academy, said, "In the past, only students who achieved excellent grades in school records or the CSAT prepared for medical school, but now it seems that the top 30% of science students are considering medical school admission." He added, "Some students whose CSAT scores fall outside the third grade range even consider long-term retaking with a 2-3 year goal." He continued, "There are also students retaking the exam with the possibility of admission to Seoul National University, Yonsei University, and Korea University in mind. As students move in succession, the expectation that they can enter top-tier natural science departments at prestigious universities has increased."
On the afternoon of November 17, students and parents are looking at the reference table for the 2024 regular admission placement during the explanation session on the 2024 CSAT results and regular admission score predictions held at Daeyang Hall, Sejong University, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. [Photo by Yonhap News]
Meanwhile, the maximum desired increase in enrollment for medical schools nationwide in the 2025 admissions is estimated to be around 2,800 students. This desired increase is expected to expand annually, reaching up to 4,000 by 2030.
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