The unprecedented 'Bulsuneung' shakes up early and regular admissions... Already preparing for retaking next year

Major Universities Early Admission Application Rates Rise Year-on-Year
Increase in Early Admission Failures, Natural Sciences Students Shift to Regular Admissions
Students Head to Re-study Academies Before Score Grading

As the 2024 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) is being regarded as the toughest 'bul-sunung' (extremely difficult exam) in history, the patterns of early and regular admissions following the CSAT are also showing a different atmosphere compared to past entrance exams. While it is difficult to expect high scores in the regular admissions, applications are flooding into early admissions such as essay tests, and with the added expectation of an increase in medical school quotas, movements for retaking the exam have already begun.

◆ Early admissions over regular admissions... Increase in participation rate = According to the admissions industry on the 5th, the participation rate in this year's CSAT essay exams generally increased compared to last year. This is because the CSAT was difficult, raising expectations for early admissions, which have less CSAT reflection. From the 18th of last month to the 3rd of this month, the number of applicants for essay exams at major universities in the Seoul area was higher than usual. Chung-Ang University recorded the highest number of applicants ever with 40,642 examinees, an increase of 7,034 applicants compared to last year. Ewha Womans University had 14,838 applicants, an increase of 3,445 from last year. Hanyang University also saw an increase in participation rate with 27,033 applicants for the early admissions essay exam compared to the previous year.

However, when analyzed by department, the participation rates show contrasting trends. According to analysis by Jongro Academy, among major universities in the Seoul area, the participation rate for humanities essay exams decreased compared to last year at Sungkyunkwan University, Ewha Womans University, Kyung Hee University, Chung-Ang University, and Hanyang University, while the participation rate for natural sciences increased at Sogang University, Kyung Hee University, Chung-Ang University, Konkuk University, and Hanyang University. Jongro Academy stated, "In the humanities, not only current students but also a significant number of repeaters who mainly take essay exams may fail to meet the minimum CSAT requirements," adding, "In natural sciences, there are relatively more students who meet the minimum CSAT requirements than in humanities."

After the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) ended, admission companies have been holding a series of admission briefing sessions. On the 17th, families of examinees attending the "2024 CSAT Results and Regular Admission Score Prediction Briefing" held at Daeyang Hall, Sejong University, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, were looking at admission materials. Photo by Jo Yongjun jun21@

◆ Competition rate for natural sciences regular admissions expected to rise = With the increase in early admissions participation, it is predicted that the number of those failing will be larger than last year. According to Jongro Academy's analysis, the number of early admissions failures is expected to reach a record high of 675,822. The scale of early admissions failures has increased every year, with 605,041 in 2022 and 625,479 in 2023.

In particular, this year, the forecast for natural sciences failures has significantly increased, leading to an analysis that the competition rate for regular admissions at top-tier natural sciences universities in the Seoul area will rise. Among the increase in early admissions failures this year (50,343), it is estimated that 42,133 are in natural sciences and 8,210 in humanities. This is interpreted as an effect of the increase in top-tier natural sciences examinees due to the difficult CSAT, the expansion of medical school quotas, and the preference for science tracks.

◆ Top-tier students already preparing for retaking the exam = According to the admissions industry, students are already flocking to preparatory classes for retaking the exam next year. CSAT scores will be announced on the 8th, and examinees are currently estimating their scores through provisional grading. A representative of a large dormitory academy in Gangnam said, "We are currently recruiting students for the retake preparatory class," adding, "Due to the difficult CSAT, inquiries from students are coming in earlier than usual." Jongro Academy estimated at the retake preparatory class briefing held on the 29th of last month that the number of N-sus (repeaters or graduates retaking the exam) for the 2025 CSAT will reach 175,239, accounting for 33.9% of all examinees.