Sagyoyuk Geokjeong Eomneun Sesang: "This Year's CSAT Math, 6 out of 46 Questions Deviate from High School Curriculum"

High School Curriculum Dropout Rate 13.04%
Current Teachers and Others Conduct 10-Day Self-Analysis
"Killer Question Exclusion Principle Not Followed"
Demand for Reexamination of CSAT Question Setting Function

There have been claims that so-called "killer questions (ultra-high difficulty questions)" appeared in the 2024 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT). Although the government previously set a principle to exclude killer questions from the CSAT, it is argued that many questions were actually outside the scope of the high school curriculum.

On the morning of the 6th, Kang Min-jung and Kang Deuk-gu, members of the Democratic Party of Korea, along with the civic group Education Concern-Free World, held a press conference at the National Assembly and announced the results of their independent analysis on whether the math questions in this year's CSAT adhered to the high school curriculum. They claimed that out of the 46 math questions on this year's CSAT, 6 questions (13.04%) were outside the scope and level of the high school curriculum. The analysis involved a total of 14 current teachers and 2 curriculum experts and was conducted over 10 days from the 17th to the 26th of last month.

By question, they identified 3 questions from the common math subject (numbers 14, 15, and 22) and 3 questions from elective subjects (Probability and Statistics number 30, Calculus number 28, Geometry number 30), totaling 6 questions. They broadly categorized these as ▲questions that deviated from curriculum learning elements (terms and symbols) (common 15, calculus 28) ▲questions that exceeded the scope and level of curriculum achievement standards (probability and statistics 30, geometry 30) ▲questions containing university-level content (common 22) ▲questions that did not comply with curriculum teaching, learning, and assessment methods and precautions (common 14, 15, 22, calculus 28, common 21).

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In particular, regarding common subject question 22, which is estimated to have a single-digit correct answer rate, they pointed out that "an inequality equivalent to a function equation dealt with in university courses was presented," and "students likely experienced extreme difficulty interpreting the given conditions." They also criticized common subject question 15 for using "symbols not found in curriculum learning elements or textbooks." Regarding calculus question 28, they said, "The way the function is defined is rarely encountered in textbooks," and "it would have been difficult to understand the function solely through school classes without the help of specific private education."

Earlier in June, the Ministry of Education announced as part of measures to reduce private education that killer questions outside the public education curriculum would be excluded. However, some questions were set at a high difficulty level, and new types of high-difficulty questions different from before appeared, leading to criticism that this may have further confused test-takers. In response, immediately after the CSAT, EBS and the entrance exam industry collectively stated, "While differentiation was achieved, killer questions were completely excluded."

However, Education Concern-Free World stated, "The principle of excluding killer questions was not upheld," and "It seems that only certain types were excluded by focusing on superficial issues such as questions prone to traps and those requiring excessive calculations." They added, "Due to the continued appearance of questions that cannot be prepared for with public education alone, students have no choice but to rely on private education," and demanded, "In next year's CSAT, no killer questions should appear; improvement plans and alternatives must be prepared and implemented immediately."