'Calculus II' and 'Geometry' Removed from 2028 CSAT Mathematics Exam

Plan to Introduce Advanced Mathematics Ultimately Abandoned
Nine Social and Science Subjects to Use Absolute Grading

'Advanced Mathematics,' which was predicted to be introduced in the 2028 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), has ultimately been decided to be excluded. The National Education Commission (NEC) approved a recommendation draft titled ‘2028 Academic Year College Admission System Reform Plan’ on the 22nd. The 2028 CSAT will be taken by current middle school 2nd graders.

On the afternoon of the 20th, Shim Min-cheol, Director of Talent Policy Planning at the Ministry of Education, explained the reform details at the public hearing on the 2028 university admission system reform draft held at the FKI Tower in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

According to the recommendation draft, advanced mathematics will not be newly established, and the scope of mathematics questions on the CSAT is expected to be narrowed down to Algebra, Calculus I, and Probability and Statistics. Currently, sequences and limits, differentiation, integration included in the elective subject Calculus, and conic sections, plane vectors, solid geometry, and spatial coordinates in geometry will be excluded from the test scope. The NEC explained that the cancellation of the introduction of advanced mathematics is due to "considering the purpose of an integrated CSAT aiming for fairness and simplicity, the learning burden on students, the fact that related subjects can still be studied at school even without introducing advanced mathematics, and that universities can verify the evaluation results."

On the same day, it was decided that the social and science subjects (9 subjects) among high school convergence elective subjects will be graded only by absolute evaluation without relative evaluation. These subjects are ▲Travel Geography ▲Modern World Explored Through History ▲Social Issues Inquiry ▲Finance and Economic Life ▲Ethics Issues Inquiry ▲Climate Change and Sustainable World ▲History and Culture of Science ▲Climate Change and Environmental Ecology ▲Convergent Science Inquiry. Additionally, due to concerns that the second semester classes of 3rd-year high school students are practically not conducted normally because of the current timing of early admission and CSAT, the NEC and the Ministry of Education will consult and review adjustment plans for the timing of CSAT and early/regular admissions in connection with the National Education Development Plan in the future.