Starting from the 2028 College Scholastic Ability Test taken by 2nd-year middle school students this year,
there will be no elective subjects in Korean, Math, Social Studies, and Science
From the 2028 entrance exam taken by current middle school 2nd graders, an integrated college scholastic ability test without elective subjects such as Korean, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science will be implemented. The school record grading system will be finalized as a 5-grade system.
On the 27th, the Ministry of Education announced that it has finalized the '2028 College Entrance Exam System Reform Plan' reflecting the resolution of the National Education Commission. The draft of the 2028 college entrance exam system announced on October 10th will be basically maintained.
The Ministry of Education explained, "We aimed to resolve the advantages and disadvantages of elective subjects by reorganizing into an integrated and converged CSAT subject system," adding, "Elective subjects in Korean, Mathematics, Social Studies & Science Inquiry, and Vocational Inquiry areas will be abolished and evaluated based on the same standards and content." The high school school record system will be improved from the existing 9-grade system to a 5-grade system similar to major overseas countries.
On the 8th, the distribution day of the 2024 College Scholastic Ability Test score reports, third-year students at Gyeongbok High School in Jongno-gu, Seoul, are checking their scores. Photo by Joint Press Corps
To consistently apply both absolute evaluation (A~E) and relative evaluation (grades 1~5) across all grades and subjects, a safeguard against grade inflation concerns has been established.
For the Social Studies & Science Inquiry area, questions will be based on the 2022 revised curriculum subjects ‘Integrated Social Studies’ and ‘Integrated Science.’ Respecting the resolution of the National Education Commission, ‘Advanced Mathematics (Calculus II & Geometry)’ will not be included as a CSAT subject. The CSAT areas, evaluation and score provision methods, and EBS linkage methods will be maintained as they are, and measures to eradicate the CSAT interest cartel will be pursued according to the draft plan.
The high school school record system will be reorganized from the existing 9-grade system to a 5-grade system as in the draft, with both absolute and relative evaluation scores recorded for each subject. However, respecting the resolution of the National Education Commission, relative evaluation rank grades will not be recorded for the social studies and science subjects (9 subjects) among high school converged elective subjects.
Meanwhile, as the Ministry of Education finalizes the 2028 college entrance exam reform plan, it plans to support students, parents, high schools, education offices, and universities to prepare thoroughly for the reform, while actively responding to fake news and misleading marketing related to the entrance exam.
Additionally, related regulations such as the Higher Education Act will be enacted and revised in connection with the 2028 entrance exam reform, and example questions for Integrated Social Studies and Integrated Science according to the 2028 CSAT reform plan will be developed and disclosed within next year.
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