The number of students who received a top grade in mathematics on the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) in Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon was found to be more than six times the admission quota of medical schools in the metropolitan area. In contrast, in non-metropolitan areas, the number of students with a top grade in mathematics was only twice the medical school quota, indicating a disparity in medical school competition rates by region.
On the 17th, Jongro Academy released an analysis comparing the number of high school seniors who received a top grade in mathematics on the 2023 CSAT with the medical school quotas by region.
In the metropolitan area, the number of students with a top grade in mathematics was 6,277, which is 6.3 times the quota of 993 students across 12 medical schools in the region (excluding the Graduate School of Medicine at CHA University). In Seoul, 3,284 high school seniors received a top grade in mathematics, which is 3.8 times the quota of 864 students across 9 medical schools in the Seoul area. In the Gyeonggi-Incheon area, 2,993 high school seniors received a top grade in mathematics, reaching 23.2 times the quota of 129 students across 3 medical schools in the Gyeongin area.
On the other hand, in non-metropolitan areas, 3,346 high school seniors received a top grade in mathematics, which is 1.7 times the quota of 2,023 students across 27 medical schools in non-metropolitan areas, showing a significant difference in the ratio compared to the metropolitan area.
Specifically, in Gangwon, the number of students with a top grade in mathematics was 97, but the admission quota for 4 medical schools in the region was 267, resulting in a ratio of 0.4 compared to the medical school quota. The Honam region showed a ratio of 1.5, Chungcheong 1.8, Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam 2, Daegu-Gyeongbuk 2.2, and Jeju 2.4, respectively.
In terms of the number of students with a top grade in mathematics, it means that it is more difficult for metropolitan area students to enter regional medical schools through the CSAT than for non-metropolitan students. Jongro Academy explained that since the integrated CSAT was introduced in 2022, over 90% of students with a top grade in mathematics are science track students, and most of the top science students aim for medical schools, which was considered in this analysis.
As the government plans to increase medical school quotas by 2,000 students in the 2025 college admissions, it is expected that about 1,600 will be added in non-metropolitan areas (about 80%) and about 400 in the metropolitan area (about 20%). The proportion of regional talent admissions is also expected to expand to over 60%.
Jongro Academy stated, "In the future, it is expected that it will become easier for non-metropolitan students to enter medical schools compared to metropolitan students," adding, "Depending on which regions the expansion of medical school quotas is concentrated in and the extent of the increase in regional talent admissions, the disparity in the competition structure for medical schools between regions may widen."
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