Lowest Attendance Rate for Science Subjects in May Mock Exam
Medical Schools May Transfer Quota to Regular Admissions Due to Reduced Early Admission Numbers
Among high school seniors taking the 2025 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), the proportion of students taking science inquiry subjects recorded the lowest level in the past four years. With the number of medical school freshmen increased by 1,509, a decrease in the number of science inquiry test takers means the fixed number of top 4% students in the highest grade will also decrease, causing increased concerns among top-tier examinees preparing for medical schools.
In the nationwide joint academic assessment for high school seniors conducted by the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education on the 8th, the science inquiry participation rate was 44.1%, the lowest in four years since the current CSAT system was introduced in the 2021 exam. This figure is 3.8 percentage points lower than the 2024 academic year exam held last year. Based on the same test, the science inquiry selection rate increased consecutively for two years from 44.8% in the 2022 academic year to 46.3% in 2023 and 47.9% in 2024, but decreased for the first time this year (2025 academic year).
The decline in the science inquiry participation rate among high school seniors became prominent starting from the March assessment this year. This is an unusual result amid the trend of strengthened preference for science fields due to the "medical school craze." Mathematics shows a similar pattern. With the introduction of the integrated CSAT for humanities and sciences, the participation rates for calculus and geometry, mainly taken by science students, decreased from 48.4% in the May assessment last year to 47.7% this year, marking a decline for the first time in three years.
The main cause is attributed to an increase in "Satam-run" students?science-track students in the middle to lower ranks who choose social studies inquiry subjects instead of science inquiry due to academic burden. Lim Seong-ho, CEO of Jongro Academy, said, "These students can be seen as those aiming for universities that do not differentiate inquiry subject choices in the regular admissions or applying through early admissions by meeting the minimum CSAT grade requirements."
Major universities in Seoul such as Seoul National University, Yonsei University, Korea University, Sogang University, Sungkyunkwan University, Chung-Ang University, and Kyung Hee University still give extra points to students taking calculus, geometry, and science inquiry subjects or only allow applicants who have taken science inquiry. This means students who have done "Satam-run" cannot apply or will be disadvantaged even if they do.
As the number of middle to lower-ranked science students doing "Satam-run" increases, there is also a forecast that it may become more difficult for top-tier science students aiming for medical schools to secure the minimum CSAT grades in early admissions compared to last year.
CEO Lim said, "With the increase in medical school recruitment numbers for the 2025 academic year and a significant rise in regional talent selection tracks, it may become more difficult for top-tier students aiming for medical schools to secure the minimum CSAT grades in early admissions compared to last year. In such cases, the number of students who fail to be admitted in early admissions and move to regular admissions may increase."
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