Average Admission Score for Regular CSAT at Seoul National University of Education Falls to Grade 4 Range
Caused by Declining School-Age Population and Reduced Teacher Hiring
Seoul National University of Education Also Drops to Average Grade 3 Range
Just over a decade ago, the average CSAT admission score for education universities (Gyodae), which were attended by top-tier students, has fallen to the 4th-grade level. Issues such as repeated reports of teacher authority violations and the reduction in teacher recruitment due to a declining school-age population are cited as reasons for the decline in Gyodae's popularity.
On the 19th, Jongro Academy released an analysis of the 2024 CSAT admission scores for a total of 12 institutions: nine nationwide Gyodae and three elementary education departments (Ewha Womans University, Korea National University of Education, and Jeju National University) on the college admission information portal 'Eodiga'. The survey results are based on final registration for regular admissions.
According to the results, analyzing the admission scores of the top 70% of new students, five Gyodae had an average CSAT cutoff score below the 4th grade (average percentile score below 77) in Korean, Math, and Inquiry subjects. The lowest cutoff score was Daegu Gyodae (67.75 points), followed by ▲Cheongju Gyodae (70.83 points) ▲Gongju Gyodae (71.42 points) ▲Jeju National University (73.83 points) ▲Jinju Gyodae (75.2 points). Jeonju Gyodae, which did not disclose scores, is also estimated to have an average below 77 points in Korean, Math, and Inquiry subjects.
Among Gyodae, Seoul Gyodae had the highest cutoff score at 87.67 points, which is a decrease from last year's 90.67 points. When converting percentile scores to grades, this corresponds to about the 3rd grade level. The only institutions where scores increased compared to the previous year were Ewha Womans University’s Elementary Education Department and Chuncheon Gyodae.
This decline in cutoff scores is due to a decrease in the school-age population leading to reduced recruitment, and the ongoing issue of teacher authority erosion since last year, which has increased top-tier students' avoidance of Gyodae. If this trend continues, there is a high possibility of a 'transfer from early admission to regular admission' phenomenon in the 2025 academic year, where early admission quotas are not filled due to failure to meet minimum CSAT standards and are carried over to regular admissions.
Lim Seong-ho, CEO of Jongro Academy, stated, "The drop of Gyodae CSAT cutoff scores to the 4th grade level is an unprecedented situation." He added, "In the 2025 academic year, when the recruitment quota is reduced, a sudden reversal where excellent students apply through early or regular admissions cannot be expected at this time." He further explained, "Urgent and very strong policy measures are needed to increase the preference of top-tier students."
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