11 Perfect Scorers in This Year's CSAT
'First Perfect Scorer' Oh Seung-eun... Physics Professor in the US
Overcoming Cancer Battle and From Last Place to Perfect Score Legend
With the distribution of the 2025 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) score reports, interest in perfect scorers on the exam is also heating up. This year, there are a total of 11 perfect scorers. Compared to last year, when there was only one perfect scorer, the difficulty level is considered relatively moderate.
Since the CSAT began in 1994, a total of 247 perfect scorers have been identified up to the 2025 academic year. The year with the highest number of perfect scorers was 2001, with 66 students achieving a perfect score.
At that time, the CSAT was evaluated as an easy test with little differentiation, known as 'mul-suneung' (easy CSAT). A situation occurred where even perfect scorers could not enter Seoul National University through special admissions, which led to the abolition of the special admissions system. Special admissions is a system conducted before regular admissions for four-year universities to select high scorers on the CSAT in advance. Then-President Kim Dae-jung apologized, saying, "I regret disappointing students and parents who trusted the government's promise to make the test easier."
From 2002 to 2011, except for 2008 when no perfect scorers were confirmed and 2009 when there was one perfect scorer, the CSAT maintained a difficulty level so high that no perfect scorers appeared.
However, from 2012, the number of perfect scorers surged. Since the previous year's CSAT was difficult, the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation (KICE) announced a relatively easier CSAT, resulting in 30 perfect scorers in 2012. The pattern of lowering difficulty after a controversial 'bul-suneung' (hard CSAT) and raising difficulty after a 'mul-suneung' controversy has repeated. This year's total number of perfect scorers is 11. The number of perfect scorers in Korean and Mathematics each exceeded 1,000. As the CSAT became easier than last year, the number of perfect scorers increased significantly. It is predicted that for Seoul National University and Yonsei University medical schools, missing only one question is the threshold for admission.
The First Perfect Scorer, Oh Seung-eun... Pursuing a Professorship in Physics at a U.S. University
The first perfect scorer appeared in the 1999 academic year, six years after the CSAT was introduced. The protagonist is Oh Seung-eun, a graduate of Hanseong Science High School. He was the first in CSAT history to achieve a perfect score of 400 points and entered Seoul National University’s Department of Physics as the top student. Oh published a book in 1999 titled 'Oh Seung-eun’s CSAT Notes,' sharing his study know-how. The 'Oh Seung-eun’s CSAT Notes' series was published by subject, including Chemistry & Biology, General Social Studies & Korean Geography, Korean History & Ethics, Physics & Earth Science, Mathematics 1 & 2, and Common Mathematics.
Oh graduated early from Seoul National University in three and a half years and decided to study abroad at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) in the United States. Earlier this year, Oh appeared on the entertainment program 'You Quiz' and revealed that since July last year, he has been on the tenure track at the Department of Biophysics at UC San Diego. The tenure track is the process of being appointed as an assistant professor and undergoing evaluation to become a tenured professor.
Diagnosed with Leukemia at Age 12... Learned to Study Alone and Achieved a Perfect Score
Kim Ji-myeong, a perfect scorer in the 2019 CSAT from Seondeok High School. tvN variety show You Quiz on the Block.
There are also cases of perfect scorers who overcame illness.
Kim Ji-myeong, a graduate of Seondeok High School who achieved a perfect score on the notoriously difficult 2019 CSAT, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at age 12 and underwent chemotherapy throughout middle school. He was declared cured in his first year of high school and achieved a perfect score on the CSAT, gaining admission as the top student to Seoul National University’s College of Medicine.
He credits learning how to study alone during his treatment period as his study secret. In his book, 'Self-Flipping Bungeoppang: Kim Ji-myeong’s Solo Study Techniques for a Perfect CSAT Score' (2021), Kim said, "I resolved not to give up while being dragged by the illness and to do my best for myself in that situation. I considered not being able to attend academies as an opportunity to find a study method that suited me and worked hard to develop the habit of studying alone." He added, "I believe that the time I spent thinking and working hard alone accumulated to make me who I am today, having achieved my goal."
No Pain, No Gain... From Last in School to CSAT Perfect Scorer
Song Young-jun, a perfect scorer on the 2020 College Scholastic Ability Test, is appearing on SBS and giving an interview. Screenshot from SBS 'Joo Young-jin's News Briefing'.
There is also a legend of someone who went from last place in school to a perfect scorer on the CSAT. Song Young-jun, a graduate of Gimhae Foreign Language High School who achieved a perfect score on the 2020 CSAT, ranked 126th out of 127 students in the class placement test before entering high school but achieved first place nationwide on the CSAT, accomplishing a miraculous turnaround.
He attributes his academic improvement to studying primarily from textbooks. In an interview with a media outlet, Song said, "I prioritized studying as if memorizing the textbook. For things I didn’t know, I organized them in groups of five and asked teachers. There were days when I asked questions more than thirty times, and as I studied like that, I gradually saw my skills improve."
When he felt exhausted during his exam preparation, he reminded himself of the phrase 'No pain, No gain' to regain focus. Song said, "The phrase that represents my mindset is 'No pain, No gain.' I have thought that the reason I am struggling is because I am growing. It became my motivation to study."
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