"Failing to Meet Minimum Scores"... Essay Exam Competition Rate Expected to Drop Sharply Due to Difficult CSAT

Impact of Increased CSAT Difficulty
Expected Rise in No-Show Rates

As the 2026 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) has been evaluated as more difficult than last year, there are predictions that the actual competition rate for university-specific essay exams, which begin this weekend, will drop significantly. Since meeting the minimum CSAT score is a decisive factor for passing the essay screening, the difficulty of the CSAT is shaking up test-taking strategies for students.

Students and parents leaving the main gate after completing the Yonsei University early admission essay exam on the morning of September 27. Photo by Yonhap News

According to the education sector on November 14, there are forecasts that the actual competition rate for this year's essay exams will decrease. Although the average competition rate for essay-based admissions stands high at 43.45 to 1, the higher-than-expected CSAT difficulty has increased the likelihood that many applicants will fail to meet the minimum required CSAT scores.

The essay exams will begin in succession at major universities starting November 15. Of the 44 universities that use the essay-based admissions process, 14 will hold exams this weekend, and 15 will conduct them starting next week.

The key variable determining success in the essay-based admissions process is whether the applicant meets the minimum CSAT requirement. In fact, every year, the no-show rate on the day of the essay exam is high, as many students decide to forgo the test altogether after determining from their preliminary scores that they have not met the minimum standard.

According to an analysis by Jinhaksa on November 14 of last year's essay-based admissions data from Kyung Hee University, Korea University, Dongguk University, and Sogang University, the number of applicants who actually took the essay exam and met the minimum CSAT requirement was less than one-third of the initial number of applicants.

In particular, at Korea University, when those who failed individual subject requirements were excluded, the actual competition rate dropped from 64.88 to 1 to just 9.13 to 1-a reduction to one-seventh the original level. This means that meeting the minimum CSAT requirement increases the chances of admission by up to seven times.

This year, the perceived difficulty among test-takers is even higher. In a survey conducted by EBS immediately after the CSAT, 44.6% of the 4,019 respondents said it was "very difficult," and 40.8% said it was "somewhat difficult." In total, 85.4% rated the test as difficult, while only 11.3% described it as "average."

Jinhaksa advised, "Students should quickly check their scores through preliminary grading and promptly decide whether to take the essay exam and how to approach regular admissions. For those whose scores are close to the minimum cutoff and are unsure whether they meet the requirement, it is safest to take the essay exam just in case."