In this year's nationwide mock academic assessment for 12th graders, the number of test-takers for science inquiry fell 35% from a year earlier. In contrast, the number of test-takers for social studies inquiry topped 500,000 for the first time. The so-called "social studies run" has become clear.
According to the "status of March mock assessment test-takers for 12th graders" released by Jongro Academy on the 12th, the number of test-takers for science inquiry (four level I subjects) was tallied at 159,866. That is down 35.2% from a year earlier (246,557).
The number of science inquiry test-takers is the lowest since the integrated College Scholastic Ability Test was introduced for the 2022 academic year. This is also the first time the number of science inquiry test-takers for the March mock assessment has fallen below 200,000.
By contrast, the number of social studies inquiry test-takers reached 503,401, surpassing 500,000 for the first time ever. That is a 12% increase from a year earlier (449,468). The test-taking rate also climbed to 75.9%, a record high.
A similar pattern appeared in mathematics. The number of test-takers for calculus and geometry was 104,878, down 25.8% from a year earlier. Meanwhile, the number of test-takers for probability and statistics rose to 227,444, accounting for 68.4% of the total.
Some note that as concentration on certain electives intensifies, uncertainty in score predictions and subject-by-subject advantages and disadvantages will grow further.
Im Seong-ho, head of Jongro Academy, said, "In the inquiry area, changes in the number of test-takers directly affect grades and standardized scores," adding, "With a sharp drop in science inquiry test-takers, meeting the College Scholastic Ability Test minimums for early admissions could become more difficult."
He added, "Rather than judging solely by simple statistical advantages and disadvantages, it is necessary to choose according to individual learning characteristics."