The number of "repeat takers" (graduates) and those including the qualification exam who are attempting the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) for the 2027 academic year is estimated to be close to 200,000. The so-called "social studies run" phenomenon, in which natural sciences track students choose the social studies inquiry section to take the test, also hit a record high since the integrated CSAT was introduced.
According to the "Results of application for the 2027 academic year CSAT" that the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation (KICE) released on the 8th, 551,864 people applied for the 2027 CSAT, down 2,310 from last year.
The total number of applicants decreased, but the number of "repeat takers" (graduates) and those with the qualification exam rose sharply.
Current students numbered 355,391, down 16,506 (4.4%) from last year, while graduates totaled 173,706, up 13,784 (8.6%). Other applicants, including those with the qualification exam, were 22,767, an increase of 412 (1.8%) from last year. As a result, the number of "graduates, etc." applicants—graduates plus other applicants such as those with the qualification exam—reached 196,473. More than one in three total CSAT applicants were graduates, etc.
In particular, "others including the qualification exam" reached the highest number since the CSAT was introduced in the 1994 academic year.
Im Sung-ho, head of Jongro Academy, said, "This year's CSAT is the last under the current admissions system, and with the introduction of regional doctor selection, it is presumed that many graduates flocked to apply."
This year is the last year the exam will be administered under the current high school internal grade 9-scale and the elective-type CSAT with elective subjects. Starting with the 2028 academic year, internal grades will shift to a 5-scale, and elective subjects will be eliminated in the social and science inquiry sections as well as in Korean language and mathematics.
In the inquiry sections, the so-called "social studies run" became even more pronounced. Of the 527,255 applicants for social and science inquiry this year, 367,073 (69.6%) chose only social studies inquiry, an increase of 42,668 from last year's 324,405 (61.0%). The share rose by 8.6 percentage points.
By contrast, those who chose only science inquiry numbered 75,036 (14.2%), a decrease of 45,656 from last year's 120,692 (22.7%).
Those who chose one subject each from social studies inquiry and science inquiry numbered 85,146 (16.1%), similar to last year's 86,854 (16.3%).
The so-called "social studies run," in which natural sciences track examinees choose social studies inquiry, which carries a relatively lighter study load than science inquiry, is spreading. Recently, as universities have eased the requirement to take science inquiry in natural sciences recruitment units, more natural sciences track examinees have been opting for social studies inquiry.
Im said, "The social studies run is the biggest variable in this year's admissions, making advantages and disadvantages among elective subjects inevitable," adding, "Depending on how each university reflects elective inquiry subjects, it is likely to significantly affect examinees' application strategies."
Applicants for the second foreign language and classical Chinese section totaled 121,209, up 18,707 (18.3%) from last year. Among them, 38,954 applicants chose Japanese I, accounting for 32.1%.