The June mock exam, a precursor to the 2027 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), has concluded, marking the beginning of serious college admissions strategy planning for students. This mock exam, organized by the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation, serves as a benchmark for assessing the difficulty and trends of the actual CSAT, drawing significant attention from students as it influences their approach to both early and regular admissions.
According to reports from the education sector on June 5, a total of 488,343 students registered for this June mock exam, with 96,931 repeat students, accounting for 19.8% of the total. Their presence is expected to have a considerable impact on the results.
This year's exam is particularly significant as it represents the last opportunity for current students to take the CSAT under the existing elective subject system before the 2028 admissions reform. As a result, the dynamics of subject selection and the phenomenon of students gravitating towards social studies are likely to be more pronounced than in previous years. With the strong presence of repeat students, current students may face tighter cutoff scores, necessitating a focus on objective analysis rather than getting overly concerned with immediate raw scores.
Consequently, students should conduct a thorough review of their exam performance immediately after receiving their scores, categorizing mistakes into three clear areas: lack of knowledge, simple errors, and misunderstandings. Additionally, even before receiving their score reports on July 1, students should analyze their cumulative scores since March to assess their competitiveness for the CSAT and proactively identify potential universities for regular admissions.
Students focusing on early admissions should also use the results of this mock exam to critically evaluate their chances of meeting the minimum CSAT score requirements for their target universities and should aim to identify at least ten potential candidates for early admissions early on.
Moving forward, students must choose tailored study strategies that align with their current performance levels. For those in the top 1-2 grade range, the focus should be on understanding the rationale behind incorrect answers and establishing connections between concepts, rather than merely increasing the volume of practice problems. For students in the 3-4 grade range, it is essential to secure a solid grasp of medium-difficulty questions to avoid losing points on easier ones, while also revisiting key concepts. For those scoring below 5, mastering fundamental terms and basic concepts from textbooks is the quickest route to improving scores.
Admissions experts advise that the results of the June mock exam should not be viewed as final scores but rather as a valuable diagnostic tool for addressing weaknesses during the summer break. Kim Byeong-jin, head of the Education Evaluation Research Institute at Etoos, emphasized that early admissions do not guarantee acceptance, and maintaining a study routine that includes CSAT preparation during the early admissions period is crucial. He noted that the remaining five months provide ample time to improve scores, urging students to stop comparing themselves to others and to give their best effort until the end.
Jin Hwan-cheol, head of the Admissions Strategy Research Institute at Jinhaksa, stated, "The June mock exam is not a predictor of CSAT scores but a means to assess one's current standing." He advised that for students considering universities with minimum score requirements, it is advisable to prioritize CSAT study after final exams. Lee Man-ki, head of the Education Evaluation Research Institute at Yuhak, echoed this sentiment, stressing that the true purpose of the June mock exam is to confirm one’s national standing and to determine what to prioritize during the summer break.
According to reports from the education sector on June 5, a total of 488,343 students registered for this June mock exam, with 96,931 repeat students, accounting for 19.8% of the total. Their presence is expected to have a considerable impact on the results.
This year's exam is particularly significant as it represents the last opportunity for current students to take the CSAT under the existing elective subject system before the 2028 admissions reform. As a result, the dynamics of subject selection and the phenomenon of students gravitating towards social studies are likely to be more pronounced than in previous years. With the strong presence of repeat students, current students may face tighter cutoff scores, necessitating a focus on objective analysis rather than getting overly concerned with immediate raw scores.
Consequently, students should conduct a thorough review of their exam performance immediately after receiving their scores, categorizing mistakes into three clear areas: lack of knowledge, simple errors, and misunderstandings. Additionally, even before receiving their score reports on July 1, students should analyze their cumulative scores since March to assess their competitiveness for the CSAT and proactively identify potential universities for regular admissions.
Students focusing on early admissions should also use the results of this mock exam to critically evaluate their chances of meeting the minimum CSAT score requirements for their target universities and should aim to identify at least ten potential candidates for early admissions early on.
Moving forward, students must choose tailored study strategies that align with their current performance levels. For those in the top 1-2 grade range, the focus should be on understanding the rationale behind incorrect answers and establishing connections between concepts, rather than merely increasing the volume of practice problems. For students in the 3-4 grade range, it is essential to secure a solid grasp of medium-difficulty questions to avoid losing points on easier ones, while also revisiting key concepts. For those scoring below 5, mastering fundamental terms and basic concepts from textbooks is the quickest route to improving scores.
Admissions experts advise that the results of the June mock exam should not be viewed as final scores but rather as a valuable diagnostic tool for addressing weaknesses during the summer break. Kim Byeong-jin, head of the Education Evaluation Research Institute at Etoos, emphasized that early admissions do not guarantee acceptance, and maintaining a study routine that includes CSAT preparation during the early admissions period is crucial. He noted that the remaining five months provide ample time to improve scores, urging students to stop comparing themselves to others and to give their best effort until the end.
Jin Hwan-cheol, head of the Admissions Strategy Research Institute at Jinhaksa, stated, "The June mock exam is not a predictor of CSAT scores but a means to assess one's current standing." He advised that for students considering universities with minimum score requirements, it is advisable to prioritize CSAT study after final exams. Lee Man-ki, head of the Education Evaluation Research Institute at Yuhak, echoed this sentiment, stressing that the true purpose of the June mock exam is to confirm one’s national standing and to determine what to prioritize during the summer break.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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