Unlike the college entrance exam, which primarily relies on test scores, the comprehensive student evaluation (CSE) process shows significant disparities in average grades among applicants based on high school type. Admissions experts caution against blindly trusting the average admission results published by universities as personal benchmarks.
According to an analysis by the admissions information platform JinHakSa of 12,525 mock applications for the 2026 academic year to Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University (SKY), there is a maximum difference of 2.08 grades in average scores among applicants based on high school type.
The highest average grade was recorded by applicants from general and autonomous public high schools, with an average of 1.87. This was followed by autonomous private high schools at 2.86, foreign and international high schools at 3.05, and science high schools at 3.95. This indicates that even when targeting the same SKY CSE program, students from general high schools have an average grade 2.08 points higher than those from science high schools.
According to an analysis by the admissions information platform JinHakSa of 12,525 mock applications for the 2026 academic year to Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University (SKY), there is a maximum difference of 2.08 grades in average scores among applicants based on high school type.
The highest average grade was recorded by applicants from general and autonomous public high schools, with an average of 1.87. This was followed by autonomous private high schools at 2.86, foreign and international high schools at 3.05, and science high schools at 3.95. This indicates that even when targeting the same SKY CSE program, students from general high schools have an average grade 2.08 points higher than those from science high schools.
This trend is also evident in the actual admission results released by universities. The 2026 CSE results from Seoul City University show that among 13 programs where average grades for both general and autonomous private high school enrollees were provided, general high school students had an average grade of 2.32, while autonomous private high school students averaged 4.07, resulting in a 1.75 grade difference.
Notably, in the Department of Transportation Engineering, the average grade for general high school admittees was 2.39, while for autonomous private high school admittees, it was 6.29, a staggering difference of 3.90 grades. Similarly, the School of Architecture (Architectural Engineering major) showed a clear disparity with average grades of 2.35 for general high schools and 5.93 for autonomous private high schools, resulting in a 3.58 grade difference.
JinHakSa explained that these differences do not indicate a preference or disadvantage for specific high school types. The CSE evaluates not only grades but also the curriculum and subject composition of each high school, course completion status, achievement levels, detailed abilities and special notes, and research activities.
For instance, Yonsei University reported that the cutoff grade for the 2026 activity excellence track in the Department of Russian Language and Literature was 3.31. However, this figure reflects a mix of admittees from various high school types, making it inappropriate for any individual student to use it as a direct benchmark for their own admission chances.
Yoo Yeon-cheol, head of JinHakSa's admissions strategy research institute, stated, "The admission results published by universities for the CSE are not personal benchmarks for individuals. Since the distribution of grades varies by high school type, relying solely on average grades to assess admission possibilities can lead to misguided strategies." He further advised that while published admission results should be considered, students should develop their application strategies by comprehensively evaluating their school's curriculum and the competitiveness of their student records.
Notably, in the Department of Transportation Engineering, the average grade for general high school admittees was 2.39, while for autonomous private high school admittees, it was 6.29, a staggering difference of 3.90 grades. Similarly, the School of Architecture (Architectural Engineering major) showed a clear disparity with average grades of 2.35 for general high schools and 5.93 for autonomous private high schools, resulting in a 3.58 grade difference.
JinHakSa explained that these differences do not indicate a preference or disadvantage for specific high school types. The CSE evaluates not only grades but also the curriculum and subject composition of each high school, course completion status, achievement levels, detailed abilities and special notes, and research activities.
For instance, Yonsei University reported that the cutoff grade for the 2026 activity excellence track in the Department of Russian Language and Literature was 3.31. However, this figure reflects a mix of admittees from various high school types, making it inappropriate for any individual student to use it as a direct benchmark for their own admission chances.
Yoo Yeon-cheol, head of JinHakSa's admissions strategy research institute, stated, "The admission results published by universities for the CSE are not personal benchmarks for individuals. Since the distribution of grades varies by high school type, relying solely on average grades to assess admission possibilities can lead to misguided strategies." He further advised that while published admission results should be considered, students should develop their application strategies by comprehensively evaluating their school's curriculum and the competitiveness of their student records.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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