The English section of the September mock exam for the 2027 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) is projected to have a top score rate of 18% to 19%. This marks a stark contrast to last year's exam and the June mock exam, where the top score rates were only 3% and 4%, respectively, earning a reputation for being exceptionally difficult.
Jongno Academy reported on September 2 that, based on preliminary scoring data from students, the percentage of students achieving a top score (90 points or above) in English is estimated to be around 18% to 19%, with a possibility of reaching 20%.
This represents a dramatic reversal compared to previous exams. In the 2026 CSAT, the English top score rate was just 3.11%, the lowest since the grading system was changed to absolute evaluation. The June mock exam also maintained a high difficulty level, with a top score rate of only 4.13%.
However, the September mock exam featured significantly easier vocabulary, sentence structures, and passage lengths, leading to predictions of a surge in top scores.
Im Seong-ho, the head of Jongno Academy, stated, "Our internal sample data indicates that the English top score rate is around 18.5%. Considering the margin of error, it is possible that it could exceed 20%." He added, "The drastic fluctuation from 3% to 18% in just one exam is beyond what could be expected from a test. This highlights the shortcomings of the absolute evaluation system in practice."
Fluctuating Difficulty Poses Risks for Students
The timing of this exam is critical, as it occurs just five days before the application period for the 2027 college admissions begins. Students must use their preliminary scores from the September mock exam to determine whether they meet the minimum academic standards for their chosen universities.
With English being unusually easy, there are warnings that relying solely on preliminary scores could lead to poor decisions in application strategies, potentially resulting in disastrous outcomes in the actual CSAT in November. Last year, for instance, the English top score rate in the June mock exam was 19.1%, but it plummeted to 4.5% in the September mock and further dropped to 3.1% in the actual CSAT, causing many students to fail to meet the minimum standards.
Im cautioned, "If students feel relieved after performing well in today's exam and apply to universities based on that, they could face significant setbacks in the actual CSAT. Given the likelihood that the evaluation agency will raise the difficulty level again, students should approach their assessment of meeting minimum standards much more conservatively and cautiously than in previous years."
Final Study Strategies Must Be Reassessed
The unexpected ease of the English exam has complicated students' final study plans. While the first two sections, Korean and Mathematics, maintained a challenging trend, the simplicity of the English exam has left students uncertain about whether to reduce their study time for English.
Additionally, the trend of science students opting for social studies and statistics has intensified, and approximately 80,000 high-scoring repeat test-takers who did not participate in the September mock exam are expected to enter the actual CSAT. This raises the potential for significant fluctuations in relative evaluation scores across other subjects.
Im noted, "The results of the September mock exam will not be released until September 29, after the application period ends. Students should not be overly swayed by preliminary scores and must maintain a consistent practice of reading comprehension to prepare for the possibility of a more difficult actual CSAT."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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