Rumors that top students are dropping out of high school to focus solely on the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) due to the introduction of a 5-point grading system have been confirmed as unfounded. The average grades of students who have dropped out remain in the lower-middle range.
According to the Education Evaluation Institute of Etoos on September 23, the average grade of dropouts in the 2025 academic year, when converted to the previous 9-point system, is 6.7, indicating a clear lower-middle ranking. This figure is lower than the average grades of dropouts in the previous two years, which were around 6.2 to 6.3. This suggests that a larger proportion of students with lower grades are choosing to drop out.
While the percentage of students with top grades who dropped out increased slightly by 0.68 percentage points (52 students) compared to the previous year, it actually decreased by 0.35 percentage points (12 students) compared to two years ago, indicating no significant upward trend. The reasons for dropping out remain consistent, including issues related to friendships, emotional difficulties, studying abroad, and health problems.
Claims that the 5-point grading system has diminished the ability to differentiate among students are also misleading. Even under this system, only a small percentage of students achieve top grades across all subjects. The percentage of students receiving top grades was 1.76% in the first semester, but this dropped to 1.08% by the end of the second semester, indicating that maintaining a top grade becomes increasingly difficult as the academic year progresses.
Moreover, the 5-point system evaluates a greater number of subjects than the previous 9-point system. It is estimated that the number of students maintaining top grades across all subjects for three consecutive years will be fewer than the enrollment capacity of medical schools, suggesting that the ability to differentiate among top students remains strong.
Importantly, the strategy of dropping out to focus solely on the CSAT may prove to be a costly mistake starting with the 2028 academic year. Many major universities are reducing the number of admissions based solely on CSAT scores and are increasing the weight of student records in their admissions processes.
Plans for the 2028 admissions process at six major universities indicate that Seoul National University will consider 60% CSAT scores and 40% from academic performance evaluations in its second stage of admissions. This includes a comprehensive assessment of academic development, school violence incidents, behavioral characteristics, and attendance records. Korea University will also weigh CSAT scores at 80% and student records at 20% in its admissions for the academic excellence track.
Yonsei University will combine 90% CSAT scores with 10% from documents assessing academic development and attendance, while Hanyang University will also use 90% CSAT scores and 10% from a comprehensive evaluation of student records. Sogang University will consider 80% CSAT scores and 10% each from student records and attendance in its regional balance admissions.
Kim Byeong-jin, head of the Education Evaluation Institute of Etoos, stated, "Universities are moving away from ranking students based solely on test scores and are designing admissions processes that also consider diligence and attitudes toward school life. It is important for students to check how their target universities will reflect student records in their admissions and to prepare steadily over three years rather than deciding to drop out based solely on the 5-point grading system."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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