The 2027 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) in South Korea is set to see a significant number of repeat test-takers, known as ‘N-students,’ and individuals who passed the GED (General Educational Development) equivalency exam, approaching 200,000. A notable trend, termed ‘Social Studies Running,’ where students from science tracks opt for social studies subjects, has also reached an all-time high since the integrated CSAT was introduced. Data released by the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation on the 8th reveals that 551,864 individuals have applied for the 2027 CSAT, a decrease of 2,310 from the previous year. Despite the overall decline in applicants, the number of ‘N-students’ (graduates reapplying) and those from the GED pathway has substantially increased.
Surge in Repeat and GED Test-Takers
While the number of current students applying for the CSAT dropped by 16,506 (4.4%) to 355,391 compared to last year, the number of high school graduates reapplying saw a significant rise. Graduates seeking to retake the exam increased by 13,784 (8.6%) to 173,706. Additionally, applicants from the GED and other alternative pathways grew by 412 (1.8%) to 22,767. Cumulatively, these groups—graduates and GED/other pathway applicants—totaled 196,473. This means that more than one in three CSAT applicants this year comes from the ‘graduate or equivalent’ category. The number of applicants from the GED and other pathways specifically marks the highest figure since the CSAT’s integrated format began in 1994.
Im Sung-ho, CEO of Jongro Hagwon, a prominent test preparation institute, suggested that the surge in repeat test-takers and GED applicants might be attributed to the current college admissions system being in its final year and the early implementation of regional early admissions policies. This year marks the last time the CSAT will be administered under the current system, which includes a 9-grade internal grading system for high school coursework and a choice-based format for CSAT subjects.
Shifting Subject Choices: The ‘Social Studies Running’ Phenomenon
Beginning with the 2028 academic year, significant changes are slated for the South Korean education system. Internal high school grades will be converted to a 5-grade system, and the CSAT will eliminate the choice-based subject format for Korean Language, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science. This upcoming reform is intensifying the ‘Social Studies Running’ phenomenon observed this year. Among the 527,255 students applying for either Social Studies or Science subjects, 367,073 (69.6%) chose only Social Studies. This represents an increase of 42,668 students compared to last year’s 324,405 (61.0%), with the proportion rising by 8.6 percentage points.
Conversely, students selecting only Science subjects decreased by 45,656 to 75,036 (14.2%), down from 126,092 (22.7%) in the previous year. The number of students choosing one subject from each category (Social Studies and Science) remained relatively stable at 85,146 (16.1%), compared to 86,854 (16.3%) last year. This trend indicates that students from science tracks are increasingly opting for Social Studies, which is perceived as having a lower learning burden, instead of Science subjects. This shift is further influenced by universities recently easing the requirement for mandatory Science subject selection for students aiming for science-related majors.
Im Sung-ho emphasized that ‘Social Studies Running’ is a major variable in this year’s admissions process, inevitably leading to imbalances in subject choices. He also noted that the varying ways universities handle subject choices for inquiry fields will significantly impact students’ application strategies.
Foreign Language and Hanja Subject Choices
In the Second Foreign Language/Hanja section of the CSAT, the number of applicants rose by 18,707 (18.3%) to 121,209 compared to the previous year. Among these, 38,954 applicants (32.1%) selected Japanese Language I, making it the most chosen option within this category.
The confluence of these trends—a record number of repeat test-takers, a substantial increase in GED applicants, and the pronounced ‘Social Studies Running’ phenomenon—paints a complex picture of the current South Korean college admissions landscape. As the system approaches a significant overhaul in 2028, students and institutions are navigating a final year of established norms while anticipating future changes. The strategic choices made by students in subject selection, particularly the shift towards Social Studies, highlight the dynamic and often strategic nature of preparing for highly competitive university entrance examinations.
