CSAT, Objective Score Rather Than Relative Rank

           It has been a long time since the CSAT lost its original purpose, which was the enhancement of thinking skills. For instance, in the case of the subject Korean, during the exam, you can see passages of great length that cannot be found easily in school textbooks. Also, in the case of Mathematics, there are many challenging mathematics problems in the CSAT, so students have to spend years studying only for their “CSAT”. Furthermore, the fact that “the CSAT is now based on a relative grading system” has also become to be the reason why the original purpose of the CSAT has weakened over time. Education only for the entrance system has been overheated caused by characteristics of the “relative grading system” in which students have to compete with their peers for scores. Now, we are taking a new approach to choose the “absolute grading system”. This system can help to lead students to much better education.
           First, competition in entrance exams can be moderate through an “absolute grading system” Students cannot be free from the ranking competition caused by the relative grading system of the CSAT. If the exam is difficult, they have to participate in competition to get more answers right, and then if the exam is easy, they have to not miss any questions. Therefore, although you can get a high score, if your relative score is low, a high score can lose its meaning. In studying for the CSAT, students can’t help but focus on getting higher scores than “other students,” so the quality of the education has declined. Under these circumstances, if the absolute evaluation system is adopted in the CSAT, competition for university admission will not be as overheated. In the case of the “absolute grading system,” through which students can get a certain score when reaching a certain level of achievement, students will study for themselves.
           Second, it will enable the normalization of public education. Let’s think about our classes when we were high school students. What comes into your mind? We learned skills for solving problems for the CSAT. Nowadays, in high school, most classes progress using textbooks that are linked to the CSAT directly. Through this case, we can tell that “school” has become a place for learning skills for solving CSAT problems, not a place for sincere learning. Also, under the relative grading system, students have to resort to choose private education to prepare for high level questions in order to distinguish examinees. Because public education is conducted at a similar level for lots of students, it is a natural result. If the CSAT changes into the absolute system, it is expected that there will be a new wind in education. The influence of the CSAT and private education will become lower. In school, we can broaden experience-oriented classes, such as experiments and discussions.
           Third, “absolute evaluation” is appropriate for upcoming changes. To begin with, we have to focus on the fact that the 2015 revised curriculum will apply to students who will be 1st graders in high school in 2018. Also, current 2nd year middle school students will be educated under the 2015 revised curriculum. Taking a closer look at this curriculum, students can take classes that are not only common subjects, but also elective courses to suit their own aptitude. The 2015 curriculum focuses on creativity and diverse education, so to adapt to these changes, it is a necessity to extend “absolute evaluation” to the CSAT. If the relative evaluation continues, concentration to major subjects (Korean, English, math) will still be high. If the system of the CSAT is different from the educational system, students and teachers will become confused between these systems. By extending the absolute grading system, students will have to keep up with their studies for their aptitude.
           It is time that the CSAT goes through new changes, moving away from the past system. In order to solve problems caused by the relative grading system for the past 23 years, we must move on to a new road: “absolute grading system.” If we fear changes and stay in the past, we won’t be able to break away from education for competition and school education centered on the CSAT. I hope that students come to feel free from the burden of the ranking competition due to the CSAT and realize the joy of sincere learning having importance in their aptitude and interest.
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