Two Errors on ‘Ga –Type’ Math Exam Could Mean Second-Rate Grades

Experts predicts that the threshold separating first –rate grades in the math exam will be scores of 97 and above as the ‘Ga-type’ math exam in the 2008 National college entrance exam held on November 15 was easier than anticipated.

According to this analysis, if a student got two questions weighted with 2-3 points wrong, then the student’s grade could fall into the second-rate grade category. This would mean that accurately judging the ability of top level students in science could be difficult, and that students themselves may face difficulties in setting up their application strategies.

Experts also observe that the Korean language exam and the ‘Na-type’ math exam were slightly more difficult than previous exams, and that the threshold marks for the exams may fall by 3-4 points compared to last year.

Private cram schools like Megastudy, Uway JoongAng Education, Cheongsol Hakwon and Jinhaksa published each exam section’s expected threshold marks (out of 100%) for each grade level on November 16 based on the provisional results that 15,000-90,000 students marked themselves using private institutions’ online marking systems.

There is a slight difference in each private educational institutions’ published results, yet in general, the threshold for the first rate grade was estimated at 91 or 92 (Korean Language), 95 or 97 (Ga-type math), 92 or 94 (Na-type math) and 96 (Foreign Language).

Private cram schools expect that in terms of the Korean Language exam, second to fourth rate grades could see a significant drop in threshold marks. Na-type math scores are expected to see a drop in threshold marks for first and second rate grades, while the threshold marks for third-rate grades or below could go up by 2-6 points compared to last year.

However, experts seem to have reached a consensus that in terms of ‘Ga-type’ math, the threshold marks should be much higher than last year’s. Last year, the threshold mark for first–rate grade was 89, whereas this year it could go up to 97, meaning that only those students who get every question right or made only one mistake on the exam will receive a first –rate grade this year.

This year, the ‘Ga-type’ math section contained three questions weighted with 2 points, 14 questions with 3 points, and 13 questions with 4 points, which means that three errors - 2 questions with 2-3 points and another with 4 points- could push students’ grades to the second –rate category.

foryou@donga.com