Do you think you don't need to go to cram school if the CSAT changes? [Eureka]

After the introduction of the College Scholastic Ability Test (Suneung), all past administrations of the government have collectively sought to make the test "easy". This was particularly after the fourth Suneung in 1997, which was deemed the worst. Starting the following year, the government raised target average scores, aiming to make the exam more manageable for test-takers and to reduce the burden on students, as well as to curb the growth of private tutoring schools' fees.

While these objectives have been pursued for nearly 30 years, it is questionable if the easy Suneung has truly achieved them due to the increased impact of mistakes on students' scores, making them more susceptible to repeated problem-solving training. The steady growth of private tutoring fees is even more conspicuous. Three factors often cited in a book titled "Is Our Child's Entrance Exam Fair" by 이현·김용·박대권 are parental desire for their children to secure a higher academic rank, fear of falling behind others, and the parental obligation to provide maximum support.

Recent controversy erupted when 국가교육위원장 차정인 stated during a parliamentary committee meeting that the upcoming introduction of Suneung's essay and argumentative evaluation format could lead to further growth of private tutoring. He later clarified that he does not think all students need to join tutoring schools merely to learn test-taking skills.

However, considering the persistent size of private tutoring despite the easier Suneung, it is difficult to dismiss the initial optimism. The focus should shift to whether the new evaluation format will actually achieve its goal of promoting critical thinking and creativity, rather than continuing to perpetuate the same standardized pattern of memorization and practice.