"Must Secure Grade 1": Private Education Spending Rises Despite Absolute Evaluation in English CSAT

It has been found that both the participation rate in private English education and the average monthly spending on private English tutoring have increased since the English subject of the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) was switched to an absolute evaluation system.

Although education authorities expected that the introduction of the absolute evaluation system would reduce competition and the burden of private education, the reality has shown the exact opposite result.

Kwak Na-ram, a research professor at Soongsil University, and other researchers published a paper titled "An Analysis of the Impact of Introducing Absolute Evaluation in the CSAT English Subject on Private Education Demand" in the Journal of Educational Sociology, an academic journal of the Korean Educational Sociology Association.

Based on an analysis of private education spending surveys conducted by the Ministry of Education and Statistics Korea, the research team found that real private education spending on English temporarily decreased between 2015 and 2016, immediately after the government announced the introduction of the absolute evaluation system.

However, starting in 2017 (the 2018 CSAT), when the system was actually implemented, the trend reversed to an increase, and the rate of growth has expanded since then.

The researchers stated that the upward trend in private education spending for English was more pronounced compared to other major subjects such as Korean and mathematics.

The study was conducted on approximately 3.06 million students, including about 930,000 elementary school students, 870,000 middle school students, and 1.26 million general high school students.

The average monthly private education spending on English for general high school students rose from 91,000 won in 2017 to 102,000 won in 2018, the first year of the absolute evaluation system, marking an increase of over 10,000 won. It has continued to rise, reaching 157,000 won in 2024.

The participation rate in private English education also increased from 35.3% in 2017 to 38.1% in 2018, reaching 48.8% in 2024.

The research team analyzed that a "polarization" was observed after the absolute evaluation was introduced, with participation in private English education increasing among top-tier students while decreasing among lower-tier students.

They suggested that because top-tier students are receiving more private education to secure a Grade 1, the overall effect of reducing private education has been almost non-existent.

The researchers advised, "Changing the evaluation method to an absolute evaluation system alone has limitations in reducing private education," adding, "Policy design that comprehensively considers the entrance examination system, school education, and the private education market is necessary."

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