This year’s state-administered college entrance exam was more difficult than last year’s.
 
The Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation announced the test results on Monday, a day before test takers are notified of their results.
 
According to the results, the number of students with perfect scores dropped in the Korean, English and math categories, with the type B Korean exam being the only exception.
 
The rate of students receiving perfect scores in the type B Korean test increased from zero-point-09 percent last year to zero-point-three percent this year, as the exam was easier than last year’s.
 
In the type B math test, the number of perfect scores plunged from four-point-three percent last year to one-point-six percent.
 
Only zero-point-48 percent of test takers received perfect scores in English, down nearly three percentage points from last year, as predicted from test takers’ complaints about difficulty.
 
The social studies section was easy overall, while the science exam was tougher.
 
Private academic institutions predict that math scores will be a key factor in determining the fate of test takers in the language and humanities-centered course. The success of students in the math and science-focused course will be determined by English and science scores.
   
Test results will be distributed to individual test takers through schools and education offices on Wednesday. Universities will begin accepting applications for regular admissions on December 24.