On March 26, 2025, EBS (Educational Broadcasting System) will provide a "Full Service" for high school students in grades 1, 2, and 3, in preparation for the March Academic Performance Evaluation organized by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education. This initiative aims to equip students with the necessary resources and support as they approach this critical assessment.
EBSi, the online platform of EBS, will offer an extensive range of materials to aid students in their exam preparations. This includes access to all past questions from 2006 to 2024, allowing students to familiarize themselves with the types of questions they might encounter. Additionally, EBSi will provide a variety of recommended courses tailored to different grade levels, focusing on the upcoming 2026 SAT curriculum.
Among the free courses available are the "2026 SAT Special Lecture," which covers essential topics, the "2026 SAT Core Questions of the Future," which focuses on critical past exam questions, and the "2026 SAT Concept" course, designed to strengthen foundational knowledge. Furthermore, students can access the "2026 SAT Special Lecture Q Mini Mock Exam," which will also be offered at no cost.
On the day of the evaluation, students will be able to download the question papers and answer sheets starting at 6 PM. A "Fast Scoring Service" will enable them to check their scores immediately by subject area. At 6:30 PM, EBSi will release the "Area-Specific Wrong Answer Rate TOP15 Questions," which will include options for students to review these questions, along with commentary lectures and AI-recommended similar difficulty questions.
As part of the service, the "Real-Time Grade Cut Service" will be available at 7:30 PM, providing students with insights into the grading trends and a sequential release of commentary lectures from the 2026 SAT linked series lecturers.
In addition to the educational resources, EBSi is also hosting a "March Academic Performance Evaluation Full Service Event" to further support students. Applicants who sign up for the service by 6 PM on March 25, 2025, will receive 300,000 points to be used for EBSi materials. To make the event even more engaging, EBSi will host time attack events at 6:30 PM, 7:30 PM, and 8:30 PM, where participants can win snack gifts. Moreover, students who utilize the scoring service and confirm their grades will be entered into a drawing for exciting prizes, including an iPad mini, stationery, and chicken from a popular local chain.
Meanwhile, the estimated grade cut for the 2025 March National United Academic Achievement Test, which was also conducted on March 26, is drawing significant attention. Administered by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, this test covers all subject areas for first-year high school students. Notably, the differences in grade cuts from the previous year have sparked interest among students and educators alike.
According to the EBSi homepage, the estimated grade cut for the Korean language section is as follows: 1st grade at 85 points, 2nd grade at 76 points, 3rd grade at 68 points, 4th grade at 67 points, and 5th grade at 55 points. In comparison, last year's cuts were higher, with 1st grade at 91 points, 2nd grade at 85 points, 3rd grade at 77 points, 4th grade at 67 points, and 5th grade at 55 points.
For the Mathematics section, the estimated grade cut is 83 points for 1st grade, 72 points for 2nd grade, 62 points for 3rd grade, 50 points for 4th grade, and 37 points for 5th grade. Last year, these scores were also higher, with 1st grade at 88 points, 2nd grade at 77 points, 3rd grade at 63 points, 4th grade at 50 points, and 5th grade at 37 points.
The first 2025 National United Academic Achievement Test, which took place on March 26, included students from grades 1, 2, and 3 across 17 metropolitan and provincial education offices. Estimated grade cut information is currently being collected from various educational sites, with EBSi being one of the primary sources for this data.
The results indicate that the estimated grade cuts for the first three grades are somewhat lower than those from the previous year. Specifically, the estimated cuts for Korean language and Mathematics have shown a slight decrease, with the first to third-grade cuts in Grammar and Writing/Language and Media (Korean) showing a drop of 6-7 points compared to the 2024 March mock exam. Conversely, scores for Probability and Statistics, Calculus, and Geometry have remained similar, with only minor fluctuations.
A survey conducted among 26,741 test takers revealed that a significant majority found the exam challenging. Specifically, 62.1% reported it as "very difficult," while 28.5% considered it "somewhat difficult," resulting in a combined total of 90.6% who perceived the exam as difficult. In contrast, only 0.9% found it "somewhat easy," and a mere 2.1% labeled it as "very easy."
As the academic year progresses, students can look forward to upcoming mock exams scheduled for May 8, 2025, under the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education, followed by additional tests on June 3, July 10, September 3, and October 14, 2025, each organized by their respective educational authorities.
With these comprehensive resources and support systems in place, EBSi aims to empower students to excel in their academic pursuits, helping them navigate the challenges of standardized testing with confidence.
