The passing score for teacher training college entrance exams has significantly dropped, reaching as low as a 6th-grade average for school records and a mid-4th-grade score in the national exam.
In the 2025 academic year, it has been observed that the passing score for teacher training college entrance exams has greatly decreased.
According to Jongno Academy on the 27th, it has been confirmed that students with a 6th-grade average in school records have been accepted in the regular admissions, while those scoring in the mid-4th-grade range in the national exam have also qualified for acceptance.
This analysis was conducted based on the 2025 entrance exam acceptance scores of five universities: Seoul National University of Education, Chuncheon National University of Education, Cheongju National University of Education, Gwangju National University of Education, and Korea National University of Education.
In the regular admissions process for general applicants, there have been instances where students with a 6th-grade average were accepted, and in some special admissions (such as for beneficiaries of national merit), students with a 7th-grade average have also been accepted.
In the case of Seoul National University of Education, the passing score for the regular admission process has decreased from 1.97 to 2.10, while the comprehensive student record admission score dropped from 1.99 to 2.45.
Chuncheon National University of Education has shown an even larger drop, with the passing score for the regular admission process falling from 4.73 to 6.15, a decline of more than one grade. In the talent acquisition program for educational professionals that selects 101 students, the passing score has dropped to 6.35.
The passing scores in the regular admissions process are also on a downward trend, with increasing numbers of unfilled slots.
The passing score for the regular admissions process has generally decreased compared to the previous year.
Seoul National University of Education's passing score, based on its own calculation standards, has dropped by 3.33 points from last year's score of 621.74 to 618.41. In the case of Gwangju National University of Education, the passing score for regular admissions has fallen from the early 4th grade last year to the mid-4th grade this year.
Even though all five universities that published their acceptance scores have reduced the number of new student admissions compared to the previous year, the passing scores have declined.
Typically, when the number of enrolled students decreases, the competition ratio increases, leading to higher passing scores. However, the opposite phenomenon has occurred at the teacher training colleges.
The number of unfilled positions at 10 teacher training colleges nationwide has also consistently increased. It has grown annually from 9 in the 2021 academic year to 16 in 2022, 22 in 2023, and 23 in 2024.
Jongno Academy commented, "Despite the reduction in the number of admitted students, the clear decline in passing scores reflects a decrease in preference for teacher training colleges not only among high-achieving students but also among those in the middle tier. It is necessary to re-evaluate overall policies related to teaching positions."
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