Attention is focusing on how second-year high school students perceived the difficulty of the 2026 October National Joint Academic Evaluation (October mock exam) held on the 20th.

■ 50% Respond 'Difficult' vs. 31.8% 'Easy'

As of 2:25 p.m. on the 20th, in the survey on perceived difficulty for second-year high school students posted on the EBSi website, the response 'very difficult' accounted for the largest share at 31.8%. This was followed by 'somewhat difficult' at 18.2%. Combined, the two categories show that 50% of all respondents found the exam difficult.

In contrast, 'easy' responses—combining 'very easy' (22.7%) and 'somewhat easy' (9.1%)—totaled just 31.8%. 'Average' accounted for 18.2%. Based on the current survey results alone, the proportion of respondents who found the exam difficult is higher than those who rated it easy.

■ Only 22 Respondents... "Future Trends Need to Be Watched"

However, only 22 people had participated in the survey as of 2:25 p.m. As this is an early tally with a small number of respondents, it is difficult to judge the overall perceived difficulty of all test-takers based on the current percentages alone. In particular, the proportions of each category could change significantly with additional responses, so the survey's future trends need to be monitored.

■ Hosted by Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education... "An Opportunity to Check Weak Areas"

This October National Joint Academic Evaluation was hosted by the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education for first- and second-year high school students. The second-year exam covered all subject areas except Vietnamese and Arabic.

For second-year students, this academic evaluation can serve as an opportunity to check their academic achievement and identify weak areas. However, it should also be taken into account that perceived difficulty may vary depending on individual learning levels and subject-specific impressions.

[※ The perceived difficulty in this article is based on a survey on the EBSi website. As of 2:25 p.m. on the 20th, only 22 people had participated, making the sample very small and difficult to consider representative of all test-takers' opinions. As the number of respondents increases, the survey results may change significantly, and they may also differ from the actual exam difficulty and score distribution.]