Plateau effect on the ratios of successful candidates in relation to the scores of the National Center Test

Abstract

This study analyzed the results of the National Center Test regarding the ratio to the sum scores of the five subject areas among successful public university candidates. The candidates’ success ratio to the sum scores did not increase for the upper middle achievers (the plateau effect of passing ratios), while ratios for other levels of academic abilities constantly raised with the sum scores. In order to examine this trend closer, the candidates were divided into three sub-groups by the levels of the colleges which the candidates actually applied. When the analysis was conducted within these three sub-groups, the plateau effect disappeared; the success ratio increased as the sum scores raised. It means that the candidates’ self-assessment affects their own decision-making on college application, which causes the competition ratio to be even across colleges. This phenomenon may be acting as a social system to equally distribute the candidates among universities.