Now that the high school credit system is fully in place, the old "humanities vs. science" split has disappeared -- but universities are publishing subject recommendations by admissions unit in more detail than ever. Which electives a student picks starting in grade 2, after finishing the shared grade-1 courses, has effectively become the real substance of "choosing a track." Here is what universities actually recommend for each track, and how to check it.

Why "choosing a track" now means "choosing subjects"

Under the 2022 revised curriculum, high school subjects fall into four tiers: common subjects, general electives, career electives, and convergence electives. Most grade-1 students take mainly common subjects, but from grade 2 onward, how a student picks career and convergence electives changes their schedule entirely. A "track" is no longer a fixed path -- it is the result of individual subject choices adding up. So the more accurate question today isn't "are you going science track," but "which subjects are you taking."

What the humanities and social sciences track recommends

The humanities and social sciences track focuses on career-elective subjects in Korean and social studies. Advanced Korean subjects such as Speech and Language, Reading and Writing, and social-studies career electives such as Politics and Law, Economics, Society and Culture are the most commonly cited. For language and literature majors, some universities also recommend a second foreign language or classical Chinese. This track rarely makes any single subject mandatory, but applicants are commonly expected to be able to explain, in their application, the link between the subjects they actually took and the major they're applying to.

What the natural sciences track recommends

For the natural sciences track, the first thing checked is whether a student has completed advanced math and science subjects. In math, that means career electives such as Calculus II and Geometry; in science, it means advanced or career-elective coursework in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Earth Science. Some universities, such as Seoul National University, publish the exact subject names they recommend by admissions unit, so it's safer to check your target university's guidance before registering for second-semester courses. The case of Seoul National University recommending Geometry and Calculus II for the natural sciences track is covered in Seoul National University's major-linked subject guidance.

Where engineering tracks diverge from natural sciences

Engineering tracks ask for advanced math and science much like natural sciences, but a growing number of universities also look at information-technology or convergence-elective subjects. Data Science and Software and Life -- newly created convergence electives under the 2022 revised curriculum -- are typical examples. Not being able to take one because your school doesn't offer it won't block an application outright, but it's worth being ready to explain in your application why you couldn't take it and what you took instead.

Medicine and pharmacy: recommended in name, required in practice

The medicine and pharmacy track clearly emphasizes advanced coursework in biology and chemistry. Even though these are technically labeled "recommended," most actual applicants have completed them, so in practice they function as near-requirements. Some universities also recommend completing Calculus or Geometry in math. If your school doesn't offer the relevant subjects, it's worth checking in advance whether alternatives exist, such as joint curriculum programs or online schools.

Is the arts and athletics track really that flexible?

Because performance and practical skill carry so much weight, the arts and athletics track has comparatively fewer subject restrictions. That doesn't mean it's entirely open, though. Theory- and criticism-focused majors (musicology, art theory, physical education, and similar fields) still recommend advanced Korean or social-studies subjects, or career electives within the relevant arts subject. The first thing to figure out is whether your target major is performance-based or theory-based -- the required subjects differ accordingly.

Where to check recommended subjects

It's safest to check recommended subjects by track in three places. First is your regional office of education's high school credit system support center website, which compiles and distributes track-by-track recommended elective lists. Second is the Korean Council for University Education's admissions information portal (Adiga), where you can check admissions-unit information and each university's desired student profile. Third is the individual university's own website. Even within the same track, the specific subject names a university names can differ, so final confirmation should always come from the university you're applying to. If you're curious how the "incomplete" (I) mark on a grade-1 transcript works and what the completion standard is, how subject choice and completion standards work under the high school credit system is worth reading alongside this.

Summary -- what to do before choosing subjects

1) First decide which of humanities/social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, medicine/pharmacy, or arts/athletics your target major is closest to. 2) Look up the track-by-track recommended subject materials from your regional office of education's high school credit system support center. 3) Check whether the university you're considering has separate recommended-subject or major-linkage guidance posted on its website. 4) If your school doesn't offer a relevant subject, talk to your homeroom teacher about alternatives such as joint curriculum programs. Recommended subjects are mostly reference material used in qualitative evaluation -- not taking a specific subject does not by itself block an application. That said, how much weight is actually given differs by university and department, so the exact details must be confirmed individually through the admissions guidelines of the school you're applying to and its high school credit system support center. If you'd like to check your aptitude before settling on a track, starting the careers conversation with a free CareerNet test may also help.