Every year in China, over the course of three days, more than 9.5 million rising high school graduates are administered China’s notorious college entrance exam: the gaokao. It is said that during this time period, the entirety of China comes to a standstill. Construction work is stopped near the examination halls, traffic is diverted, and police roam the streets to make sure they stay quiet for the students taking the exam. For Chinese students, their results on the gaokao is the most important mark they will receive in their lifetime. Scores on the gaokao determine college admissions and even the jobs students may have in the future. The gaokao is composed of four sections: Chinese, English, mathematics, and a choice of either a combination of science subjects or humanities. Many say that the questions on this test are some of the most difficult in the world. The exam was originally created to provide equal opportunity to students from varying socioeconomic backgrounds. The argument goes that China has many people and a finite number of high education resources and white collar jobs, so this exam is an opportunity for hardworking students from poorer backgrounds to succeed. With this test being of so much importance, cheating is inevitably a big problem. In the past, students have used hidden cameras, radio devices, and earpieces that transmit questions and receive answers to cheat on the exam. Students and parents have even hired professional exam-takers to pose as students to ensure they receive high marks. To prevent cheating, the government has taken multiple counter-measures, including installing cameras and metal detectors in exam rooms and monitoring exam papers with GPS trackers and security guards. In recent years, the test has been challenged because of the stress and pressure it puts upon students, and multiple reforms have been made to ease this pressure, including giving students the opportunity to retake the English portion of the test. Many wealthier families are also choosing to have their children study overseas, rather than sit for the exhausting exam. All in all, the gaokao clearly has both its benefits and drawbacks, but it is definitely one of the most grueling exams in the world.
Do you have what it takes to pass the gaokao? Here are some sample gaokao questions:
Click here to see the answers 🙂
Sources:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/12/gaokao-china-toughest-school-exam-in-world
Wow, its like the SAT but way more serious and much more determining.
This seems really intense. Honestly, I probably wouldn’t have passed the gaokao it seems extremely difficult and stressful.
It’s interesting to see the comparison between America’s SAT and China’s Gaokao. Thank you for sharing!
Wow it seems so intense and I could not imagine how difficult and stressful it must be
哇，高考比我们的SAT很难！我都在准备考SAT，但是我不知道怎么回答你把上的高考的问题。你写的非常好！我特别喜欢你写了压力对学生的影响。谢谢！
Wow! 中国的的高考很难。他们要学英文和中文？我为中国学生感到难过。