CHINA: Millions of students stress over a nine-hour national college entrance examination that will decide their future education

Record ID: 494776

  • Title: CHINA: Millions of students stress over a nine-hour national college entrance examination that will decide their future education
  • Date: 7th June 2010
  • Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (JUNE 7, 2010) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE CHECKING STUDENT'S IDENTIFICATIONS A MAN MAKING ANNOUNCEMENT ON A MEGAPHONE STUDENTS GOING INTO SCHOOL WITH PARENTS STANDING BY PARENTS WAITING VARIOUS OF A STUDENT LOOKING AT A BOOK (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, LI ZHONGYU, SAYING: "I am about to take the examination. I am confident, excited, but also very nervous, so I am in a complicated state. I am confident because my parents, teachers and fellow students are supporting me." POLICE STANDING GUARD VARIOUS OF POLICE CARS PEOPLE PASSING UNDER POLICE TAPE STUDENTS ENTERING SCHOOL STUDENTS GOING INTO SCHOOL BUILDING VARIOUS OF VICE-GROUP LEADER FOR CHINA'S SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH SERVICES SYSTEM SONG SHAOWEI READING (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) VICE-GROUP LEADER FOR CHINA'S SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH SERVICES SYSTEM, SONG SHAOWEI, SAYING: "In China we have such a huge population, and naturally there are so many students taking the national college entrance exam. There is a conflict between a fair exam and the school's individual powers to select students. This is not an easy issue to resolve." PARENTS WAITING SCHOOL GATE AND SCHOOL GROUNDS CHINESE FLAG FLYING VARIOUS OF PARENTS WAITING
  • Embargoed: 22nd June 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Education
  • Reuters ID: LVAB7DL4SQUXSN4EQMMY3CKZKK4G
  • Story Text: One of the most fierce competitions in China took place behind guarded school gates on Monday (June 7).
    Millions of university hopefuls and their parents gathered from across the country, for the long-anticipated college entrance exam which lasts for two days and test the student's knowledge on Chinese, math, science and a foreign language.
    For many students, the National College Entrance Exam or "gaokao", is the only ticket to a higher social status and eventually a white-collar job.
    The assessment is done on a 0-750 scale, and scores above 500 generally guarantee a place in a college or university, although each institution sets different admission scores.
    The examination is held in different locations simultaneously throughout the country, and each venue is heavily guarded with police cordoning off streets and stopping traffic.
    Exam candidates devote their final high school year to reviewing subject materials.
    When the students are not at school or doing homework, they attend private lessons on the weekends. Little time is left for any extracurricular activities.
    But come exam day, parents and teachers gather to support the students.
    "I am about to take the examination. I am confident, excited, but also very nervous, so I am in a complicated state. I am confident because my parents, teachers and fellow students are supporting me," said high school student Li Zhongyu on the morning of the exam.
    This year more than 9.57 million people registered for the exam, a drop of 650,000 from the previous year due to falling birth rates and more students choosing to go abroad, according to the China Daily.
    The competition, however, is stiff despite the slight decline in numbers, and top institutions vie to lure the country's most diligent and gifted.
    "In China we have such a huge population and naturally there are so many students taking the national college entrance exam. There is a conflict between a fair exam and the school's individual powers to select students. This is not an easy issue to resolve," said Song Shao Wei, deputy-director for China School Psychological Health Center.
    Parents are equally anxious as they await the results of the potentially life-changing exam.
    "We arrived here yesterday so that my son could familiarize himself with the surroundings before the exam. We also rented a room in a three star hotel so that he could rest in the afternoon, eat and take a nap," said Yang Qing, whose son wants to study abroad one day.
    Despite the grueling hours and unrelenting pressure they face, many of the candidates still feel the exam is a fair way of assessing one's abilities.
    "I think China's national college entrance exam system is at least fair. With so many people to select from, it is at least an impartial, or even a relatively good method," said high school student Song Yide.
    With millions of students competing for a comparatively small number of places, stories of cheating and harsh penalties are not uncommon.
    Each year there are reports of students paying for leaked exam papers, smuggling in mobile phones and even paying others to take the exam for them.
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