<p>it has something to do with the education system. and its much easier to get admitted by simply taking one SAT</p>
<p>As a Chinese student, I know how hard and cruel gaokao is. University admission officers are only interested in the test scores, they don’t require EC, GPA, interviews, etc. And unlike SAT, gaokao happens only once a year and students can only apply to 3 schools. They who fail must repeat their senior years (like PG) and wait for the next time.</p>
<p>I’ve got to say that this kind of education system is surely intensive, but also very beneficial. I was once under that system before I transferred to my high school’s international education section to study AP, etc., and I found that my “intelligence” level declined greatly after forgoing the intense learning of gaokao for the more casual, more practical ability based AP. And now I find it difficult to debate on academic subjects, solve tricky problems, and apply knowledge fluently to real life, while these were almost natural for me when I was in gaokao system. Really, gaokao is a FANTASTIC way to push your potential beyond limits! However, this sentiment is just for those attracted to intense academic learning, and enthusiastic about freaky challenges. I, for one, found my grades much higher, ec much more colorful before I came from gaokao to AP, and I LOVED it there.</p>
<p>As a Chinese student, I took the “gaokao” test a year ago, while I’m preparing for transferring to a US university. And this kind of test has both good side and bad one.</p>
<p>Well, bad first. This test shows unfairness among Provinces (China states). In different province, acceptance rate and test difficulty differs. For example, I study in a province where as many as 660,000 took the test in 2012, which is the topmost one or two in the country. However, the Peking U and the Tsinghua U admitted 92+140 in my province, including those who have been pre-admitted. The rate, as you can see, is 0.03%. That’s insane, isn’t it? NO, in Beijing, they admitted 366+363 in 73,460 students, that’s near 1%! See, as a student in my province, entering the two universities are almost mission impossible. I ranked 1,800 in that “660,000” throng, that’s top 0.3%, while I was only admitted to a provincial well-known university that ranks 50 in Asia.</p>
<p>Furthermore, the test is soooo hard. We spent a whole year reviewing over and over again, roughly 3 rounds. But in the ultimate test, you would probably find questions you never heard of, you’ll be doing tough math in a short time, and only a few geniuses can solve it. Usually, you won’t practice them in your review, for you’ll never know in which part these questions come. I am preparing SAT. I love it, comparing with “gaokao”. By the way, we do participate in activities. We play basketball, we hold parties, and we do volunteer works. But we are asked not to do more, which means if we didn’t behave well in a single test, we could be eliminated from a “good class”, or superior class. Teachers won’t be the same “good” in a “regular class”. This is too specific and I’m not going to cover it.</p>
<p>However, it does have benefits in “gaokao”. First, we practice a lot in math, so we are so skilled. We are forced to do loads of homework every day, solving problems of Analytic Geometry, while solving a single question can take up an hour and 3 or 4 papers of calculation. This is why Chinese students have a strong fundamental skill in calculation and elementary mathematics. Second, we have strong nerves, which is for sure. You are not learning how to prevent nervousness as a student in China, but you are getting more and more nervous. We had simulation tests for “gaokao” in every month. Each time the results are announced, it is quite stressful. But it cultivates our strong nerve. To this, I want to say “hehe”, which, in nowadays China, means a sarcastic response out of frustration or something.</p>
<p>In all, taking “gaokao” test is a life experience. But whether it’s good or bad, it depends on each person. As for me, I find it meaningless and a waste of time, yet it still gives me a strong background in mathematics and physics. This is my description of “gaokao”. The data provided above are all open data and they are authentic.</p>
<p>One of my family members attended Peking U and he said only 3 people (including him) at one of the best high schools in Shanghai had high enough scores to go there. This was more than twenty years ago though.</p>
<p>^I’m sure that’s still true. To get into a school like Beida or Tsinghua, you typically not only have to be the best student in your school, you have to be the best in your area. </p>
<p>The Gaokao has become a huge source of unnecessary stress. While it probably wouldn’t be wise to eliminate it entirely, I think China has advanced to the point where schools can evaluate students for admission based on grades and overall academic performance in addition to the Gaokao.</p>
<p>to have their dreams realizated!
If no “gaokao” ,the top universities will belong to either the second generation of rich or the second generation of power.</p>
<p>A Chinese who transferred from Gaokao system to AP classes.
I bet Gaokao is at least 10 times more stressful than SAT. When I was in Gaokao system, my class starts at 6:50 a.m and ends at 9:15 p.m My friends in other high schools only have half day off every two weeks and during the half day, they still need to do homework. Ridiculous, isn’t it?<br>
And Although people are working on another system to select students who have good EC, but who are they kidding, the students get into top Chinese universities are still those who can get the highest score in Gaokao.
Also, about Chinese students are good at maths, I think it has nothing to do with number system. The only reason is that we spend at least 3 or 4 hours to shoot a high score in Gaokao= =…</p>
<p>Chinese national here.</p>
<p>Please do not equalize Gaokao with hard work, because it isn’t! It is but harmful peer pressure and meaningless agony, which is why I am here applying for US college, to STUDY INSTEAD OF BEING EXAMINED.</p>
<p>It is however, an alarmingly inspiring system designed to look absolutely fair. I am from Shanghai and have access to many opportunities to jump outta the system, but check out ‘super high schools’ in northern provinces, Gaokao is almost worshiped and regarded as the sole purpose of learning and only way towards a success life. That, and the resulting overlook of ECs, practical skills and social skills, is where the real harm strikes in. </p>
<p>So if you ever consider coming to China for education, in short, don’t!</p>
<p>I have lived in China for almost my whole life and I have to say that school is stressful. But, I have never really found it that insane. There is a lot of work though. We study all the subjects, including bio, physics, geography,chemistry, politics etc. And we get a lot of homework. But we don’t really have to worry about ECs or anything else. All we have to do is study our school subjects and maybe prepare for a few science/math related tournaments that could help us get into better colleges. I admit that school in China is pretty hard but I feel that we know what we need to be able to be accepted into good colleges and we can always tell if we can get into a school because acceptances are mostly score-based. In the US I find that it is harder to estimate your chances of getting into a specific college since colleges take a lot of things into consideration.</p>
I am Chinese. I can say that even ages ago in our history, standardized testing was one of the most important things in one’s life. It literally determined whether you got to be a govenment official and if so, of what rank. This was great at the time because even the poor had a chance to earn a high ranking position regardless of their wealth. It let China for the first time recruit people based on their talent rather than their wealth. It removes subjectiveness as well. History also shows that the Chinese are quite reluctant to change, and it manifests here in the GaoKao as well.
Personally, I don’t like it, especially how a single standardized test would determine the rest of my life.
I am going to take IB.
*Edited for grammar errors, sorry typed in a rush sorta busy but still spending time on CC lol 