<p>I agree. Non sequitor. China was considered part of the Second World in the Cold War era when the "Worlds" classification came to be. According to Wikipedia, Third World classification "imply the false notion that those countries are not a part of the global economic system... it is also criticized as being out-of-date, colonialist, othering, and inaccurate"</p>
<p>I can't even say how glad I am that my family immigrated to Canada. I'd become suicidal <em>_</em></p>
<p>I know someone who attends one of the "provincially designated" schools there... By 11th grade she has already finished 12th grade material, so that the two remaining years can be dedicated entirely to exam prep.</p>
<p>okie fabrizio you beat me to it. i almost fainted when i saw JAPAN listed as a third-world country. it's ridiculous how some people think the entire Asia belongs to the third world.</p>
<p>No,it's not like that horrible!Of course the entrace test can be really stressful in China but it's not as difficult as you imagine.Pretty much because China has been a country where exams and grades are emphasized all the time.We are pretty much used to it.But I would say, things are definitely changing for the better.</p>
<p>By the way,don't stereotype this with third world,please.China is not really in the third world now due to its rapid economic boom.If you have any questions please post messages but it's really not that what you think.Thanks</p>
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it's ridiculous how some people think the entire Asia belongs to the third world.
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</p>
<p>or any non-European, non-Canadian and non-American country.</p>
<p>at any rate, I attended school in China and went through the middle school examination process. it wasn't really that bad, and the pressure was not as overbearing as the article says. on the other hand, I did go to school in Beijing, and the elementary school I went to pretty much assured that I would get into a decent middle school.</p>
<p>the pressure depends on where you live also. if you live in rural areas it can be pretty touch since GaoKao is your only ticket up the social ladder.<br>
my dad was one of the first batch. during the 60's to 70's, acceptance rate was 1%. no kidding. now its a lot better for people in the cities who can afford international schooling and private tutoring.<br>
but for the poor country kids, its rough. if you've heard of China's hukou system, you know what i mean.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I agree. Non sequitor. China was considered part of the Second World in the Cold War era when the "Worlds" classification came to be. According to Wikipedia, Third World classification "imply the false notion that those countries are not a part of the global economic system... it is also criticized as being out-of-date, colonialist, othering, and inaccurate"
[/quote]
It's interesting how our language develops. I remember reading somewhere about how the term "third world" was scrapped in favor of "undeveloped countries", which in term was scrapped in favor of "underdeveloped countries", which in term is being scrapped in favor of "developing countries". Ah, political correctness.</p>
<p>But yeah, I wouldn't want to still live in China. Imagine going through all this and finding out your college dorm doesn't have hot water (most in China don't).</p>
<p>Is making orange chicken on this test? .... I sure hope it is.</p>
<p>That couldn't be more different to the situation here in Argentina, where most public universities have 100% admissions and education is given for free. I wonder what would these Chinese students think about how Argentine students waste their access to education. </p>
<p>And high schools students in Buenos Aires took the school last week as a protest because they "have no participation in the selection of the principal"! They don't really know what injustice is.</p>
<p>It's not like we don't spend $800 on those SAT prep classes.</p>
<p>But look at it this way. The entire system is merit-based. Sure, city kids might have better access to education, but as far as I know, most of the kids who ace the national college entrance exam in Vietnam are from rural areas because they are much much much more motivated than rich kids.</p>
<p>Aww how sad because not everyone is good test taker (speaking for myself :( ).</p>
<p>LMAOOO</p>
<p>china is 3rd world country? w t f. have you even been there? im sorry, but that comment was just extremely ignorant. china is a rising world superpower, and japan is years ahead of the US in terms of technology.</p>
<p>
You're an idiot. If it's a joke, it's not funny.</p>
<p>Does anyone know where I can find past gaokao's?</p>
<p>On the internet :))))</p>
<p>China is a rising superpower, but if you look at the majority of the population, you will see that most of the country's population is living in poverty. </p>
<p>What you see in the news are scenes from few prosperous cities like Shang Hai, Bei Jing, or Hong Kong.</p>
<p>Wouldn't it be cool if the SAT or ACT was like this?</p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lXLgdMJXbM%5B/url%5D">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lXLgdMJXbM</a></p>
<p>Looking at their expressions, it seems a lot of them got raped.</p>
<p>
[quote]
But look at it this way. The entire system is merit-based. Sure, city kids might have better access to education, but as far as I know, most of the kids who ace the national college entrance exam in Vietnam are from rural areas because they are much much much more motivated than rich kids.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>City kids have better chances in the first place because they have access to a better education system. Perhaps they are not motivated as much (city kids aren't exactly rich kids, but the actual rich ones attend private schools and stuff anyway) but even if they do not ace the exams, the city offers a lot more opportunities than the country does. For rural kids, the entrance exams are pretty much the only way up for them.</p>
<p>
[quote]
China is a rising superpower, but if you look at the majority of the population, you will see that most of the country's population is living in poverty.</p>
<p>What you see in the news are scenes from few prosperous cities like Shang Hai, Bei Jing, or Hong Kong.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Well yes, but it's still not a Third World country.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Wouldn't it be cool if the SAT or ACT was like this?</p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lXLgdMJXbM%5B/url%5D">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lXLgdMJXbM</a></p>
<p>Looking at their expressions, it seems a lot of them got raped.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I find it hilarious that one of the girls is wearing a Yale shirt.</p>