How Chinese High School Students Prepare for "The Most Difficult Exam in the World"

As the first person in my Chinese family to attend an international school, I constantly heard: "You're so lucky–western education is so free." And to some extent, this was true.

My freedom came from the ability to personalize and navigate my educational experience. Choosing to join the track team ignited my love for fitness and nutrition. Choosing to take AP Literature enriched my vocabulary and writing abilities. Choosing to join the Debate Club taught me that I would be a horrible lawyer.

But what happens when an education system limits the choice factor in the student experience? I found out through my traditional relatives' drastically different student journeys. Summers with my cousins went from licking popsicle sticks by the pool to watching them bury their heads into their textbooks, scrambling to finish another worksheet. When high school rolled around, their workload escalated. They were barely home anymore, making me cherish every moment we had together.

In the rapidly evolving world of technology, where schools around the globe are striving to keep pace, the dominance of computers and tablets has replaced traditional textbooks and notebooks. Pencils and paper have become rare relics of a bygone era. Yet, amidst this fast-paced march of modernization, pockets of time seem to defy the current. One such place is the traditional Chinese school.

Applying to college is a universally stressful experience, but I could not imagine having one examination dictating my future. Watching the class of 27 apply and receive their college acceptances throughout the year, I can not help but wish luck to my loved ones back home in China, whose college acceptances boil down entirely to the notorious gaokao(Chinese final examination) in June. The three-day final exam is notorious for being the "hardest exam in the world." (“Is China’s Gaokao the World’s Toughest School Exam?)

Advanced Placement offers various subjects with the option of self-sending scores to universities. Even the International Baccalaureate, where your score depends on final exams, is only complete with additional activities like CAS(Creativity, Activity, Service) and TOK(Theory of Knowledge). In the US, results reflect more than just a mark. But not the Chinese curriculum, where everything comes down to a number.

This summer, while attending my cousin's high school ceremony in Dongguan, I took the opportunity to understand the Chinese high school student experience further from the perspective of four seniors.

Dongguan No. 4 Senior High School

(Left to right: Zi Yan, Xiao Ying, Jin Xue, Qing Ting, Ariel Cheng)

(NOTE: This is a translated interview, with combined answers from four female students)

What is the structure of the education system in China? How many years of compulsory education are there?

There are nine years of compulsory education. Elementary school is from 1st grade to 5th grade. There are three years of middle school from 6th to 9th grade. High school is from 10th to 12th grade.

NOTE: Unlike schools in the US, Chinese students often have "pre-college admissions," where students in their last year of middle school (grade 9) will take a final exam. They then use these test scores to apply to high school, which is also highly competitive. As a result, only approximately 70% of students are admitted to high school. According to the girls, the remaining students are sent to private "skills-based" schools, which adopt a particular focus like culinary skills. These private schools are often overlooked, not granting students a "well-rounded high school experience." It is also more difficult for students from these "skill-based schools" to be admitted into Chinese universities, and is often limited to jobs of their focus.

Can you explain a student's typical daily schedule or timetable in your high school?

Almost all Chinese high schools are boarding schools. Classes go from Monday to Saturday, and we must hand in our cell phones on Sunday night. We get them back after school the following Saturday.

5-6 AM: Students wake up. Since breakfast ends around 6:50 AM, most students get up between 5-6 AM. I sleep in a little, so I wake up at 6:10.

6:50-7:30 AM: "Zao Du" (Early Reading) time. This is the time in the early morning students dedicate to reciting what we have learned the previous day.

7:30-7:55 AM: Students have approximately 25 minutes to exercise after the reading. Since the time is so short, most students go for a quick jog around campus or stretch in their classrooms.

7:55 AM-11:55 AM: Morning classes begin. Every class is 40 minutes, and there is a 10-minute break between each class.

11:55-12:30 PM: Lunch time. Students get a quick break to grab food in the canteen but must be back in the dorm by 12:30. There are dorm advisors who will keep track of students.

12:30-2:30 PM: Rest/Nap time.

2:30-4:50 PM: Afternoon classes begin. Again, they are 40 minutes with 10-minute breaks in between. There are a total of 8 classes per day.

4:50-6:30 PM: Afternoon classes end, and students have a break until 6:30 PM, when they must return to the dorm.

6:30-10:30 PM: "Personal study" classes, where advisors will watch students as they revise for final exams in the classroom. These study sessions are also structured like classes, with 40 minutes each and 10 minutes between classes.

10:30 PM: The school day has officially ended, and students go to rest. Some schools have monitors that will make sure that students go to bed at this time. But for our school, in particular, the monitors are more lenient. Students typically have time to themselves and go to bed around 11 PM-1 AM.

NOTE: As an international student, this schedule already sounded exceptionally rigorous. However, the girls mentioned that their school was one of the more lenient ones. "The "top" high schools in the country are much more intense," they said. "We typically have around 30-40 worksheets to complete throughout the week for homework, but top schools can have up to 150."

How do Chinese students usually prepare for and take the gaokao(final exam)?

Final exams are highly stressful for us. There are three days of testing, and these scores will ultimately determine the universities we are admitted to. The exam is out of 750 points and consists of six subjects. All our three years of high school are spent preparing for these three days. By the end of 11th grade(junior year), we have covered all the subjects and information. Our entire senior year is dedicated to preparing for the final exam. We have a calendar starting from 100 days before the exam. It is very frustrating because even if a student is exceptionally successful throughout high school, they are not admitted to a good university if they flunk their exams. The tests also differ from each province, with various pages and questions. We find this quite unfair because some places are known to have more straightforward exams than others, such as Beijing. The universities will then look at our test scores and compare them with others within our province. The test scores are the only thing that they will look at. There are no other factors that determine whether a student will be admitted.

A typical senior classroom. Textbooks and worksheets pile up as the days leading up to the gaokao are coming closer.

These red envelopes are plastered on the walls of the atrium, reading: "高考必胜," a Chinese phrase that translates to "Guaranteed Victory in the College Entrance Examination"

NOTE: If a student were to fail their exams, they are allowed to study for one more year and try again. However, they are put at a significant disadvantage. If these four-year students score the same as a three-year student, the three-year student will be prioritized in universities. Military and ethnic minority groups and Macao and Hong Kong get priority and extra points on the exams. The exams are also easier for international students.

Wow, your schedule sounds exhausting! Are there any mental health resources available to students when they are stressed?

We do have "counselors," but they are more like psychology teachers who are not certified or professional. Mental health is not really taken into account in Chinese schools. The teachers are connected to the school and must disclose all the information we discuss. Since they are authority members, we often feel a gap and usually do not reveal any of our troubles. It's not private. Most of us typically go to our friends for advice. Some students ask teachers if they are close to them, but it's uncommon.

What are some everyday extracurricular activities or clubs available in your school?

Most of us have no time for extracurriculars. We do have some school clubs, but they rarely host any events. Sometimes they will only plan something. School already takes up so much of our time and energy that we use our free time to rest or chat with friends. You will often see students sleeping in random areas of the school–it's tiring.

What kind of teaching methods do Chinese schools employ?

All of our classes are taught from textbooks or PowerPoint. There is rarely any creative approach to the lectures since teachers have to follow a specific guide. There used to be a textbook that highlighted the areas of focus for the gaokao final exam. But students started to focus only on the tested material, so the textbook was canceled. Now our studies cover all the textbook material, making it harder to know which areas to focus on. It's much more difficult.

How does the Chinese education system prepare students for higher education and future careers?

There needs to be more career or entrepreneurship guidance. Our teachers often tell us, "Get the grades first, then decide what you want to do." Like everything else, it's very score-focused. I know many students who choose majors unrelated to their passions just because it is easier to get in.

How do Chinese schools handle discipline and behavior management?

We have class advisors for each class. Different advisors have different methods of discipline. Some meaner ones will tell us to shut up if we are noisy or disobedient. But the nicer ones will say to us to be quiet.

What support systems exist for students who need extra help or have special educational needs?

Discrimination against students with special needs is prevalent, so they usually attend schools that are specialized for them. These students will probably not apply to our school. It isn't typical for those students to attend a traditional high school. It is already so hard to be admitted.

Are there any recent changes or reforms in the education system that you find noteworthy?

Many schools are now forbidding students from having tutors or special services. They want to make it as fair as possible. The homework is also lessened compared to a few years ago. However, most parents disregard the tutoring rule. They want their children to be the best of the best and believe that tutoring is essential. They want their children to stay caught up. This creates an ugly cycle of intense competition between classmates.

What do you enjoy most about the education system in China, and what improvements would you suggest?

The Chinese government prioritizes education. Even students in poverty have access to school, which is essential. The school has also taught us discipline–we are forced to have it or fall behind. That's pretty much the only thing I like, haha. I'm not fond of the gaokao and how it dictates our college experience and life. There's so much unnecessary competition and pressure. I also wish we had more extracurricular activities instead of just learning the core subjects. There's a lot I would like to improve.

End of Interview.

Like I had little knowledge of the Chinese curriculum, the girls jumped to hear what Western schools are like. My complaints about the AP and cafeteria food suddenly seemed to hold less weight. I sheepishly mumbled something along the lines of having fewer rules and restrictions. Despite their seemingly hellish lifestyle, the smiling girls' discussed their schedules without complaint. Although I can not fathom the idea of a six-day school week, no phone access, and having my future dependent on three single days, this was the norm for Chinese students.

Walking out of the classroom that Saturday afternoon, I see students charging towards the exit gate, suitcase in their hands. Although the weekend was just one day, the local students had a chance to return home. While walking around campus, I still see clusters of people playing cards, laughing, or shooting hoops by the basketball court. Even when preparing for the "world's toughest examination," we are all students who share universal experiences: stress, pressure, joy, and relaxation.

Citations:

"Is China’s Gaokao the World’s Toughest School Exam? | Alec Ash.” The Guardian, 12 Oct. 2016, www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/12/gaokao-china-toughest-school-exam-in-world.