Gaokao

Gaokao
Honeyhuyue · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	Gaokao
Native name	高考
Type	National college entrance examination
Established	1952
Administered by	Ministry of Education (PRC)
Regions	People's Republic of China
Frequency	Annual

Gaokao is the national college entrance examination used to determine higher education placement in the People's Republic of China. It functions as a high-stakes selection mechanism linking secondary schooling to universities and colleges across provinces such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, Sichuan, and Henan. The examination interacts with institutions like Peking University, Tsinghua University, Fudan University, Zhejiang University, and Sun Yat-sen University as well as provincial admissions offices and testing centers administered under the Ministry of Education (PRC), shaping student trajectories and labor markets.

History

The modern national examination system traces antecedents to the imperial Keju civil service examinations and was reintroduced in the 20th century amid political upheaval involving actors like the Chinese Communist Party, the Kuomintang, and leaders such as Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. Post-1949 reforms led to an initial nationwide testing regime; the exam was suspended during the Cultural Revolution and reinstated in 1977 following policy shifts initiated by Deng Xiaoping and implemented by officials from the State Council (PRC). Subsequent decades saw interactions with higher education institutions including Nanjing University, Renmin University of China, Harbin Institute of Technology, Beijing Normal University, and international influences from systems in United States, Japan, and South Korea as China expanded university enrollment under plans like Project 211 and Project 985.

Structure and Format

The examination comprises subject modules administered over two or three days in formats overseen by provincial authorities such as the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Education Examination Institute and the Shanghai Municipal Education Examination Authority. Test formats include multiple-choice, short answer, and essay components created with input from academies such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences and provincial curriculum committees. Scores are reported on scales used by universities including Wuhan University, Jilin University, Xiamen University, and Dalian University of Technology for admissions. The procedure includes identity verification coordinated with bodies like the Public Security Bureau and logistical support from entities such as the China Post and local examination centers.

Subjects and Scoring

Candidates typically choose subject combinations aligned with university majors, drawing on syllabi reflecting contributions from universities such as China Agricultural University, Tongji University, Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beihang University, and South China University of Technology. Core tests often include Chinese language papers with essays referencing works like Dream of the Red Chamber and multiple-choice tasks, mathematics modules reflecting standards from institutions like East China Normal University, English listening and reading sections influenced by pedagogues at Beijing Foreign Studies University, and science or humanities tracks involving physics, chemistry, biology, history, and geography. Scoring thresholds and cutoffs are established regionally and affect admissions to programs at China University of Petroleum, Nankai University, Sichuan University, Hunan University, and Beijing Institute of Technology. Special admissions pathways involve professional tests administered by conservatories such as the Central Conservatory of Music and sports tests for institutions like the Beijing Sport University.

Administration and Policy

Administration falls under the purview of the Ministry of Education (PRC) in coordination with provincial education departments and municipal authorities such as the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission. Policy debates involve legislators from the National People's Congress, advisory input from the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and technical standards set by organizations like the National Institute of Education Sciences. Regulations address security, anti-cheating measures enforced by the Supreme People's Court and public security organs, and accommodations for ethnic minority students from regions like Xinjiang, Tibet, and Inner Mongolia. Policy reforms interact with national initiatives including the Belt and Road Initiative insofar as internationalization of Chinese higher education affects recruitment and program design at universities like Zhengzhou University and Shandong University.

Preparation and Impact on Society

Preparation industries involve tutoring centers, private schools, and online platforms connecting students to resources from institutions like New Oriental Education & Technology Group, TAL Education Group, VIPKid, and campus recruiters from China Mobile, Alibaba Group, and Tencent. Families often mobilize support drawing on networks linked to workplaces like the People's Liberation Army or state-owned enterprises such as China National Petroleum Corporation, with migration patterns toward education hubs such as Chongqing and Guangzhou. The examination influences social stratification, urbanization trends related to Hukou registration, and career outcomes including graduate employment at firms like Huawei Technologies and international placements through partnerships with universities such as University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Criticisms and Reforms

Critiques have been voiced by scholars and institutions including researchers at Tsinghua University, Peking University, and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences concerning stress, equity, and regional disparities affecting candidates from provinces like Gansu and Guizhou. Reforms proposed by policymakers involve diversification of admissions criteria to include high school records, interviews, and portfolios used by universities such as China Europe International Business School, pilot programs at Nanjing University of Science and Technology, and local experiments in cities like Shanghai and Zhejiang Province. Anti-cheating technology, curriculum adjustments, and quota changes have been implemented in partnership with legal bodies like the Ministry of Public Security and educational researchers at East China Normal University.

Category:Education in the People's Republic of China