Gaokao Test Essay

Every year China administers a test called the Gaokao. An Upfront article explains the process including schools that specifically prepare kids for the test and are a place “where 20,000 students train around the clock for China’s national college-entrance examination.” The amount of pressure the test inflicts is incredible due to it being “the only thing that matters for admission to Chinese universities,” which could mean a life outside a factory. It’s completely unfair to put so much pressure on millions of Chinese students to do well on the test, because the students suffer by devoting years to studying, and some families have more money and an unfair advantage on the test.

One of the reasons the test should not have so much riding on it is because it directly influences all students and forces them to do nothing but study, which could give them negative emotional feelings like stress, exhaustion, and depression. The article explains a town that has, “shut down all forms of entertainment,” one kid living in the town adds, “There’s nothing to do but study.” The town restricts kids from dating, using any type of electronic device, and even electricity, to force them to study. Also studying for the Gaokao pushes kids ‘over the edge’ for example a photo was recently shared of  “a classroom of students all hooked up to intravenous drips to give them the strength to keep studying.” Plus “teenage suicide rates tend to ride as the gaokao nears.” The test’s pressure forces teenagers to not care about anything but the test and studying for it.

Another reason the test should not have complete control over job opportunities is because some students come from different income families which means they have different advantages. One teen says he has to study hard and do well on the test because his “father is out working construction far from home to pay [his] school fees.” Many Chinese families have to overwork just to pay the fee for public schools, but the Gaokao test adds more fees for tutors and textbooks. In addition, some students are forced to go to “poor schools,” that have “few well trained teachers.” They don’t get the same education or test prep as those who can “hire private tutors, pay for test-prep courses or bribe their way into the best city schools.” Those who come from a rich background have more opportunities and overall an advantage on the test over those who don’t.

In China a stack of papers can determine a teenagers entire future. If students score badly on the Gaokao “manual labor would be their fate,” and their future would be set. “A few points either way could determine whether students qualify for a degree that could change their life.” The pressure placed on the students is way too much and has caused kids to take their life. It may be an efficient way to place kids in schools, its not healthy or fair to put all the power on the Gaokao