Have you noticed something different today? Maybe there’s more traffic, maybe your calls keep failing, maybe it’s quieter in Beijing than ever before. Well, it’s gaokao season!

Gaokao, the national Chinese college entrance exam, is regarded as one of the most rigorous tests in the world. It occurs annually in early June, this year beginning on Wednesday June 7 and ending on Saturday June 10.

Gaokao results determine the caliber of universities students are admitted to, with top colleges being exceptionally difficult to get into. Extreme measures are taken to prevent distractions for the 12.91 million grade 12 students (980,000 more than 2022) taking the exams.

Of those 12.91 million people, 65,000 are here in Beijing. This means that 65,000 people will be moving around the city on similar schedules. Most jobs also function on similar timetables, which contributes to the widely unpopular concept known as the morning rush hour. The exams will only amplify that problem.

As the gaokao begins and ends each day, traffic will be immense. Many candidates live in the suburbs, so fair warning for commuters from Shunyi!

The tests follow regular school time and end around late afternoon, so 9-5 workers in the city will need to be prepared for longer stretches on the road.

This Thursday afternoon, there will be traffic management on roads around the exam areas, so be prepared with some set detours that can help you avoid delays.

Here are some specific addresses with testing centers:

If you live, work, or simply pass by these areas, consult your maps each morning and plan your days accordingly!

In addition to controlling traffic, anti-cheating measures designed for students can have an impact on you too.

Telecom companies will be reducing the strength of phone signals close to exam sites to prevent students from searching up or colluding with others to get answers. So, if your calls or data is spotty, double-check your location before assuming the worst.

As the students begin their exams, download some playlists for your commutes, and explore the back roads of Beijing!

Images by Mikechie Esparagoza, Pixabay, Aauyush Srivistava, Joey Guo

Following recent scandals in the US, in which wealthy parents and celebrities were revealed to be “buying” their children places at top universities, a different kind of cheating has been exposed in China. A private school in Shenzhen has been accused of bringing in “ringers” from another province to boost its scores in the university entrance exam, in order to increase its appeal to parents.

The practice, dubbed “Gaokao immigration” by China Daily, is being taken seriously because each province has its own allocation of places at the top universities. By bringing students from Hebei to compete in Shenzhen, the school is perceived to be cheating local students of their places.

The Gaokao, China’s hugely important and fiercely competitive university entrance exam, is the scene of a long-running battle between education authorities and cheats. Students are subject to facial recognition scans, fingerprint identification, screening, and sometimes body searches before being admitted to the exam room. High-tech devices have been used more suited to James Bond, such as a pen with a hidden camera and a pair of glasses containing a scanner. The authorities have responded with drones, and sensors to detect radio signals.

“6933 days till the Gaokao”

The consequences of being caught cheating are grave: students are banned from taking the test for three years, adults have been imprisoned, and officials dismissed from their posts. However success or failure in the exam is seen as making such a difference to young people’s life chances that many continue to take the risk. In 2014 parents in Hubei rioted when their children were prevented from cheating, insisting that as everyone else did it they were being unfairly disadvantaged.

Suspicions were aroused when third-grade students from Shenzhen Fuyuan School performed exceptionally well on a mock test, achieving six of the top ten scores in the southern metropolis. Sceptical parents discovered that students from the school which had previously been admitted to prestigious Beijing universities also appeared in the promotional materials of Shenzhen Fuyuan’s partner school in Hubei. 32 students have now been barred from the test, having used dishonest means to sign up when their hukou (household registrations) means they should have taken the test elsewhere.

Photos: tes.com, tutorming.com

LookOut Poised to Break Ground as “First Ever Chinese Arts Festival on Gender”

Billing itself as the “first Chinese arts festival on gender,” the four-day LookOut Fest (poster in the featured photo) certainly has ambitious aims. The festival encompasses a wide range of mediums, styles, and topics to dissect modern day gender dynamics. Slated to take place Jul 6, 7, 8, and 15, the festival is organized by Ibsen International and the China AIDS Walk in collaboration with the Faculty for Dramatology and Applied Theatre Studies of the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing. Beijingers are invited to enjoy the socially conscious works in a safe and open space.

Gaokao Scores Now Accepted in the United States
For Chinese students and their families, gaokao scores are everything. Studying for the test begins years in advance, so much so that some would say schooling itself is mostly just preparation for the grueling exam. Now, students have options, as this test can be used for international college admission in the US, beginning with The University of New Hampshire. Currently, several schools in Europe, Australia, and Canada are already accepting gaokao scores, and given that more than a third of international students in the US are Chinese, many more American schools of higher education can be expected to follow suit.

Bend It Like Beckham
Superstar ex-footballer David Beckham visited Beijing in June, where he stopped by a charity event, played a fun match of football with a children’s team, and posed with fans outside of Sanlitun’s Taikooli. Beckham himself is no stranger to China. In 2013, Beckham was given the title of global ambassador for Chinese football. ”I’m excited by the prospect of promoting the world’s greatest game to Chinese sports fans as I’ve seen first-hand the growing interest in football there,” said Beckham during the visit.

Tian’anmen Rostro Closed for Renovation
Beijing’s most famous tourist attraction, The Tian’anmen Rostrum, will be closed for an entire year, reopening late April 2019. According to The State Administration of Cultural Heritage, the landmark is being given a fresh coat of paint, waterproofed, replaced with new pipes as well as other necessary maintenance. The iconic gate with Mao’s portrait has been closed or covered for maintenance several times before, most recently in 2015 and 2011. If you’re planning on visiting the adjacent Palace Museum after gazing at green mesh, note that they are now closed Mondays for the indefinite future.

Hainan Is for Families
The Hainan Provincial Tourism Development Commission courts International families with its “Love Hainan” tourism event. Looking to expand tourism to previously unserved sectors, Hainan is doubling down on promoting the pristine beaches, breathtaking scenery, and clean environment to the flocks of foreign tourists who usually eschew China and instead head to South East Asia on holiday. Last month, Hainan adopted new visa exemption access to citizens from 59 countries, granting 30-day visa-free entries (when applied in advance), making it easier than ever to “Love Hainan.”

Photos: The Beijinger, wenr.wes.org, courtesy of Love Hainan organizers, South China Morning Post, dailymail.co.uk

This article appeared on p6 of beijingkids July 2018 issue

Every year in June, scores of Chinese high school students take the gaokao, a notoriously complex university entrance exam that determines possible prospects or lack thereof. Only one percent of test takers have what it takes score-wise to get into a top school in China, and almost 1.5 million retake the test to plump up low scores. Countless others get scores that can only grant them admission to more obscure colleges and universities, thereby limiting educational prospects with little recourse available.

However, prospective university students now have other high education options available with their gaokao scores: studying abroad.

According to the New York Times, The University of New Hampshire will begin accepting gaokao scores for Chinese international student enrollment. Currently, several schools in Europe, Australia, and Canada are already accepting gaokao scores, and given that more than a third of international students in the US are Chinese, many more American schools of higher education can be expected to follow suit.

Chinese International tuition rates are high; at the University of New Hampshire, Chinese students admitted under the gaokao program can expect to pay over $45,000 a year for tuition and housing, which isn’t even terribly high compared to many other American colleges. These generally sky-high tuition rates can greatly boost a school’s ability to provide better services and facilities to all students, so courting Chinese admissions has become a necessity for US schools.

Benefits of the gaokao admission are many. For students who are accepted with their gaokao scores, English proficiency, especially spoken, can be a common problem. Gaokao admitted students could also receive earlier admission dates, which is perfect for additional English prep classes and other mandatory exams before freshman semester begins. It also allows time for students to acclimate to the cultural differences of living in the West, make friends and feel more comfortable before they begin their American university experience.

Photo: nytimes.com

It was barely 8am when I cycled past a middle school. It’s more than one hour before the first day of the gāokǎo (高考, literally “high exam”), or more formally, the National Higher Education Entrance Examination on Jun 7 (Thursday), but there were already crowds of anxious-looking parents and students outside the school gate, which was safeguarded by a dozen policemen standing behind a warning line.

Almost instinctively, I could still feel the nervousness and pressure when I took the exam, even after almost a decade.

Every year in early June, the two-day gaokao grabs the headlines of various news outlets as well as social media, much as a national event on a par with a public holiday. Does the gaokao really matter as much as many people believe?

The gaokao is the Chinese equivalent of the American SAT and British A-Levels. Statistics from a gaokao-oriented website show that there are 63,073 Beijing students signed up for the exam this year, or 2,435 more than in 2017. There are 91 schools designated as gaokao sites, mostly located in the Haidian, Xicheng, and Dongcheng districts.

The Chinese exam brings much more pressure to students compared to its American and British test counterparts, since achieving a three-digit score is the only decisive factor that determines what university local takers end up at.

Chinese universities are roughly divided into first, second, and third tiers, with the first listing those “211 Universities” and “985 Universities”, two projects initiated by authorities to promote the development of higher-level universities in the Chinese higher education system. These schools demand competitively high scores but still are highly chased because a certificate from one of them is supposed to promise better career prospects for graduates.

I scored significantly lower than my parents expected at the gaokao, sadly ending up at a third-tier university. But I don’t think that that once-in-a-lifetime exam really determined who I am, who I will be, and what I can do in my life.

On Zhihu, the Chinese equivalent of Quora, the question “What influence do you think gaokao has had on you?”, garnered more than 250,000 views and a few hundred netizens voicing opinions based on their own experience. To my surprise, most of them hold quite positive attitudes towards it.

“As an exam that involves big decisions,” one said, “the gaokao is a threshold in life indeed, but being in a good university is not a warranty card for your future success. What efforts you put during your college matters more.”

People’s Daily reported that gaokao sites in the following areas and districts will be staffed with traffic police, and sounding horns will be forbidden to ensure a distraction-free exam environment for the students:

– Guangqumenqiao, Southeast Second Ring Road area (Dongcheng District)
– Guangqiao, Chongwenmen Waidajie, Ping’an Dajie (Xicheng District)
– Erlong Avenue, Wangjing (Chaoyang district)
– Zhongguancun, Wangquanhe Road area (Haidian District)

Traffic authorities also remind the public that those areas are very likely to see traffic congestion at times before and after the exam (7-9am, 11.30am-1pm, 2-3pm, 4.30-6pm).

Photo: Pixabay

After the release of gaokao results, the Chinese equivalent of college entrance examinations, quite a few Beijing students have hired consultants to help them decide their future.  The consultants assist students in making the most important decision of their lives: which college to attend. And they charge accordingly.

Consultancy institutes charge from a few thousand RMB to tens of thousands of RMB, with the highest cost being RMB 100,000 (USD 15,190), for their services.

As an example, the Beijing Youth Daily selects Yingding Education, whose website shows their fee differs based on the consultant’s level.  “Professional consultants and experts on college application” cost RMB 4,980 to RMB 19,800 to consult, while the president of the company is an instant RMB 98,000.

Many centers charge by the hour, with one-on-one service priced at RMB 500 per hour.

No Guarantees

The consultants assist in choosing universities, often helping with the college application process, but do not guarantee college acceptance. The consultancy fee is non-refundable.

The high cost and no guarantee has not discouraged parents and students from seeking their services, though. According to a survey by Legal Evening Post, 30 percent of students hire a consultant.

In fact, parents might start seeking consultants when their children are still high school seniors. Highly sought consultants, such as the dean of Shengdaxin Education, are booked solid despite the RMB 28,800 consultancy fee.

College Application as Important as Grades

Even with good exam results and high grades, a student could miss out on their dream university if their application is not up to par. Hence, 70 percent of high-scoring students seek professional guidance to help them get into the top universities of their choice.

Photo: Mount Ida College

June 7-9 marked the passage of this year’s National Higher Education Entrance Examination (NCEE) – better known as gaokao. This annual, multi-day examination is taken by high school students across the country to determine university placement. For many families, this is a make-or-break event that decides their child’s fate – whether they attend a top-tier university like Tsinghua or Peking University, or languish in a third-rate institution from the provinces. Here, we round up some of the best links from around the web.

• 
  For the fifth year in a row, the number of gaokao participants has declined compared to the past year (China Daily). There were 9.12 million test takers in 2013 – 30,000 less compared to 2012. This was attributed to a decrease in the gaokao-aged population.
• The Shanghaiist‘s own roundup linked to extreme new security measures, such as the banning of bras with metal clasps and door-to-door video surveillance of exam papers being delivered for the gaokao. Some students have resorted taking the pill to control period pain, while local residents were urged to use public transport to reduce traffic for students going to their exams.
• The Global Times has been reprinting "ridiculous" gaokao questions on its Facebook page, comments Beijing Cream. One question asked students to write about the "more important things": "Everyday [sic]we strive for what we think is important, but there are more important things in this world. People have different opinions on the matter. Please select a point of view and write an essay about your thoughts." Anthony Tao, in Beijing Cream fashion, obliges with an essay from the point of view of a rubber duck.
• Celebrities and other public figures wished students well on their exams using the Weibo hashtag #高考祝福 (gaokao zhufu). Tenor Pang Long (@feilongzaitian) wrote: "Gaokao candidates, relax your mind, welcome challenges with joy, and soar bravely along the journey of life. Jiayou!" Actress Chen Shu (@chenshublog) wrote: "Tomorrow is the beginning of gaokao. Students have prepared for this moment for a long time, and it is finally time to take the exam. The results of the gaokao can change a person’s life; for this reason, you mustn’t give up. But you should also know that a person’s life is not pre-determined, so do not only chase results. Jiayou, students! Give it your all and sprint to the finish! Once you’re done, you will have to meet a new journey."
• A new measure allowed migrant students to take the gaokao away from home for the first time, according to China Daily. In the past, migrant students were allowed to attend school in the city where their parents worked, but had to return home to take the gaokao. This measure is designed to address inequalities in the education system.
• After the gaokao, China Daily published photos of relieved students and their relatives, including the one pictured above (see here and here for more).

Results for the gaokao will be available at the end of June. But for now, millions of students will take a well-deserved break.

Photo: China Daily

Our sister site thebeijinger.com has a new column, To Savor for Later, featuring interesting China related long reads, including a couple on Chinese education:

 “Cramming for College at Beijing’s Second High” by April Rabkin
Fast Company
Fascinating, funny account of Chinese students – those who defend the gaokao and those who don’t. Written by a foreign reporter who returns to the Beijing high school where she was an exchange student. (3900 words)

Excerpt: “For many years, long hair, perms, and hair dye were banned, though it could be a sign of China’s baby-step liberalization that girls may now grow out their locks. ‘Before, they didn’t. That was a violation of our human hair rights!’ says Yang Keyang, a senior with long braids whose English names include Coppelia, Pealina, Coco, and Rosalind. (English names being one of the few areas of total liberty for the students, she chose those–all of them.)”

“Stuck in the Middle: Inside China’s Art Cram Schools” by Guo Juan, translated by Michael Einar Engstrom
LEAP: The International Art Magazine of Contemporary China
What does it mean to cram for an art exam in China? Another article about the institutions and rituals that spring up in response to the pressure-cooker Chinese educational system, but from the angle of a niche field of study that one might expect to offer its students more of an outlet for creativity. (2849 words)

Excerpt: “In the materials room of one school there is a so-called ‘CAA Gray Series’ of colors, said to be made at the peculiar whim of a CAA [China Academy of Art] graduate according to the preferred pigmentations as mixed at CAA. Before, it was popular practice to have examinees mix their own watercolors, but now, even this step can be skipped. The phrase ‘a good sense of color’ is no longer applicable, as all a student has to do is use the existing colors correctly.”

 Read more here.

An enlightening article in the China Daily this morning indicates that increasing numbers of Chinese high schoolers are opting out of China’s standard college entrance examination in favor of taking the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), the exam used by most American colleges as a determinant for admission.

 Students and parents alike appear to prefer their chances with universities in the United States, where there are more opportunities to study in "name-brand"  universities than in China, where competition is intense and the quality level (and associated perceptions) drop off heavily after the top 10 or 20 schools.

And unlike China’s college entrance system where there are minimum scores required not just for entrance to the school but for individual departments as well, US colleges tend to allow more freedom of choice in majors, expanding the opportunities for students to study what they want, not merely what they can test into.

 Some other surprising stats from the article:

— 41% of 3,000 mainland parents surveyed last year by international education company EF plan to send their kids abroad right after high school;

— The number of mainland undergraduates in American universities has more than doubled in the past 2 years;

 — In addition to a proliferation of private training centers, an increasing number of public high schools in China are adding SAT training to the curriculum;

 — The fact that the SAT test is not offered in the mainland has ushered in a mini SAT test tourism boom for travel agents.

 With mainland students’ well-honed study skills, an educational system long fixated on "teaching to the test", and an ever-growing class of wealthy families that can afford the cost of overseas study ( "More than 1 million yuan is the basic," according to a quote in the China Daily article), look for this trend to increase in the future.

Look for this trend to also increase the pace of educational reform in the mainland as officials begin to see more and more of the privileged class heading overseas at earlier and earlier ages.