Chinese students choose to retake gruelling ‘gaokao’ college entrance exam, aiming for a school with more prestige
Even after winning admission, some choose another year of studies in hopes of better scores, and an even better university
For the past three years, Liu Yinuo has been doing little else but grinding away at his studies for the college entrance examination, which is given each June.
This year’s test, from Thursday through Saturday will be the third for Liu, 20, who is hoping for a seat at a top university.
The results from this exam, known as gaokao in China, are the sole criteria that most universities consider when enrolling first-year students. The test, which can make or break a young person’s future, is also intended to help level the playing field between the country’s rich and poor.
In 2016, Liu’s low scores kept him from gaining admission to any college. He then registered at a privately run education institution, spent a year studying and ended up in achieving better marks in last year’s gaokao, winning him a place at Northeastern University in Shenyang, Liaoning province.
But the university, ranked as one of top 100 in China by the state education authority, was still not what he wanted, Liu said.