The Goal is 高考 (gāo kǎo)

The most prominent feature of pre-college education in China is the sheer degree of studying. Most students don't have extracurriculars; unless they plan to be an athlete, musician, etc, all of their time is spent studying, studying, and more studying.

There are after school study/cram classes that most everyone takes, and these classes often last until sunset and even later--coming back home at 9 or 10 was not uncommon. There have been extreme cases where students stayed in class through the night if they couldn't understand the material, so they stayed in school for over 24 hours straight. In addition, the teachers in school classes and cram sessions often put as much effort into the students' success as the students; in those cases where the students couldn't leave school until they understood the content, the teachers also stayed in school with the students.

All of these classes only served one purpose; to prepare the students for a once in a lifetime standardized test, called the 高考 (gāo kǎo). This test alone would determine the colleges and universities that one could enter, and is only offered once per year. If one was sick on that day, one would have to go and take it anyway; there are no second chances. The emphasis on this test is also seen in the families of students; I have heard stories of families booking multiple hotel rooms near the 高考 sites when the testing day neared--but only occupying one. The other couple of rooms? Left empty as a wall of silence so the student can study in peace. The effect of 高考 can additionally be seen citywide. Construction stops, police cars patrol silently, and a hush falls over the streets as everything quiets for the children taking the test.

My opinion on the 高考 goes both ways; it builds outstanding habits of diligence and time management into students, things that are vital to their success later in an increasingly competitive society. However, it is only one measure of the student’s success--a miniscule window into what he/she is like as a person. Memorization and hard facts does not facilitate thinking outside the box; instead, it shuts the box down tight. An increasing number of Chinese students now choose to apply to colleges and universities overseas instead of undergoing the 高考 process, and it is now seen as a viable option for many students who prefer another form of education.