The Pressure of Gaokao: An Accelerated Path to College in China

I study in a public school in China, where the notorious Gaokao exam holds significant importance for students. This one-time test is believed to determine our entire future. As a result, we find ourselves constantly repeating and memorizing materials, engaging in countless practice sessions, and forgetting the true essence of education. Most schools finish all the contents in two years and use the third year to review the contents. However, our school has chosen 40 smart kids from middle school to skip grade 9 and take grade 10 courses while we are still in grade 9. This allows us to complete all the courses by early first semester of grade 11, leaving us almost 2 years to repeat the material. Unfortunately, we have become so consumed by this exam that we fail to realize it is not the sole defining factor in our lives.'}