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Rise in Chinese students shunning state exams for A-levels Rise in Chinese students shunning state exams for A-levels
(4 months later)
With furrowed brows, bleary eyes and overtaxed brains, more than 9 million Chinese teenagers will complete the country's fearsome college entrance exams on Saturday. The two-day, soul-sapping, life-determining gaokao is the stressful summit of China's increasingly pressurised education system.With furrowed brows, bleary eyes and overtaxed brains, more than 9 million Chinese teenagers will complete the country's fearsome college entrance exams on Saturday. The two-day, soul-sapping, life-determining gaokao is the stressful summit of China's increasingly pressurised education system.
Yet Leo He, Nathan Zhang, Sunny Yu and Elaine Yang looked positively relaxed as they strolled through the grounds of their Beijing school this week with pencil cases in hand. While the institution is tucked away in the historic heart of the capital, on a backstreet close to Prince Gong's Mansion, the four students had emerged from an experience familiar to modern British teenagers: an A-level physics exam.Yet Leo He, Nathan Zhang, Sunny Yu and Elaine Yang looked positively relaxed as they strolled through the grounds of their Beijing school this week with pencil cases in hand. While the institution is tucked away in the historic heart of the capital, on a backstreet close to Prince Gong's Mansion, the four students had emerged from an experience familiar to modern British teenagers: an A-level physics exam.
The quartet are among the fast-growing number of students choosing to take the British qualification at Chinese schools, while the number of candidates for the gaokao has fallen for five years in a row. Experts say Chinese students are also opting out: leaving school, turning to vocational studies or, for the wealthy elite, choosing foreign qualifications which allow entry to overseas universities.The quartet are among the fast-growing number of students choosing to take the British qualification at Chinese schools, while the number of candidates for the gaokao has fallen for five years in a row. Experts say Chinese students are also opting out: leaving school, turning to vocational studies or, for the wealthy elite, choosing foreign qualifications which allow entry to overseas universities.
These four teenagers say their parents hope studying abroad will broaden their horizons, improve their language skills and increase their independence. In other cases, families may decide their children have a better chance of reaching a good foreign institution than a top-rank Chinese university.These four teenagers say their parents hope studying abroad will broaden their horizons, improve their language skills and increase their independence. In other cases, families may decide their children have a better chance of reaching a good foreign institution than a top-rank Chinese university.
Cambridge International Examinations says schools in China made 20,000 entries for international AS and A-levels this year, an 18% rise on 2012. Edexcel says candidates have registered for 2,279 A-levels this year, compared with 111 five years ago.Cambridge International Examinations says schools in China made 20,000 entries for international AS and A-levels this year, an 18% rise on 2012. Edexcel says candidates have registered for 2,279 A-levels this year, compared with 111 five years ago.
While some are expatriate children at international schools, the bulk are Chinese students at private Chinese schools or the commercial international wings of state institutions.While some are expatriate children at international schools, the bulk are Chinese students at private Chinese schools or the commercial international wings of state institutions.
"The rapid growth is due to parents wanting their children to experience an international education system and different teaching methodology closer to home [instead of sending them to schools abroad]. It is also seen as an early preparation for overseas studies and immersing [them] fully in English language learning," said Jazreel Goh, director of education marketing for China at the British Council."The rapid growth is due to parents wanting their children to experience an international education system and different teaching methodology closer to home [instead of sending them to schools abroad]. It is also seen as an early preparation for overseas studies and immersing [them] fully in English language learning," said Jazreel Goh, director of education marketing for China at the British Council.
One of the biggest attractions, say observers, is the broader range of subject matter and calmer pace of study. Many feel that the Chinese system, coupled with parental ambitions for only children, puts excessive strain on pupils.One of the biggest attractions, say observers, is the broader range of subject matter and calmer pace of study. Many feel that the Chinese system, coupled with parental ambitions for only children, puts excessive strain on pupils.
Yang Dongping, director of the 21st Century Education Research Institute, said even kindergarten children were now under intense pressure to succeed academically.Yang Dongping, director of the 21st Century Education Research Institute, said even kindergarten children were now under intense pressure to succeed academically.
"From the central government to the society, everyone knows the situation and worries about it," he said, citing everything from suicides among young people to concerns about their physical fitness."From the central government to the society, everyone knows the situation and worries about it," he said, citing everything from suicides among young people to concerns about their physical fitness.
Yang thinks it is unfair to blame the gaokao and believes parental expectations are a bigger problem.Yang thinks it is unfair to blame the gaokao and believes parental expectations are a bigger problem.
Families say they worry too, but are caught in a chain: it is impossible to get children into a good university unless they have gone to a good middle school – which means getting them into the right primary school.Families say they worry too, but are caught in a chain: it is impossible to get children into a good university unless they have gone to a good middle school – which means getting them into the right primary school.
Yet the more relaxed pace of A-levels can look like an easy way out to suspicious adults.Yet the more relaxed pace of A-levels can look like an easy way out to suspicious adults.
"My parents were against me taking them – they said I didn't want to do the gaokao because I was lazy and didn't want to face the pressure," confided Sunny."My parents were against me taking them – they said I didn't want to do the gaokao because I was lazy and didn't want to face the pressure," confided Sunny.
In fact, studying for A-levels poses different rather than lesser challenges, such as working in a second language, the students say.In fact, studying for A-levels poses different rather than lesser challenges, such as working in a second language, the students say.
But the gaokao, thought to have roots in the imperial civil service examination system, is a particularly intense experience. As the test itself approaches, offerings stack up in temples. Hotel prices soar as families book rooms next to exam halls so that their children need not travel from home. Police close streets to ensure that students are not distracted by traffic; one candidate's family hid the news of her father's death for two months rather than upset her.But the gaokao, thought to have roots in the imperial civil service examination system, is a particularly intense experience. As the test itself approaches, offerings stack up in temples. Hotel prices soar as families book rooms next to exam halls so that their children need not travel from home. Police close streets to ensure that students are not distracted by traffic; one candidate's family hid the news of her father's death for two months rather than upset her.
The stakes are so high that parents have been jailed on state secrets charges after plotting to help their children cheat. This year, Jilin province warned examinees not to wear bras with metal clasps or zippered trousers: it has installed ultrasensitive metal detectors to pick up any wireless devices.The stakes are so high that parents have been jailed on state secrets charges after plotting to help their children cheat. This year, Jilin province warned examinees not to wear bras with metal clasps or zippered trousers: it has installed ultrasensitive metal detectors to pick up any wireless devices.
But the real difference between the British and Chinese exams lies in the preparation, say the students. For the gaokao, pupils must memorise great chunks of information and model essays; success increasingly depends on cramming for hours day and night in the years before the test.But the real difference between the British and Chinese exams lies in the preparation, say the students. For the gaokao, pupils must memorise great chunks of information and model essays; success increasingly depends on cramming for hours day and night in the years before the test.
"Where I'm from, in Xinjiang [in north-west China], the good students will sleep only four or five hours a day. The rest they spend on their studies or extra courses. The best students don't even do sports. It's like they burn themselves out – for an exam that lasts two days," said Elaine."Where I'm from, in Xinjiang [in north-west China], the good students will sleep only four or five hours a day. The rest they spend on their studies or extra courses. The best students don't even do sports. It's like they burn themselves out – for an exam that lasts two days," said Elaine.
"Generally, in the Chinese system, the teacher gives you tons of homework to get familiar with the exams and the knowledge. With the A-levels, it's more like the teacher teaching you how to study."Generally, in the Chinese system, the teacher gives you tons of homework to get familiar with the exams and the knowledge. With the A-levels, it's more like the teacher teaching you how to study.
"In maths, a Chinese teacher will give you a formula. In A-levels, they will actually want you not just to use it but to know how you prove it. It's more interesting and it helps you really understand.""In maths, a Chinese teacher will give you a formula. In A-levels, they will actually want you not just to use it but to know how you prove it. It's more interesting and it helps you really understand."
Sunny, another of the 36 students taking AS and A-levels at the Cambridge International Curriculum Centre of the Beijing Normal University, says the course has made her more independent. She also praises the extracurricular activities and free periods: without the time to read books of her own choice, she would not have realised she wanted to major in psychology and philosophy at university.Sunny, another of the 36 students taking AS and A-levels at the Cambridge International Curriculum Centre of the Beijing Normal University, says the course has made her more independent. She also praises the extracurricular activities and free periods: without the time to read books of her own choice, she would not have realised she wanted to major in psychology and philosophy at university.
Yet A-levels may do particularly well in China because they are still relatively focused, bringing them somewhat closer to traditional Chinese education than other overseas courses, suggested Noel Thomas, academic director of the centre.Yet A-levels may do particularly well in China because they are still relatively focused, bringing them somewhat closer to traditional Chinese education than other overseas courses, suggested Noel Thomas, academic director of the centre.
"In some ways it's a more rigid curriculum than I'm used to, but maybe less than they are used to; perhaps it's a nice bridge," said the Australian."In some ways it's a more rigid curriculum than I'm used to, but maybe less than they are used to; perhaps it's a nice bridge," said the Australian.
"Some students just like the gaokao because they feel comfortable with it – it's like they are a machine for studying," said Leo, adding that the transition to the British system can be something of a shock."Some students just like the gaokao because they feel comfortable with it – it's like they are a machine for studying," said Leo, adding that the transition to the British system can be something of a shock.
"But gradually you get used to this and then it would be hard to go back. With the gaokao there's a lot of knowledge, but I don't think you actually use it – in college or in life."But gradually you get used to this and then it would be hard to go back. With the gaokao there's a lot of knowledge, but I don't think you actually use it – in college or in life.
"With A-levels, of course we're here for the exam, but we've also learned something else: how to think.""With A-levels, of course we're here for the exam, but we've also learned something else: how to think."
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