The Equity of Gaokao (National University/College Entrance Examination) in China

Abstract

Gaokao, the college/university entrance examination, has been playing a decisive role in the access of higher education in China since 1949. This high-stakes examination has received increasing criticisms these years about the contents and forms of the exam. This article brie+y examines the development of Gaokao, and focuses on the equity of educational opportunities the examinees can have in different provinces and rural and urban areas, which is the critical way to individual success and the promotion of social mobility. There is inequity of educational opportunities in different provinces as well as the rural and urban areas. The Ministry of Education (MoE) in China has adopted optional examination approaches, inequity, however, arises in them too. Remedial reform is implemented and Gaokao at present is still the effective system while optional system is available.