The General Upper Middle School Graduation Examination: A Major Reform in the Examination System

Abstract

Since the general upper middle school graduation examination (hereafter abbreviated as "general graduation exam") began to be implemented in Shanghai in 1985, already by 1992 there are twenty-nine provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities under the direct jurisdiction of the central government in which the general graduation exam has been or is implemented. At the same time, broader steps have also been taken in the reform of the college/university entrance examination system. These are major reforms in the examination systems for higher education and secondary education in this country since the founding of the People's Republic. These reforms have elicited broad and significant attention on the part of society at large. The Educational Science special edition of Guangming ribao (Guangming Daily) launched a discussion of the subject: "How I Perceive the Upper Middle School Graduation Examination" starting in April of this year. In my opinion, such a discussion and forum of opinions are positive occurrences, and very much needed. It is our intention, through this kind of debate and discussion from various perspectives, to unite our thinking, promote the benefits and eliminate the shortcomings in the system(s), and further promote and improve the reform of the examination systems.