Latest news with #universityentrance
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- General
- Malay Mail
‘Gaokao' season starts in China, with 13 million students facing the country's toughest university entrance exam
BEIJING, June 7 — Hopeful parents accompanied their teenage children to the gates of a busy Beijing test centre on Saturday, among millions of high school students across China sitting their first day of the highly competitive university entrance exam. Nationwide, 13.35 million students have registered for the multi-subject 'gaokao' series this year, according to the Ministry of Education, down from last year's record-high 13.42 million test takers. Outside the central Beijing secondary school, a proud parent who gave her name as Chen said '12 years of hard work have finally led to this moment' — as she waved a fan in front of her daughter while the student reviewed her notes one last time before the test. 'We know our kids have endured so much hardship,' Chen told AFP, adding that she was not nervous. 'I'm actually quite excited. I think my child is excellent, and I'm sure she will get the best score,' she said. China's gaokao requires students to use all their knowledge acquired to this point, testing them on subjects including Chinese, English, mathematics, science and humanities. School staff members cheer on students as they enter a school during China's National College Entrance Examination, known as 'gaokao'. — AFP pic The exam results are critical for gaining admission to university — and determining whether they will attend a prestigious or more modest institution. While teachers and staff offered students their support, holding up signs of encouragement, some test takers, dressed in school uniforms, appeared panicked, including a girl with tears in her eyes. 'There's no need for us parents to add pressure. The children are already under a lot of it,' said a woman named Wang, whose son had just entered the exam hall. Like many mothers, she wore a traditional Chinese qipao in hopes of bringing good luck. 'I hope my son achieves immediate success and gets his name on the (list of high-scoring candidates),' Wang said with a smile. Higher education has expanded rapidly in China in recent decades as an economic boom pushed up living standards — as well as parents' expectations for their children's careers. But the job market for young graduates remains daunting. As of April, 15.8 percent of people aged 16 to 24 living in urban areas were unemployed, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. Due to this pressure, many Chinese students prepare for the gaokao from a young age, often with extra lessons after the regular school day. Hopeful parents accompanied their teenage children to the gates of a busy Beijing test centre on Saturday, among millions of high school students across China sitting their first day of the highly competitive university entrance exam. — AFP pic 'Safe gaokao' And every year education authorities are on guard against cheating and disruptions during the exam. This week, China's Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang called for a 'safe gaokao', stressing the importance of a rigorous campaign against cheating. Areas around exam centres are closely guarded by police, with road lanes closed to traffic and several cities banning motorists from honking their horns so as not to disrupt the concentration of students. In some schools, facial recognition is even used to prevent fraud. While the university admission rate for gaokao test takers has exceeded 80-90 per cent in recent years, many students disappointed with their results choose to repeat the exam. As there is no age limit for the test, some have become notorious for attempting the exam dozens of times, either after failing it or not getting into their top-choice university. Parents wait for their children during the first day of China's National College Entrance Examination. — AFP pic One teacher at the Beijing school where parents saw off their children on Saturday estimated that only about 10 of the approximately 600 final-year students there would earn a place at one of the capital's top universities. Jiang, a final-year high school student who only gave one name, said he dreamt of attending a Beijing university, and was remaining calm shortly before his Chinese exam. 'Even though the pressure is intense, it's actually quite fair,' he told AFP. 'I feel like all the preparations that needed to be made have been made, so there's really no point in being nervous now, right? 'Whatever happens, happens. It's truly not something I can completely control.' — AFP
Asharq Al-Awsat
4 days ago
- General
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Millions Sit China's High-Stakes University Entrance Exam
Hopeful parents accompanied their teenage children to the gates of a busy Beijing test center on Saturday, among millions of high school students across China sitting their first day of the highly competitive university entrance exam. Nationwide, 13.35 million students have registered for the multi-subject "gaokao" series this year, according to the Ministry of Education, down from last year's record-high 13.42 million test takers. Outside the central Beijing secondary school, a proud parent who gave her name as Chen said "12 years of hard work have finally led to this moment" -- as she waved a fan in front of her daughter while the student reviewed her notes one last time before the test. "We know our kids have endured so much hardship," Chen told AFP, adding that she was not nervous. "I'm actually quite excited. I think my child is excellent, and I'm sure she will get the best score," she said. China's gaokao requires students to use all their knowledge acquired to this point, testing them on subjects including Chinese, English, mathematics, science and humanities. The exam results are critical for gaining admission to university and determining whether they will attend a prestigious or more modest institution. While teachers and staff offered students their support, holding up signs of encouragement, some test takers, dressed in school uniforms, appeared panicked, including a girl with tears in her eyes. "There's no need for us parents to add pressure. The children are already under a lot of it," said a woman named Wang, whose son had just entered the exam hall. Like many mothers, she wore a traditional Chinese qipao in hopes of bringing good luck. "I hope my son achieves immediate success and gets his name on the (list of high-scoring candidates)," Wang said with a smile. Higher education has expanded rapidly in China in recent decades as an economic boom pushed up living standards -- as well as parents' expectations for their children's careers. But the job market for young graduates remains daunting. As of April, 15.8 percent of people aged 16 to 24 living in urban areas were unemployed, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. Due to this pressure, many Chinese students prepare for the gaokao from a young age, often with extra lessons after the regular school day. - 'Safe gaokao' - And every year education authorities are on guard against cheating and disruptions during the exam. This week, China's Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang called for a "safe gaokao", stressing the importance of a rigorous campaign against cheating. Areas around exam centers are closely guarded by police, with road lanes closed to traffic and several cities banning motorists from honking their horns so as not to disrupt the concentration of students. In some schools, facial recognition is even used to prevent fraud. While the university admission rate for gaokao test takers has exceeded 80-90 percent in recent years, many students disappointed with their results choose to repeat the exam. As there is no age limit for the test, some have become notorious for attempting the exam dozens of times, either after failing it or not getting into their top-choice university. One teacher at the Beijing school where parents saw off their children on Saturday estimated that only about 10 of the approximately 600 final-year students there would earn a place at one of the capital's top universities. Jiang, a final-year high school student who only gave one name, said he dreamed of attending a Beijing university, and was remaining calm shortly before his Chinese exam. "Even though the pressure is intense, it's actually quite fair," he told AFP. "I feel like all the preparations that needed to be made have been made, so there's really no point in being nervous now, right? "Whatever happens, happens. It's truly not something I can completely control."
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Millions sit China's high-stakes university entrance exam
Hopeful parents accompanied their teenage children to the gates of a busy Beijing test centre on Saturday, among millions of high school students across China sitting their first day of the highly competitive university entrance exam. Nationwide, 13.35 million students have registered for the multi-subject "gaokao" series this year, according to the Ministry of Education, down from last year's record-high 13.42 million test takers. Outside the central Beijing secondary school, a proud parent who gave her name as Chen said "12 years of hard work have finally led to this moment" -- as she waved a fan in front of her daughter while the student reviewed her notes one last time before the test. "We know our kids have endured so much hardship," Chen told AFP, adding that she was not nervous. "I'm actually quite excited. I think my child is excellent, and I'm sure she will get the best score," she said. China's gaokao requires students to use all their knowledge acquired to this point, testing them on subjects including Chinese, English, mathematics, science and humanities. The exam results are critical for gaining admission to university -- and determining whether they will attend a prestigious or more modest institution. While teachers and staff offered students their support, holding up signs of encouragement, some test takers, dressed in school uniforms, appeared panicked, including a girl with tears in her eyes. "There's no need for us parents to add pressure. The children are already under a lot of it," said a woman named Wang, whose son had just entered the exam hall. Like many mothers, she wore a traditional Chinese qipao in hopes of bringing good luck. "I hope my son achieves immediate success and gets his name on the (list of high-scoring candidates)," Wang said with a smile. Higher education has expanded rapidly in China in recent decades as an economic boom pushed up living standards -- as well as parents' expectations for their children's careers. But the job market for young graduates remains daunting. As of April, 15.8 percent of people aged 16 to 24 living in urban areas were unemployed, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. Due to this pressure, many Chinese students prepare for the gaokao from a young age, often with extra lessons after the regular school day. - 'Safe gaokao' - And every year education authorities are on guard against cheating and disruptions during the exam. This week, China's Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang called for a "safe gaokao", stressing the importance of a rigorous campaign against cheating. Areas around exam centres are closely guarded by police, with road lanes closed to traffic and several cities banning motorists from honking their horns so as not to disrupt the concentration of students. In some schools, facial recognition is even used to prevent fraud. While the university admission rate for gaokao test takers has exceeded 80-90 percent in recent years, many students disappointed with their results choose to repeat the exam. As there is no age limit for the test, some have become notorious for attempting the exam dozens of times, either after failing it or not getting into their top-choice university. One teacher at the Beijing school where parents saw off their children on Saturday estimated that only about 10 of the approximately 600 final-year students there would earn a place at one of the capital's top universities. Jiang, a final-year high school student who only gave one name, said he dreamt of attending a Beijing university, and was remaining calm shortly before his Chinese exam. "Even though the pressure is intense, it's actually quite fair," he told AFP. "I feel like all the preparations that needed to be made have been made, so there's really no point in being nervous now, right? "Whatever happens, happens. It's truly not something I can completely control." aas/sco/mtp
Arab News
4 days ago
- General
- Arab News
Millions sit China's high-stakes university entrance exam
BEIJING: Hopeful parents accompanied their teenage children to the gates of a busy Beijing test center on Saturday, among millions of high school students across China sitting their first day of the highly competitive university entrance 13.35 million students have registered for the multi-subject 'gaokao' series this year, according to the Ministry of Education, down from last year's record-high 13.42 million test the central Beijing secondary school, a proud parent who gave her name as Chen said '12 years of hard work have finally led to this moment' – as she waved a fan in front of her daughter while the student reviewed her notes one last time before the test.'We know our kids have endured so much hardship,' Chen said, adding that she was not nervous.'I'm actually quite excited. I think my child is excellent, and I'm sure she will get the best score,' she gaokao requires students to use all their knowledge acquired to this point, testing them on subjects including Chinese, English, mathematics, science and exam results are critical for gaining admission to university – and determining whether they will attend a prestigious or more modest teachers and staff offered students their support, holding up signs of encouragement, some test takers, dressed in school uniforms, appeared panicked, including a girl with tears in her eyes.'There's no need for us parents to add pressure. The children are already under a lot of it,' said a woman named Wang, whose son had just entered the exam many mothers, she wore a traditional Chinese qipao in hopes of bringing good luck.'I hope my son achieves immediate success and gets his name on the (list of high-scoring candidates),' Wang said with a education has expanded rapidly in China in recent decades as an economic boom pushed up living standards – as well as parents' expectations for their children's the job market for young graduates remains of April, 15.8 percent of people aged 16 to 24 living in urban areas were unemployed, according to the National Bureau of to this pressure, many Chinese students prepare for the gaokao from a young age, often with extra lessons after the regular school every year education authorities are on guard against cheating and disruptions during the week, China's Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang called for a 'safe gaokao,' stressing the importance of a rigorous campaign against around exam centers are closely guarded by police, with road lanes closed to traffic and several cities banning motorists from honking their horns so as not to disrupt the concentration of some schools, facial recognition is even used to prevent the university admission rate for gaokao test takers has exceeded 80-90 percent in recent years, many students disappointed with their results choose to repeat the there is no age limit for the test, some have become notorious for attempting the exam dozens of times, either after failing it or not getting into their top-choice teacher at the Beijing school where parents saw off their children on Saturday estimated that only about 10 of the approximately 600 final-year students there would earn a place at one of the capital's top a final-year high school student who only gave one name, said he dreamt of attending a Beijing university, and was remaining calm shortly before his Chinese exam.'Even though the pressure is intense, it's actually quite fair,' he said.'I feel like all the preparations that needed to be made have been made, so there's really no point in being nervous now, right?'Whatever happens, happens. It's truly not something I can completely control.'
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Jamb 2025: Nigeria's exam body admits 'glitch' amid low pass rate
Nigeria's national examination body has admitted to a "technical glitch" which compromised some results of this year's university-entrance exams, after nearly 80% of students got low have complained about not being able to log in to the computers, questions not showing up and power cuts making it impossible to take the low pass rate has sparked widespread outrage, especially after one candidate took her own Opesusi Timileyin, 19, who was aspiring to study microbiology at university, died after swallowing poison, her family said. Her father and elder sister told the BBC that she had sat the exam for the second time and got 146 marks out of 400, lower than the 193 she had last year."The pain made her take her own life," her father, Oluwafemi Opesusi, told BBC 200 or above out of 400 is enough to get a place in 400,000 of the 1.9 million students achieved that mark, one of the worst performances in recent student, Favour Eke, told BBC Igbo that 10 of the 165 questions didn't appear on the screen - all she could see was the multiple choice options for the answers."We were told to omit the blank questions and continue the exam but it was very hard to concentrate after that," she has also experienced technical problems getting her results, meaning she is very unlikely to get into university this year - the third time she has taken the sat the test in the capital, Abuja, which is not one of the centres where students can retake their exams, leaving her completely exams body has apologised for the "painful damage" and "the trauma that it has subjected affected Nigerians".In a press conference, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (Jamb) registrar Ishaq Oloyede broke down in tears as he announced that almost 380,000 candidates in 157 affected centres from a total of 887, would be able to retake their exams starting from zones that are most affected are Lagos and several states in the blamed a failure of the computer system to upload exam responses by candidates in these areas during the first days of the said an "unusual level of public concerns and loud complaints" had "prompted us to do an immediate audit or review". Ordinarily, this would have happened in June, it national exam, known as the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), is a computer-based test that is a requirement for those joining universities and other tertiary 2025 test, which was conducted in March, was marred by disruptions due to power outages in some head of the exams body earlier this week defended the poor results, saying they reflected the "true academic abilities" of the students and were because of a clampdown on Nigerians on social media have been calling for accountability, with some seeking Oloyede's figure Peter Obi said that while the admission of fault was commendable, the issue raised "a very concerning issue on glitches and the grave havoc" in critical activist Rinu Oduala said it was "incompetence. It's educational sabotage. He should be arrested immediately."Additional reporting by Chukwunaeme Obiejesi, Andrew Gift and Marvelous Obomanu in Nigeria You may also be interested in: 'I screamed': Nigerian Doctor Who fan thrilled show is coming to LagosHusband of late Nigerian gospel singer sentenced to deathNigerians fear savings lost as investment app freezes them outNigerian bandit kingpin and 100 followers killed Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
