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How tough is Gaokao, the world's most intense exam? A comparison with India's JEE
How tough is Gaokao, the world's most intense exam? A comparison with India's JEE

Time of India

time5 days ago

  • General
  • Time of India

How tough is Gaokao, the world's most intense exam? A comparison with India's JEE

College entrance exams occupy a pivotal place in the academic journey. The fierce competition, the vast range of subjects to master, and the anxiety of unpredictable challenges can leave students feeling overwhelmed. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Every year, millions of students navigate this exam frenzy, and studies have sought to rank these competitive tests, declaring which one reigns as the most gruelling. Factors such as subject variety, depth, scope, and competition are all measured to determine which exam takes the crown as the world's most intense. The winner? China's Gaokao, with India's Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) securing a spot in the top three and potentially competing to reign supreme in the list. Both exams share striking similarities, they attract millions of candidates, demand years of preparation, and offer life-changing opportunities to those who succeed. However, they differ fundamentally in their approach to academic assessment. Gaokao tests a broad knowledge base across multiple subjects, while JEE delves deep into mathematical and scientific understanding. Gaokao is a one-time test with no second chances, whereas JEE offers multiple attempts, albeit with intensifying competition each year. The question that captivates educators, parents, and students alike is both simple and complex: Which of these academic giants is truly more challenging? The answer not only reflects the nature of these exams but also provides insight into the educational philosophies and cultural values of two of the world's most populous nations. China's Gaokao: An exam that makes a nation hold its breath In China, the Gaokao is more than just a test, it's a national event. When exam day arrives, traffic gets diverted, construction work stops, and even flights are rerouted to keep noise levels down. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now That's how seriously the country takes this exam. The numbers tell the story. Over 12 million students sit for Gaokao each year, all competing for spots at top universities. The most prestigious institutions, like Peking University and Tsinghua University, accept barely 0.1% of applicants. To put that in perspective, getting into Harvard is actually easier. What makes Gaokao so tough? It's not just one subject, students must master Chinese, maths, and English, plus choose between science subjects (physics, chemistry, biology) or humanities (history, geography, politics). The exam runs for two full days, testing everything from complex equations to essay writing. Students spend their entire high school years preparing, with many undergoing continuous, rigorous training throughout their schooling. The preparation is so intense that it becomes a way of life. There's no second chance, your Gaokao score determines which university you can attend, which often shapes your entire career path. India's JEE: The engineering dream factory Meanwhile, in India, the JEE serves as the gateway to the country's most coveted engineering colleges. The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are so prestigious that getting in is considered a badge of honour for life. The competition is fierce. Around 1.5 million students take the JEE each year, but only about 200,000 make it to the advanced level. The dream is fulfilled for only 1% students. These odds make JEE one of the most competitive exams on the planet. Unlike Gaokao's broad approach, JEE focuses entirely on three subjects: maths, physics, and chemistry. But don't let that fool you—the questions are incredibly challenging. They test not just what you know, but how well you can think under pressure and solve complex problems. The exam format includes both JEE Main (held twice yearly) and JEE Advanced (for the top performers), creating a two-tier system that adds another layer of competition. Many students start preparing for JEE two to four years in advance, often attending special coaching classes alongside regular school. These coaching institutes have become a massive industry in India, with some charging hefty fees for their specialised programmes. The pressure is immense, as success can transform a student's life and their family's future. Which exam is tougher? Comparing these two giants isn't straightforward, they're difficult in different ways. Time structure Gaokao is like running a marathon. It covers many subjects over two days, requiring students to memorise vast amounts of information and write detailed answers. The mental and physical stamina needed is enormous. JEE is more like a sprint. Students get three hours to solve highly complex problems in maths, physics, and chemistry. The time pressure is intense, and there's no room for mistakes. Subjects Gaokao tests knowledge across multiple subjects, from literature to science to social studies. Students need to be good at everything. JEE goes deep into just three subjects. Students must understand concepts so well they can apply them to solve problems they've never seen before. Frequency and second chances Gaokao happens once a year, and that's it. Your score on those two days determines your future. JEE offers more flexibility, students can take the main exam twice a year and have multiple attempts. But this also means the competition keeps getting tougher as students retake the test. Global reputation Both exams are gaining international recognition. Some universities abroad now accept Gaokao scores for admission, particularly in Europe and the US. JEE Advanced scores are accepted by universities in Singapore, Australia, and the UAE for engineering programmes. So which is harder? The honest answer? Both are incredibly difficult in their own ways. Gaokao challenges students with its sheer scope and scale. Managing multiple subjects, memorising enormous amounts of information, and performing under pressure for two days straight is extraordinary. With 12 million students competing, the numbers alone make it daunting. JEE challenges students with its depth and complexity. The problems require years of practice to master, and the level of mathematical and scientific thinking demanded is exceptional. The 1% acceptance rate at IITs speaks volumes about the competition. What this means for students For the millions of young people taking these exams, the debate over which is harder misses the point. Both tests represent years of sacrifice, intense study, and enormous pressure. They're not just academic challenges, they're life-defining moments that can open doors to incredible opportunities. Whether it's a Chinese student hoping to study at Tsinghua or an Indian student dreaming of IIT, these exams represent the pursuit of excellence in education. They're tough because the rewards, access to world-class education and career opportunities, are so valuable.

Explained: Why China's Gaokao Is Considered The World's Toughest Exam
Explained: Why China's Gaokao Is Considered The World's Toughest Exam

NDTV

time5 days ago

  • General
  • NDTV

Explained: Why China's Gaokao Is Considered The World's Toughest Exam

The Gaokao exam, considered one of the toughest in the world, requires students to take extreme measures to achieve top scores - including "use of IV drips, meant to help them concentrate while studying", "teenage girls taking contraceptives to delay their periods until after the test", and enduring poor quality and quantity of sleep, according to South China Morning Post (SCMP). What is Gaokao and How Did It Get So Hard? Gaokao, a Chinese word meaning "high test," refers to the National Higher Education Entrance Examination. It is typically conducted every June and lasts about 10 hours over multiple days. The Gaokao examination tests three main subjects- Mathematics, Chinese Language and a Foreign Language and three other subjects specific to the students' education and career goals. The other subjects are chosen from Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Politics, History and Geography. As per the South China Morning Post, some questions that have appeared in the recent Mathematics examinations were considered beyond high school level. In mainland China, Gaokao is the only exam that determines whether a student can get into a university or not. College entrance exams around the world are divided into two main categories - assessment and selective examinations. Assessment examinations such as the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) examination is US reflect the overall academic knowledge of the students, while selective examinations like China's Gaokao and "suneung" in South Korea help select students directly for top universities. More than 10 million candidates have appeared for the GAOKAO examinations since 2019 and in 2024, of the 13.4 million candidates who took the test, only 40 per cent could score enough to get admission in university. There are 2,820 higher education institutions in China and of them, only 115 have been included in Project 211, a program that determines the Institute's excellence in education. Getting admission into these universities is expected to help students secure a bright future ahead. The national average acceptance rate at Project 211 schools is only 5 per cent, meaning that in 2024, each of the top 115 universities admitted, on average, just 5,800 students out of 13.4 million applicants. On an average, Chinese students spent 60 hours per week studying and some even stop going to Middle school to solely focus on their Gaokao exam with the help of private tutor. The pressure of Gaokao begins early, often in middle school, and is known to cause severe stress, anxiety, and depression. More than half of the students who committed suicide in Shenzen, China did so while under extreme pressure, as per the report published by Shenzen's bureau of education.

Chinese Teen Locked Out By Parents Over Low University Exam Score: 'Don't Ask Us For Help'
Chinese Teen Locked Out By Parents Over Low University Exam Score: 'Don't Ask Us For Help'

News18

time6 days ago

  • News18

Chinese Teen Locked Out By Parents Over Low University Exam Score: 'Don't Ask Us For Help'

Xiaokai, a high school student in China, was locked out by his parents after scoring 575 in the Gaokao exam. A high school student in China was reportedly locked out of his home by his parents after they expressed disappointment with his performance in the country's national college entrance exam, according to a report by the South China Morning Post. The incident took place in Huaihua in central Hunan province where a student, identified as Xiaokai, scored 575 out of a possible 750 in Gaokao- China's notoriously competitive university entrance examination. While the score is considered strong by national standards, Xiaokai's parents believed it fell short of expectations for entry into one of China's prestigious '985" universities- a network of 39 elite institutions known for their academic excellence and competitive admissions. Xiaokai, once a top-performing student, reportedly saw a decline in his academic focus after his parents bought him a mobile phone two years ago. His parents blamed the device for his perceived distraction and poor performance, accusing him of skipping classes and spending excessive time on the phone. 'He even played truant to spend time with the gadget," his father told SCMP. His father gave him an ultimatum to either return home and strictly follow their rules or leave and find work to support himself. Xiaokai, currently awaiting his admission result- expected mid-July- turned to local media for help. Speaking to Hunan TV, he said his parents made it clear they would not pay for his university education unless he secured a spot in a top university. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

My son just cleared Class XII. But do Board exams even matter today?
My son just cleared Class XII. But do Board exams even matter today?

Indian Express

time7 days ago

  • General
  • Indian Express

My son just cleared Class XII. But do Board exams even matter today?

It is that time of the year when children who finish school pack their bags for the next phase of their lives. Last week, my son's school had a felicitation ceremony for the Class XII students who had done well in the CBSE Board exams. The plans of the top three students revealed how little those results mattered. The first was an engineering aspirant who was going to go where his JEE rank would take him. The second was taking a gap year to 'find herself' and the third was going to a posh private university in the city which accepts all who can pay their fees. The 98 per cent and 97 per cent on their marksheets were irrelevant to their choices and unlikely to ever matter in their lives. Class X and XII Board exams have been a milestone event in the lives of generations of Indians. Families would go to great lengths to ensure that the child is not distracted, switching off the TV for the entire year, not taking vacations or entertaining guests. But changes in higher education in recent times have left students, parents and teachers puzzled about the importance of the Board exams. The Class XII Boards were critical because the results would determine which college you got admission into. However, with the introduction of the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) in 2021, the XII Boards performance has become irrelevant to those interested in taking up a BA/BCom or BSc degree. For engineering, there is JEE, most medical colleges are covered under NEET. Architecture, law, design or science research institutes all have their own entrance exams and only require minimum qualifying marks in the XII Boards of 45-50 per cent. Scoring these marks doesn't require burning the midnight oil, so students prefer to prepare for entrance exams and barely even attend classes. So the question is: Why should students care about their performance in the XII Board exams anymore? The Board exams hold great importance only for the tiny slice of well-heeled Indians who are planning to go abroad for their undergraduate studies because the universities in the West use it as an indicator of academic calibre. For the vast majority aiming to study in India, the XII marksheet, once a revered document, is now just another ID proof. Meanwhile, teachers are still trying to adjust to the new reality. They are increasingly dealing with students who have a lackadaisical approach to assignments and tests, many of them not even bothering to submit their work or attend school regularly. China, with whom we like to compare ourselves, has an exacting exam at the end of school called Gaokao. There is no ambiguity about its importance. The Gaokao score is the singular determinant of whether students can enter their preferred university or college. In the three days of June when the exam is held, the government clears roads, arranges transport for the high school students to reach their exam halls and enforces noise control measures around exam centres. On the other hand, we have a dozen different exams, most of which are mired in controversy because either they have been leaked or there were errors in the paper. The NEET 2024 paper leak was only the most high profile among a long line of such fiascos. New reports have tracked down as many as 70 paper leaks in the past decade from competitive exams to state high school exams across Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Telangana, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Bihar. Months later, if at all, the exams are conducted again, crushing aspirants' morale. There are other ways in which competitive exams are flawed. Errors, typos and misprints, are unfortunately all too commonplace, confusing students who waste precious time trying to decode mistakes. The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT), taken by an estimated one lakh students in December 2024, is a case in point. Following an array of confusingly worded questions and wrong answers, several students filed cases against the Consortium of Law Schools, the body that conducts CLAT. After the Supreme Court's intervention, results were declared after a five-month delay. This year's intensely competitive JEE Mains had a record number of incorrectly framed questions. For a 16-17 year old, a public exam is their first brush with the 'system'. They trust the process and assume that the establishment will function as it should. When it doesn't, it is a shock, and cynicism about the country, and their own future in it, is planted early. In its present state, the mere pursuit of higher education in India is daunting and designed to frustrate rather than nurture youthful talent. The grind that children put in for their Board exams must be respected by making each exam have a clear purpose, setting the paper responsibly, and conducting it fairly. That's a small ask for the precious demographic dividend, which is expected to give India its competitive edge for the next couple of decades. The writer is visiting fellow, CSEP

Chinese man with Oxford degree now works as food delivery rider. His story is viral
Chinese man with Oxford degree now works as food delivery rider. His story is viral

India Today

time07-07-2025

  • Business
  • India Today

Chinese man with Oxford degree now works as food delivery rider. His story is viral

The story of a highly-qualified man now working as a food delivery rider in China has triggered a debate about the country's job market and the value of academic Chinese social media sites, Ding Yuanzhao, 39, has been dubbed 'the food delivery worker with the highest education level' after it emerged that he holds degrees from some of the world's most prestigious institutions, including Oxford from the southeastern province of Fujian, Ding's academic journey began when he scored nearly 700 out of 750 in China's rigorous college entrance exam, known as Gaokao, in 2004. This earned him a spot at Tsinghua University, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in chemistry, South China Morning Post reports citing news portal Next, he earned a Master's degree in energy engineering from Peking University, followed by a PhD in biology from Singapore's Nanyang Technological University. His academic pursuits didn't end there, as he also received a Master's degree in biodiversity from the University of Oxford in the switching careers, Ding worked in postdoctoral research at the National University of Singapore. But after his contract expired in March 2024, he struggled to find a job despite appearing for more than 10 to his multiple responsibilities, Ding registered as a food delivery rider in Singapore, where he earned around SG$700 (Rs 46,859 approximately) every week by cycling 10 hours a day.'It is a stable job. I can support my family with this income. If you work hard, you can earn a decent living. It's not a bad job,' Ding said in a social media post, according to the he added a personal benefit to his new routine: 'One advantage of delivering food is that you can get your workout in at the same time.'An avid runner and firm believer in maintaining a positive outlook, Ding offered some advice: 'If you haven't achieved good results, don't be pessimistic or discouraged. If you've done well, keep in mind that most people's work doesn't make much difference in the grand scheme of things.'Ding Yuanzhao, meanwhile, has moved back to China and is currently working as a food delivery worker for Meituan in Beijing.- EndsTune InTrending Reel

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