Views: Experimental Tests

(Beijing) -- Education officials recently announced an overhaul of the nation's university entrance exam, or gaokao. The plans, outlined in a State Council circular, are intended to ease the pressure on students while promoting greater fairness and transparency, Vice Education Minister Du Yubo said on September 4.

Under the new proposals, university admissions will rely less on the results of the two-day national exam, or gaokao, and more on standardized tests students take over their high school career. Currently, the gaokao comprises four tests: Chinese, English, mathematics and one that covers three subjects related to either humanities (politics, history and geography) or science (biology, chemistry and physics), depending on which stream the pupil is in.