Gaiko Essay

       For four years, Chinese students must prepare for the gaoko, a test that essentially determines their entire futures. Their admittance to colleges and universities is based solely on their score-if they don't score well, they are forced to work at a factory doing manual labor or as a construction worker. Needless to say, they are given unimaginable workloads and pushed to the breaking point. I believe that the gaoko puts too much pressure on students and shouldn't be the only factor that determines their admittance to universities.
       The gaoko puts too much pressure on students. They know that in order to do well later in life, they must score well on the test, therefore they feel a ton of pressure to succeed and put all of their time and effort into studying. There is no time to relax or take a break-all they do is study, which is just unhealthy. Some have even taken extreme measures which allow them to constantly study. For example, in the article, "China's Cram Schools" by Brook Larmer, it states "Two years ago, a student posted a shocking photograph online: a classroom full of students all hooked up to intravenous drips to give them the strength to keep studying." This shows that students will go to extreme lengths just to study. Also, the pressure of the gaoko has been so great that some students have even took their own lives. In the article it says "Its critics say it...puts excessive pressure on students. Teenage suicide rates begin to rise as the gaokao nears." Overall, the gaoko is too much pressure for students.
        It is unfair that the gaoko scores are the only factor that is considered in determining the students who are admitted into universities. Going to a university is really the only path to a good education and career for many Chinese students. As it says in "China's Cram Schools", "But for those of limited means, like Yang, there is no alternative to the gaoko; a few points either way could determine whether he qualifies for a degree that could change his life--or nothing." This shows that students who are less fortunate must score well on the test to get a proper education and have a promising future-otherwise they face the consequence of a lifetime of hard labor. This is very unfair for them-a test should not be the only thing riding on their chance at education and a good future.
        In conclusion, the gaoko and the preparation involved with taking it is flawed in many ways. It puts too much pressure on young students. Scoring highly on the gaoko is also many students only chance of a good future, which is not a fair system. A test that can decide the rest of a person's life is simply not a good idea.