ELA Argument Essay: China's Cram Schools

Upfront Argument Essay:

China's Cram Schools

       Every high school student in China studies as much as possible for the gaokao, a college-entrance examination. To us, the gaokao may seem like our own SAT, but it is much more difficult and the only thing that matters for Chinese students to get into college. Nearly every high school students in China study furiously, cramming for the gaokao for three years. These extremes make it unfair that a single test determines a student's fate in life.

       The gaokao requires intense concentration and perseverance from Chinese students. Many high school students attend “cram schools”, where they spend most of their time studying frantically for the gaokao. One student, who attended Maotanchang High School, practiced relentlessly, taking multiple practice tests over the course of his high school years. “ 'If you connected all of the practice tests I've taken over the past three years,' he said, 'they would wrap all the way around the world.' ” (pg. 13) This kind of studying is hardly seen in America, and proves just how important the gaokao is to high school students in China. The same student “... had spent the previous three years, weekends included, stumbling to his first class at 6:20 in the morning and returning to his room only after the end of his first class at 10:50 at night.” (pg. 13) The pressure of the gaokao is on every student's mind in China, and the only way to pass the test is to study as much as possible.

The gaokao also gives rural students severe disadvantages. It is much, much harder for students from small villages or towns to be able to get into college, let alone a good university. Many villages “...have poor schools and few well-trained teachers.” (pg. 14) Students from poor rural areas would not be prepared for what could be on the test. On the other hand, wealthy city families are in more of a safe zone and have choices when facing the gaokao. “Wealthy urban families can hire private tutors, pay for test-prep courses, or bribe their way into the best city schools.” (pg. 14) This gives them a distinct upper hand, as well as the fact that urban students have many more allotted college-admission spots than rural students.

       The gaokao is not just risky for the students that take it, but for the teachers, and possibly the local towns of high schools as well. Maotanchang High School is located in Anhui province, two hours from the nearest city. “The local government has shut down all forms of entertainment. This may be the only town in China with no video arcade, billiards hall, or Internet cafe.” (pg. 15) This is a result of the determination of Maotanchang High School of eliminating any distractions for its students. The teachers there are very strict as well, and “...dole out lessons, and frequently punishments, with military rigor; their job security and bonuses depend on raising their students' test scores.” (pg. 15) As stated, the teachers have a risk of losing their jobs of their students do not do well on the gaokao. This is why the students need s little distractions as possible, not only for themselves, but for their teachers as well.

       Every year, over 9 million students in China take the gaokao. Some don't succeed. All the difficulty and stress of cramming for the test sometimes causes students to commit suicide as well. Therefore, the reader can see that having the fate of millions of students riding on one test is unfair.