Compare and Contrast: New York Standardized Tests vs. Gaokao
By Jared Dougall
Many
people think that the New York State Tests are horrible, but wait until you
hear about a miserable test in China called the Gaokao. The Gaokao test is a
Chinese College admissions test that determines the fate of those that
take it. If a student has a bad day or fails, that student is condemned to a
life of labor; there are no second chances at taking the test. If a student
scores just two or three points behind his peers, it could doom him to a life
of manual labor. The poor people living in rural areas are at a disadvantage in
succeeding on the Gaokao compared to the urban, rich population because
the poor can't afford test prep or tutors. In comparison, the State Tests
are used for High School Admission. The primary purpose is to determine if the
schools are adequately teaching their students and to make sure the students
are mastering the skills that will be needed later in life. Although the two
tests are both "standardized", they search for very different
standards.
First, the Gaokao is a test of memorization. It includes
a vast range of subjects, including Chinese language, math, foreign
language (usually English), and either social studies and literature
or sciences. Everything taught in the 10th and 11th grades must be
memorized in 12th grade, the year of the Gaokao. To pass the
Gaokao, a Chinese student must memorize all of the material, in all of the
subjects, and no Chinese student has ever achieved a perfect score. On the
other hand, our State Tests are not tests that require detailed
memorization, but rather test logical reasoning, general principals and
the process of elimination. Test taking methods are very important for the NY
State Tests. The structure of the tests
differ, and select for different kinds of skills.
Second, the Gaokao is a test that is so stressful that
it causes many students to commit suicide, or take drugs that help them study.
In the months leading to the Gaokao, many students have nervous breakdowns. As
a result, this test is extremely dangerous to the mind and body. Studying hours
can last from 6:20am to 10:50pm, and towns with cram schools such as
Moatanchang have a ban against internet and all forms of relaxation
and entertainment. "There was nothing to do but study," says
Yang Wei, a former student of Moatanchang a cram school for the Gaokao.
Although NY State Tests are taken seriously in the United
States, they're not taken as seriously as the standardized tests in China.
The amount of study time the schools and students invest for the NY State Tests
is far less. New York students are allowed to relax during the months leading
to the tests and are not prohibited from using iPhones or computers. Because
the stress levels associated with the NY State Tests are lower, the tests are not
as psychologically dangerous to students. Although the schools use almost every
ELA class period for roughly two months before the tests for preparations, the
preparation is nowhere as rigorous as in China.
In conclusion, the State Tests and Gaokao are two very
different tests that serve very different purposes. The Gaokao is a
memorization-filled, highly stressful test that dooms many students, while the
state tests are not as serious, and do not entail as many risks. I sure hope I
never have to take the Gaokao!
