Monday, April 13, 2015

Gaokao vs. NY Standardized Tests


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!