Undergraduate Chinese students' perspectives on Gaokao examination: Strengths, weaknesses, and implications

Abstract

Education policy makers should concern stakeholders' views on policy implementation, especially those who experienced related policies. In this study, the authors explored the undergraduate Chinese students' perspectives on Gaokao that is the national college entrance examination (NCEE) in China. The critical review of previous works, several group discussions with educators and students, and semi-structured interviews with ten undergraduate students revealed the presence of a few strengths but several weaknesses of the Gaokao examination policy. The existence of several weaknesses in such policy necessitates an immediate reform with a special focus on discovering and fostering talents, encouraging students' autonomy, and establishing students' creative, critical thinking and awareness. Further, among a few implications, the decentralization approach of education decision-making is suggested for Chinese higher education institutions.