As several million students sweated through their national college entrance exams across China Monday, anxious parents stood outside school gates under the scorching sun or rain waiting to hear how their children felt they had fared.
The scene will be repeated today.
Ministry of Education sources said over 5.27 million students throughout China are taking the exam. In most areas, the exam takes two days.
It is widely regarded as the determiner of a student's future, because China's universities use the exam scores to evaluate applicants.
Colleges and universities across the country will take in 2.75 million students this year, said Yuan Guiren, vice-minister of education.
"Parents should not put too much pressure on their children before or during the exams, because doing so only increases the students' anxiety," said Yuan.
University enrollment has already been increased and it will continue to be increased in the future to provide more young people with a chance to receive higher education, Yuan added.
Yuan also advised students not to give in to the temptation to cheat.
"Cheating will not be tolerated and any students caught cheating will have their names published in accordance with regulations," said Yuan.
Yuan's ministry has sent supervisors to all provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities to monitor the exams.
Sources with Yuan's ministry revealed that starting next year, the examinations will be held 20 days earlier than the traditional July 7-9 period.
"The weather in June is better than in July," the sources explained.
Starting this year, the exams last two days in most regions of China and candidates sit for four tests, including Chinese, English and mathematics.
In addition, separate elective tests have been prepared for arts and science applicants respectively.
Sunday morning near the gate of Beijing No 8 Middle School, more than 1,000 parents stood or sat at the school entrance, using umbrellas, newspapers or paper fans to shield themselves from the sun, while waiting for their children.
Most of these parents had asked for Monday off from work.
"My back hurts from standing for so long, but I'm going to wait for my daughter. I would do anything for her," said one mother.
A father named He Qinghai sat on the ground in a bicycle shed listening to his radio with ear phones.
"I've rented a room in a hotel near the school to let my daughter rest better during the two days," said He.
(China Daily July 8, 2002)
