56 Year-old Student to Quit After Failing College Entrance Exam 27 Times

Cursory: Liang Shi, a 56-year-old Chinese individual, attempted a college entrance exam for the 27th time but scored lower than the previous year, he expressed disappointment and uncertainty about continuing his pursuit.

According to Wikipedia, the National College Entrance Examination, commonly known as the gaokao, is a standardized college entrance exam held annually in Mainland China. It is required for entrance into all higher education institutions at the undergraduate level in the country

Liang Shi, a 56-year-old individual, has achieved success in various aspects of his life. He has worked in different industries, established his own business, and started a family.

However, there is one goal that has eluded him despite his persistent efforts: obtaining a high enough score on China’s college entrance exam to secure admission into a top-tier university.

Liang recently took the grueling two-day exam, known as the “gaokao,” alongside nearly 13 million students across the country. Remarkably, this was his 27th attempt at the gaokao, as he has been dissatisfied with his scores since his first attempt four decades ago.

In China, students’ gaokao results are the sole criterion for college admission, and most candidates only have one opportunity to take the test each year. Liang’s exceptional persistence has made him an outlier, gaining national attention. Unfortunately, his efforts have not yet yielded the desired outcome.

After completing the gaokao, he posted a video on Douyin, China’s equivalent of TikTok, expressing his dissatisfaction with his performance.“ It may be a little difficult if I want to go to a good university this year,” he said in the video.

Throughout the previous year, Liang Shi dedicated himself to intensive study. He would leave his home at 8 a.m. and spend long hours studying at a friend’s tea house, often not returning home until late at night, as reported by China Daily.

Despite his hard work, Liang had come to terms with the possibility that Sichuan University, his desired institution, might be beyond his reach.

He has however indicated that he is okay with attending any “key university” that would accept him. However, when Liang reviewed his results on Friday, he expressed a sense of defeat.

He didn’t know whether he would take the test again in 2024. “If I can’t reach my goal next year, I may give up too,” he said.

Liang expressed his belief that he possesses the necessary abilities in every aspect, yet the consistent results have shown otherwise.

He acknowledged that even if he identifies and resolves the problem that is hindering his score improvement, he might still consider not giving up on his pursuit.

He said:

“I believe I am OK in every aspect, but the results prove again and again that I am not.”

“If I can indeed find the problem and change it, and my score can come up, then I may still not give up,” he added.

The results, released on Friday, confirmed his fears. He had scored 428 points out of the total 750 – lower than his results the previous year, and not enough to get into most colleges, let alone an elite one like Sichuan University, which he’s been eyeing for decades.

“I’m so disappointed now, so disappointed. I think the score cannot be as bad as this,” he said in a social media livestream hosted by local media outlet Sichuan TV, which showed him opening his result in real time.

“Although I thought this test was a bit of a failure, I didn’t think I’d get lower than last year’s score anyway.”

The gaokao covers four subjects: Chinese, math, English, and either the sciences (physics, chemistry and biology) or liberal arts (politics, history and geography).

In the livestream, Liang said he felt “disappointed in all subjects,” but especially in the Chinese and liberal arts subjects.

The Sichuan native, attempted his first gaokao, China’s college entrance exam, in 1983 as a young student. Unfortunately, he fell short of the minimum score required for college admission. Undeterred, he made two more attempts in the subsequent years with similar outcomes.

In the following decade, Liang attended a technical school briefly but ultimately left. He pursued various odd jobs, including working at a timber factory, and even got married.

Throughout this period, he continued to study for the gaokao and occasionally took the exam. In 1992, he achieved a high enough score to secure a place at a university in Nanjing, but he declined the offer in search of better results.

After aging out of the eligibility requirements for the gaokao, Liang took a break from the exam and worked as a salesman before eventually establishing a successful factory.

In 2001, when the government eliminated the age limit for the test, he resumed his pursuit of the gaokao, initially intermittently but with growing determination.

Since 2010, he has taken the gaokao every year without fail. In the past year, Liang dedicated himself to rigorous study, often leaving home early in the morning to study at a friend’s tea house and returning late at night.

He had come to terms with the possibility that Sichuan University might be beyond his reach and was open to attending any “key university” that would accept him. However, upon reviewing his results, he appeared disheartened and defeated.

He didn’t know whether he would take the test again in 2024.

“If I can’t reach my goal next year, I may give up too,” he said.“I believe I am OK in every aspect, but the results prove again and again that I am not,” he said.

“If I can indeed find the problem and change it, and my score can come up, then I may still not give up.”

The gaokao is notoriously difficult, with pressure piled on students who spend months in advance cramming for the exam.For generations of Chinese – and this still holds true for thousands living in rural China today – a college education was their one ticket to success and upward mobility.Ahead of this year’s test, many students visited temples to light incense and pray for good results.

And on the big day, authorities imposed restrictions near test centers to minimize noise and any disruption to test-takers.

Businesses like restaurants temporarily suspended their operations during the exam, even nearby cars from are forbidden from honking.

During the gaokao exam, concerned families anxiously gathered outside the test centers, displaying support through flower bouquets and banners adorned with motivational slogans.

However, the challenges for students are projected to intensify in the future as the number of candidates continues to rise, leading to heightened competition for coveted spots at prestigious universities.

This year witnessed a significant increase in the number of candidates, with 12.91 million individuals participating, representing a surge of 980,000 compared to the previous year.

This surge has raised concerns among some students who are already grappling with an uncertain economy and limited prospects.

Despite the fact that the younger generation in China is experiencing the highest level of education attainment in decades, with many individuals pursuing advanced degrees such as master’s and PhDs to enhance their prospects, they are confronted with a challenging job market.

The COVID-19 pandemic and government crackdowns in various critical sectors have adversely impacted employment opportunities.

China’s youth unemployment rate has soared to record levels, reaching 20.8% recently, and experts caution that it could remain elevated for several years to come.

Source: CNN NEWS

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