Impacts of Gaokao

The Gaokao is China’s exam that determines the college entrance eligibility of almost 10 million students every year. Candidates start preparing years in advance, studying Chinese literature, mathematics, English, and social or science, and more than half a million Chinese students a year study abroad to avoid competing for this cutthroat chance at prosperity. This summer I wanted to find out about the impacts of the Gaokao’s stress on its candidates’ psychologies and lifestyles. Therefore, I filmed interviews of students in Chinese public school, Chinese private school, and American public school, and produced a documentary of their thoughts and opinions. The Gaokao is an enigma with dark connotations, but as a Chinese-American living in Switzerland, I wanted to investigate its purpose in the hopes of understanding how education can develop a society and how it may benefit China.

Made solely for educational purposes. Not monetized.

SOUNDTRACK
Whalien 52 - BTS
Fear - MINO