Wang Yuanyuan

    Some tests for the National College Entrance Examinations (NCEE) could be taken more than once a year, according to an NCEE draft* reform plan announced by the Ministry of Education recently.

    Some majors, such as English, could be separated into several parts. Students can take the examinations at different time so they have a better chance to prepare for one course, according to the draft.

    “Many students think it is not fair that their whole life will be decided by only one examination and this measure can help ease the pressure on them,” said Fun Kun, vice director of the city’s Education Bureau.

    “Every year many students do well in their daily studies, but they don’t gain good scores at the NCEE because they are sick, nervous or have some other problems, while some whose studies are not that good suddenly get high scores at the NCEE only because they are in good condition that day. This is not fair to students and this measure can give them more chances to gain entry to their dream universities,” said Zhang Lin, a teacher from Shenzhen Hongling Middle School.

    Zhejiang Province had started piloting the reform. The aural* test for the English examination will be held twice a year — in March and September — and students can choose one according to their needs. If they don’t do well in the first one, they can take the second.

    Meanwhile, examinations for entering polytechnics and universities, which are the same now, may be separated and university quotas* for some provinces would be increased in the future under the reform.