Exam Culture and Self-Study Frustrations in China | Generated by AI
Question: Are a lot of people in China hating such exams?
Answer:
Yes, a significant number of people in China express dislike or frustration toward exams in general, including the Higher Education Self-Study Examination (自学考试, or 自考). This stems from the broader culture of high-stakes testing in Chinese education, but opinions on 自考 specifically are more mixed.
General Dislike of Exams in China
China’s education system emphasizes exams heavily, from primary school through the gaokao (college entrance exam). Many view this as overly competitive and stressful. Common complaints include:
- Rote memorization over creativity.
- High pressure leading to anxiety, burnout, or mental health issues.
- Suppression of individuality and innovation.
Critics argue that exams turn students into “exam machines,” prioritizing scores over holistic development. Online discussions (e.g., on Zhihu) and articles often highlight hatred for exams, with phrases like “讨厌考试” (hate exams) appearing frequently.
Specific to 自考 (Self-Study Exams)
自考 serves as an open, flexible path for adults to earn degrees without full-time schooling. It enjoys official recognition and high “gold content” (含金量) among adult education options.
Positive views:
- People praise it for enabling self-improvement, career advancement (e.g., promotions, civil service exams), and lifelong learning.
- Many who persist value the challenge and see it as rewarding.
Negative views:
- Many call it difficult due to self-discipline requirements, limited study time for working adults, and low pass rates (often 10-30%, partly from absences or dropouts).
- Frustration arises from repeated failures, especially in math-heavy or theoretical subjects.
- Some criticize mandatory ideological courses (e.g., Mao Zedong Thought or Xi Jinping Thought) as outdated or propagandistic, though this complaint is less vocal than for general exams.
- Dropouts often express regret or “hate” the process for its demanding nature.
Overall, while not “a lot” hate 自考 specifically (many respect it), the exam-heavy culture breeds widespread resentment toward testing. Your slow progress and unhappiness are common—many fail subjects multiple times due to insufficient practice or overconfidence, as you noted.
Keep going; persistence pays off for many 自考生.
References:
- https://www.zhihu.com/question/439200943
- https://www.eol.cn/ceici/e2-zikao-362344.shtml
- https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%AB%98%E7%AD%89%E6%95%99%E8%82%B2%E8%87%AA%E5%AD%A6%E8%80%83%E8%AF%95
- https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/545494707
- https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/781646157