More Chinese cities are piloting education reforms that extend compulsory education beyond middle school and exempt some students from the highly competitive high school entrance exam, or zhongkao.

In late September, the southwestern city of Chengdu launched a pilot program across eight public and private schools that began this fall. The program includes six-year tracks starting from the first year of junior high, and 12-year tracks beginning in the first grade of primary school.

Each participating school has designated two cohorts of no more than 45 students each, selected through volunteer sign-ups and a lottery, as “integrated education” classes. These classes operate separately and combine middle and high school curricula.

The new model is part of Chengdu’s broader effort to reform the high school entrance system and is intended to “bridge gaps between school stages, and ease exam-related pressure.”

The zhongkao is one of the most important academic milestones in China, determining whether students advance to academic high schools or vocational tracks. Nationwide, the passing rate typically hovers around 60%.

For many parents, the reform offers long-awaited relief. “The biggest appeal is being exempt from the zhongkao,” one Chengdu parent told domestic media. “We don’t have to worry about our kids being tracked into vocational schools.” She expressed both regret that her child was not selected for the pilot program and hope for the expansion of the program.

Similar “exam-free” initiatives have appeared in a few other cities, though they are typically reserved for top-performing students. Some cities, however, have tried to include students with average grades as well.

Beijing, for instance, began experimenting with diversified high school admissions in 2022, allowing students with a cumulative grade of  “B” or higher to apply directly to certain schools through interviews. 

Some schools have also introduced direct pathways from junior to senior high without requiring the zhongkao, though these programs remain limited in scale and are often offered by less competitive institutions. Experts caution, however, against expanding integrated schooling too quickly, as high schools vary widely in quality. 

Xiong Bingqi, president of China’s 21st Century Education Research Institute, warned that many parents may view integrated classes as a way to avoid academic tracking. “They might let their child join first, then leave the program so the child can take the zhongkao if their grades improve,” he said.

“As long as the elite high school system remains, anxiety over the zhongkao won’t be eased,” Xiong said. “What’s truly needed is to move toward phasing out the tiered high school system itself.”

Editor: Marianne Gunnarsson.

(Header image: VCG)