A Comparison of Educational Equality and Equity in Gaokao and Admission System between China and the United States

Abstract

This article focuses on the issues of educational equality and equity as reflected in the Chinese Gaoako and the American college admissions system. China and the United States use completely different strategies in selecting students for higher education. Gaokao, a unified national standardized test, is the name of the college entrance exam in China. A student’s eligibility to enroll in college is determined by their test result. The admissions process in the United States is more comprehensive, taking into account a student’s extracurricular activities, personal statements, and scores on standardized tests. To guarantee fair entrance, the Gaokao gives pupils a single set of test questions and answers; the admissions process takes into account the socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds of various students in order to address the issue of equality. However, both countries face the challenge of whether they can truly achieve educational equity due to socioeconomic inequality and unequal access to educational resources. By comparing the two systems, this article explores some similarities and differences in the challenges faced by the two countries.