Editor’s note
China’s national college entrance examination was reinstated 40 years ago, and its memories for generations are still heavily colored. Maybe we have all been changed by the college entrance examination, our fate, our life trajectory, the way we look at difficulties. Perhaps, everything is just a predetermined result. I wish you all the best. The life belongs to oneself, also will start from now on.
Zhang Linjie, 1977
I went to primary school in 1966 and graduated from high school in 1977. My primary and secondary school years were almost completely covered by the Cultural Revolution. For me and most of us, it was the resumption of the gaokao that brought a turning point in our generation’s fortunes.
In the summer of 1977, word spread among students that high school students could be recommended for college. News of the resumption of the gaokao was soon circulated in a central document among officials at certain levels and later confirmed in the media — there was, of course, no “recommendation” and anyone who met the criteria could take the exam.
The gaokao system has been abandoned for 11 years, during which countless high school graduates from previous years gathered in the society. That year, 5.7 million students took the exam and only 270,000 were admitted.
In that year, guizhou culture science examination four subjects: politics, mathematics, Chinese, history and geography, the examination time is December 15.
In those days, there were no cram schools for the gaokao, and it was difficult to find review materials. I just did two math problems and memorized several books of general history. As for Chinese, I didn’t even learn Hanyu Pinyin, and I didn’t know anything about geography.
The exam day is very cold, early in the morning, the day is not light, the farm all candidates sitting in the farm sent out of the truck, braving the cold wind came to the examination room.
Many of the examinees were in their 30s, some wearing glasses and looking urbane and unfathomable. There are a lot of teachers and people engaged in writing work, like me this year’s candidates do not dominate the mainstream. Standing among a crowd of examinees, I felt a little uneasy.
I’ve forgotten much of the specific content of the exam. Only the composition and two historical and geographical questions have been fresh in my mind.
The title of the guizhou essay in that year was “The Year of Great Governance”. The so-called “Year of Great Governance” refers to the specific period when Chairman Hua led us from “great chaos” to “Great governance” after the fall of the Gang of Four. I can’t remember what I wrote. I began with a brief account of the great state of national stability and unity, followed by a search for individual cases among the trifles around me, and ended with three more minutes of emotion.
In the historical geography question, I was stumped by two geographical questions. One was, “What is a crop? What is a cash crop? Give me an example.” The other question was, “Which three Gorges are they?” For today’s examinees, it is not unclear.
In addition, the math paper had two additional calculus questions in addition to the normal questions, which were said to be used to test the scattered math genius. The normal questions were mostly analytic geometry and functions, which I did quite well, but I was surprised to see them added.
After the exam in mid-December, there was a long wait. In 1977 and 1978, the college entrance examination went through two steps: primary election and final admission. After the primary election, the students were selected from the best among the best. This time around, you could lose because of your education, your family background or your political performance, or even because someone pushed you through the back door.
From the college entrance examination to the primary election, waiting for more than two months. In the meantime, the farm began recruiting new workers, and in search of a job for my uncertain future, I joined the farm as a tea maker.
Suddenly one day, I received the notice of passing the primary election, at that time there was no score inquiry system, there was no such thing as checking the score, saying that you had been elected, even if you were lucky, saying that you had not been elected, you also had no temper. To check the score, you have to find connections, so exactly how much I got is still a mystery.
The primary election, I excitedly asked for leave, came to fill in the field volunteer. At that time, I didn’t have any guidance for applying for the university. In my opinion, any university is the same as long as I can attend it. Therefore, my first choice was The Department of Chinese Literature of Guizhou University, and my second choice was the Department of History of Sichuan University. This kind of filling looks like a joke today.
In retrospect, the summer of college entrance examination has been like a dream of Nanke. In retrospect, the summer of college entrance examination has been like a dream of Nanke.
Around the middle of March, one after another people received the admission notice, but I still did not get any news, can not help but feel a little worried.
There is a veteran cadre in the farm, an old Red Army, his daughter is said to be very good grades, the old Red Army entrusted relations to the recruitment office to inquire about the situation, learned that his daughter was admitted to Fudan University, but also accidentally found my name in the admission list of Guizhou University. It was said that someone wanted to open the back door, so everyone else got the notice, but there was never mine.
So, my father hurriedly sent someone to the admissions department to inquire about the situation, two days later, I finally got the admission notice.
If no one to inquire, maybe that year’s college entrance examination, I was crowded out.
Chagall 1991
In 1991, the college entrance examination had to be taken twice. Before the official college entrance examination, a preliminary examination was required, and then the college entrance examination was taken after passing the preliminary examination. In 1991, the last year of the pre-exam system, it was abolished and I caught the last bus.
After the preliminary exam in May, more than half of the students failed, I narrowly missed. After the preliminary examination, the liberal arts class to prepare for the examination together, the number of people is not large, a class are not satisfied.
Every night after class, the boys have to take the girls home, I will also take a girl home. Remember once, the self-study class is a little late, the school gate has been locked, a few of our students turned out of the school gate when the passers-by were questioned for a long time.
That year, I failed to enter the university, our class, the entire annihilation.
Qu Mu Mojia 1994
In 1994, my cousin finally got admitted to university. Before that, she had taken the college entrance examination three times and was admitted to a junior college each time. To this end, her father looks for a person to calculate character of eight, turned over dictionary of more than 10 days in the home, great trouble chapter ground changed a name, got rid of the “feng” word that contains girl’s gas in the name.
When I was in high school, my cousin was reading in bed and I noticed that her hair was a third white. I asked her why she had so many white hair. “When you have the chance to take the college entrance examination, you will know.”
In the era of insufficient material, she ate a lot of black sesame, but her hair was still white.
A year after she was admitted to her undergraduate program, only a few gray hairs remained.
“Your sister will have a golden bowl!” Later parents often cousin college entrance examination of things to encourage us out of the farm door.
@Li Dalliong 1998
On July 7, 1998, I took the college entrance examination.
There is no pressure in my college entrance examination. Father said, the best not on the exam, the exam can stay with him.
When I was a child and I study with the students, one in primary school and junior high school set foot on the society, read to high school, I was the only one. By the time I was a senior in high school, two of my childhood classmates had already got married.
As far as I am concerned, I still hope to be admitted to a famous university, but for a person who has never been out of the county town, a faraway university is still a bit unreal to me, which is far less exciting than the summer vacation.
When the college entrance examination, the school canteen to improve the food, is my favorite tomato noodles. At that time, the college entrance examination was for three days. At noon, several friends and I would each carry a large pot of tomato and egg noodles, squatting under a poplar tree happily eating. After eating the noodles, we don’t discuss the difficulty of the topic. The teacher did not let, said it would affect the mood.
In fact, no one to discuss, we a few boys in a hurry to finish the test, just want to drill into the video hall. County video hall overnight 5 yuan, Jackie Chan, Andy Lau, film many, very good. In the third year, the teacher did not let out, even if out to jump the wall, see the middle of the night to over the wall back, not frank. Sometimes when over the wall went back, they would see the teachers from the office of political education standing under the wall and arresting people.
After eating the noodles, drill into the dormitory to rest, to the exam time has a special teacher called, you can sleep boldly.
The next day, it rained heavily and was very cool. I didn’t bring an umbrella, and my family was dozens of miles away in the village. My friend and I found a big plastic bag, fold up, make pointy, two people under the plastic bag, in the heavy rain “pa pa pa” to step on the water to go to the examination room, looks very funny.
I had already forgotten what I had been tested on. I only remembered that I had finished the last exam. I walked very slowly and dawdled, hoping to see the girl I liked. She came out, dressed in a light blue dress, and walked slowly past me. I greeted her stiffly. She smiled and walked slowly past me. I thought the story was over.
Without thinking, she suddenly turned back to call me, I froze. She reached out her hand and shyly gave me a one-inch color photograph. When I was still, I caught it. In the picture, she was smiling with her white teeth. When I took the picture, she just said goodbye and left.
I took the photo, turned over and looked several times, the back of the photo said: present to the students. I understood what she meant, but there was no further action, and I still had some inferiority in my heart. Now she has married sichuan, I am still in Shanxi. Once glance smile xi, once dream around, such as in yesterday.
The college entrance examination is over, so are youth and secret love.
No parents greeted us at the door, asking questions. My father won’t come. It’s good enough for me to study.
When I got home, my father didn’t ask me how I had done in the exam. He just let me work in the fields and thin the corn. It was hot in the field and I was sweating profusely. I thought I would like to continue my study, either to change things or not to be a farmer again and enjoy the cool of the classroom more.
In September, I was accepted by a normal university without paying tuition fees. After graduation, I was assigned to go back to teach locally. Father is very satisfied, his retirement problem solved, my desire to study also came true.
Years passed. I went to work, and I was average, in life and in income. The group of primary school students, but take advantage of the upsurge of The Times, doing business, open restaurants, a good life.
Now, the college entrance examination is a happy spray. All I remember are the noodles, the rain and the girl, and watching the video in the dark. The exam questions are difficult or difficult, which I really don’t remember anything.
Diao Min Xie Laosan unknown
The most important instruction before the college entrance examination is to prevent students from tearing the books and test papers. When it comes to the break time, the corridor of each floor will always arrange security guards on duty, every day in the talk, are in the stop, to the last moment or outbreak.
Before the self-study that night, everyone seemed to vent their pent-up emotions from a small piece of paper to the flying white paper. Every floor was ablaze, there was a lot of yelling, the hallways were full of people, everyone wanted to join the party.
No grades good or bad, only catharsis, only laughter, only frank.
I still remember the lively scene at that time, the “flying book activity” was like a stimulant for us in senior three. Looking at all over the sky of the textbook examination paper, in the heart told myself, my high school is over.
@ Wang Hui 2011
After a lapse of six years, recalling the years of preparing for the college entrance examination, My first thought was the most unrelated exercise.
Every morning before 5:30 into the classroom, morning reading to 6 o ‘clock, then to the playground, ready to run; Class at 10 o ‘clock, 10 o ‘clock at a quarter of the noon activities are also running; We also have people running from 5:30 to 6 in the evening. The track is a mixture of black ash and small stones, nicknamed “cinder track”. Senior year because of it, did not wear white shoes.
“Can’t stick to go running, a circle not three, three circle not ten!” “Better sweat now than tears a year from now!” Under the pressure, running was my only outlet other than secretly crying under the covers.
After three collective laps each day, we were free to accelerate. It was on the last lap that I felt like I was letting myself go. The wind has my vacant, my depression, it can not take away, but was let out. The girl in the white blouse and jeans ran, up a birch tree, down the next birch tree, past the guy in front, past the guy in front…
Hand in hand life 2012
Every year at this time, I think of the college entrance examination. It was a painful, but fulfilling, and bittersweet time.
Three years of high school, I would go to run a few laps every afternoon, red face sweat back to the dormitory, then go to the canteen to play, eat to study. Turnover in the canteen, classroom, dormitory, track and field, four line life. Many times I’ve queued up in the cafeteria, watched the crowds and wondered: Why are we working so hard?
In March 2012, I began to feel anxious and nervous. Sometimes I couldn’t sleep at night. All I could think about was ancient poetry and English sentence patterns. The night before the exam, Lying in the dormitory, everyone tossing and turning, I almost insomnia until dawn.
On the morning of the 7th, I took the admission ticket, ID card and pen and other test essentials, waiting for the bus at the back door of the school, went to the County No. 1 Middle school. All but a few of our liberal arts classes were crammed into one bus as they were going to take exams at other schools.
The sun shone right out of the window and the policeman cleared the way for us. Class 14 students also sang their class song – “I believe”, the loud singing spread to our bus.
@Liu Qingming 2014
The college entrance examination days, seems to be my high school for three years the most insipid mood of a few days. The whole year of senior three review, practice, examination, to the end of every day test, class test, has already made me numb.
I remember very well that during the two days of the college entrance examination, my mother would cook a big and very big lunch every day, which is hard to imagine in normal times. The small table in the rented room was piled with dishes, and my father had come all the way from home.
It’s lighter than ever, and some have hardly any salt in them. I knew my mother was afraid that I was drinking too much water, which might increase the frequency of going to the bathroom and affect the exam.
At noon that day, everything inside the rental house, is careful, even the parents of the conversation has become a whisper. But no matter how quiet I was, I couldn’t fall asleep, stayed in bed until it was time to get up and go to school.
The ordinary state of mind, the ordinary examination experience, finally produced a very ordinary result. After the final exam, I carry never so light schoolbag, silently said to myself, three years of high school life, is over.
On the day of the results, it was sweltering and a heavy rain was brewing. I will refresh the computer countless times, still can not find the score. In desperation, began to call check points. My hands were shaking, I pressed the number on the keypad phone, my heart was pounding, and the hot weather was almost suffocating.
Finally, the exam result was nearly 30 points higher than the first grade, my parents and I were very happy. The next day, all of our classmates will go to the school meeting, is the last goodbye. When I got to school, I found that most of my classmates who were at the same level as me scored 40 to 50 points higher in the college entrance examination, which meant that I failed in the college entrance examination.
After the results were announced, a friend of mine kept urging me to choose a 211 project, even if it was remote. But I still chose my favorite major and entered a double non-university, while he entered a 985.
@Davis Meng 2014
I am a repeat student, but I am a senior four student in a senior high school class. Although very to the teacher’s mother lost face, but she finally chose to entrust relationship, let me do the class of fresh students.
This year, I fell in love, is the first love.
Two identical repeat students, because the same goals naturally come together. I thought I needed someone to steady me and keep me going, and she could give me that. However, as the relationship deepened, I had to spend a lot of energy to maintain it.
Later, predictably, I was disappointed in love.
The college entrance examination is getting closer and closer. It is written on the blackboard that there is not much time left for a 100-day sprint. But at this point, I was suddenly enlightened, like a long blocked faucet, was stabbed open a hole, water gushed out, unable to stop.
Had the experience of last time university entrance exam, I know what knowledge point is the university entrance exam, what is to understand ok, had pointed routine. I am like the protagonist in a martial arts novel, who has been opened up to both the governor and the governor.
At that time, For the college entrance examination, the struggle for exam-oriented education, for the first time in my life, All these were put aside in the back of my mind, I realized for the first time in my life that human potential is unlimited.
Later, I still dream many times to read again, wake up to find that the pillow towel has been wet with tears. It was like walking into the campus with a mountain around your neck, you couldn’t hold your head up, you couldn’t breathe.
I have experienced two college entrance exams, first love and brokenhearted love. Later, When I encountered setbacks again, I always smiled freely.
@Angel 2014
Junior high school graduation, with the title of recommended birth on the high school, but do not study hard, until he met. I study like hell to be on a par with him.
On March 2, 2014, I gave up the independent admission examination because of him. But just when I thought I was finally able to stop looking up at him, he was with someone else. In the first three months of the college entrance examination, I was disheartened, and my study was in a state of waste. When I thought I was going to waste, I got the best score ever.
When I thought I could go to college and say goodbye to the last three years, he called me in the middle of the night and told me the story of him and his girlfriend. Because of this phone call, I chose to repeat the study and vowed to go to a better school than him. A year later, my college entrance examination appeared Waterloo, but still fate lane person, I with the result of the promotion line went to a school I dare not dream.
Maybe this is fate.
@Pan Shuyi 2015
It took me two years to finally find the courage to recall that summer with its noisy cicadas.
The afternoon before the college entrance examination, I got sunstroke.
In the afternoon, the classroom was closed as an examination room, so I went home early. A man was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling. Never before had I looked at my room from this Angle, at the cracked yellow ceiling and the glare of the overhead lights. The house was very old, and the light bulb had been changed by my father only a month before. Thoughts drift far away, to later even trance fell asleep, but also did a paradoxical dream.
Later, I was shaken awake by my mother. When he opened his eyes, he saw a room full of people and worried faces.
“Uncle and aunt, grandmother, why are you here?”
“Nannan, you’re in bed in heat and need your aunt to give you a fever. Good girl.”
Grandma came over and sat on the bed and touched my hair as she did when I was a baby. She was really old, and her hands felt like the rough, dry bark of an old tree.
There were two purple bruises on my back, but it didn’t hurt.
This day I went to bed very early. Before I went to bed, I turned over my Chinese textbook from front to back and from back to front.
The “day” came at last. It didn’t rain. It was terribly hot. I forgot my umbrella and walked from the rental room to the exam room sweating, my cotton T-shirt sticky on my back, the occasional gust of wind, the coolness creeping in, the exultation of a long, dry rain.
When I walked out of the last exam, my mother was waiting for me at the door. She was wearing a sky-blue gauze dress. She was holding the old heaven umbrella at home, and the rust on the handle could be clearly seen so far away. For dinner, I ordered a dish of duck noodles with tea tree mushrooms for her and corn wontons for myself. Sitting at the same table were two junior high school students, excitedly discussing the upcoming senior high school examination.
The summer of college entrance examination, in retrospect, was like a dream.
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