Non-fiction Critical Analysis--"China's Cram Schools"

Leila Henry

The article “China’s Cram Schools” by Brook Larmer, is about a college entrance exam that literally decides the rest of their life for them. Larmer wants to show the readers how awful this exam is and how unfair it is to put these seniors under so much pressure. One example of how she does this is by giving an example of one particular student, Yang Wei. For the past three years, Yang’s entire school day lasted from 6:30 in the morning to 10:50 at night and this was considered normal. Even then, “Yang’s scores were slipping”. The author believes that Yang is put under an enormous amount of pressure because he would be the first man in family to attend a college. Another way the author shows the unfairness of these people is when she explains the alternative to not getting into a good college is ending up at a factory job. This one test could determine whether you go on to be a very successful businessman or be working at a factory your entire life. In addition, the author also explains how this test affects their life not only the year before they take it, but a couple years before as well. The students spend most of their high school experience being taught by teachers who literally teach to the test.

The author believes that these teens are getting put excessive pressure on them and it really isn’t all that fair. She believes however that because China is so big, the sort of do need to have a lot of competition at their schools to get the students to work hard. This makes it a lot easier to pick out the hard-working students who can be accepted and are ready for more prestigious academics. After all, not everyone can be a businessman. However, the author also explains that some of these hard-core teaching techniques can also really pay off. They can really inspire some kids to do well. However, when kids don’t do well like Yang’s childhood friend Cao who failed this big test, it’s a huge disappointment. Cao had to become a construction worker.

I agree this author. I think that no matter the circumstance, students at such a young age should never have to be under such pressure. There are other ways to test people, though it is hard with so many people, it pays off. These colleges that don’t accept low test scores are really losing some of their best candidates who maybe just aren’t that good at taking tests but are fantastic students and very very smart people, like Cao.