Impact of the New College Entrance Examination Policy on Students' Access to Higher Education in Shanghai

Abstract

Since the most recent round of college entrance examination reform was introduced in China, some researchers have discovered that the implementation of the new college entrance examination (NCEE) policy has brought about several impacts and challenges for teachers and students. However, as the reform is still being implemented, there is a lack of further explanation and knowledge of the underlying mechanisms and scope of impact. Because of this, this article investigates how Shanghai's NCEE policy has affected students' access to higher education by gathering data through semi-structured interviews and analyzing it qualitatively and inductively. The NCEE policy has increased students' autonomy in the subject selection, decreased academic pressure, and contributed to their overall and individualized development, according to interviews with three students and in-service high school teachers who took the exam. Teachers' teaching and class management patterns have also become more flexible and varied under the new class allocation system. This highlights the need for early career planning for students to lessen their concern about subject selection as well as the pressing need for adequate career development assistance and information for personal development decisions. There is still more research to be done on specific strategies that high school teachers might take to improve their administration and instruction under the new class placement paradigm.