Shanghai and Zhejiang pilot Gaokao reforms

Zhejiang province and Shanghai announced new plans for the Gaokao, the national college entrance exam, enabling high school students to be examined on a wider range of subjects in an effort to improve the quality of education. Both regions will continue to examine students on Chinese, maths and English but will no longer force students to choose a preference in majors from either liberal arts or sciences. For the three remaining subjects, students in Shanghai and Zhejiang can choose to be tested on a wider range of topics from geography, history, chemistry, biology, physics and politics, among others. Students can also sit exams for subjects other than maths and Chinese twice between the 11th and 12th grades and submit the highest score on their college applications. The reform will begin with 10th graders this year.

Source: China Daily (see link for more information).