In a major shift aimed at reducing academic pressure and prioritising student well-being, China’s Ministry of Education has ordered a significant reduction in the frequency of routine school examinations for students across the country. The new directive — part of an ongoing education reform — is designed to ease the intense testing culture that has long characterised primary and secondary schooling in China.
What the New Policy Says
Under the latest guideline issued by the Ministry of Education, schools are now required to limit the number of examinations their students sit each year:
- Primary school students in Grades 1 and 2 will no longer sit written exams. Schools are encouraged to adopt alternative assessment methods that focus on learning progress rather than test performance.
- For other grades within compulsory education, schools are permitted to conduct only one final written exam per semester, with middle schools allowed one additional mid-term exam if necessary.
- High schools must also restrict test frequency and are prohibited from holding cross-school or district-wide exams for students who are not in their graduating year.
A key aspect of the policy is its emphasis on quality over quantity: examination content must strictly align with national curriculum standards and avoid unnecessarily difficult or obscure questions. Many schools lacking capacity to design professional tests are directed to use standardized papers provided by education authorities.
Shifting the Focus: From Scores to Learning
Beyond merely reducing the number of exams, the new directive aims to change how academic performance is evaluated and understood:
- Exam results in compulsory education should be reported using a grade-based system rather than numerical scores, and students must not be publicly ranked based on their results.
- The goal is to shift attention away from competition and comparison, toward diagnosing learning gaps and supporting personalised educational growth.
Why the Change Matters
For decades, the intensely competitive nature of China’s education system — from frequent tests throughout the school year to the high-stakes gaokao university entrance exam — has been linked to elevated levels of student stress and anxiety. Studies have shown that excessive academic pressure can contribute to burnout, sleep problems, and mental health struggles among young learners.
The new exam reduction measures are part of a broader effort by Chinese authorities to improve the overall quality of education and protect children’s psychological well-being. These efforts echo reforms introduced earlier in the year — such as limits on homework loads, encouragement of “homework-free” days, and increased emphasis on physical activity and balanced school life.
Supporting Student Health and Growth
Several complementary initiatives have accompanied the exam policy changes, highlighting China’s broader strategy to tackle academic stress holistically:
- Education authorities have proposed weekly “homework-free” days and capped the amount of assignments students can receive.
- Schools are required to organise monthly health, safety, and psychological resilience activities.
- Emphasis on sports and physical activity has expanded, with plans to ensure at least two hours of daily exercise for primary and secondary school students.
These complementary policies are designed to foster more balanced routines that support emotional, mental, and physical development in addition to academic learning.
Reactions and Expectations
Reactions to the exam reforms have been mixed. Parents and educators who long warned about the adverse effects of relentless testing have broadly welcomed the changes, hoping they will improve children’s overall quality of life and cultivate a healthier learning environment. At the same time, some observers note that deep-rooted competitive pressures — especially around university entrance exams — may take time to ease.
Nonetheless, the policy marks a significant step in education reform, with far-reaching implications for millions of students across China. By reducing the routine exam burden and realigning evaluation practices with student development goals, the government is sending a clear message: education is not just about scores, but about nurturing healthier, more well-rounded learners.
