The Dilemma and Opportunity of Music Students Under China's College Entrance Examination System

Authors

  • Jincan Zhang Francisk Skorina Gomel State University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70393/6a6574.333131

ARK:

https://n2t.net/ark:/40704/JET.v2n2a02

Disciplines:

Educational Policy

Subjects:

Education Reform

References:

8

Keywords:

Music Candidates, College Entrance Examination System, Cultural Threshold, Regional Fairness, New College Entrance Examination Reform, Digital Music Industry

Abstract

This study examines China's college entrance examination (Gaokao) system, analyzing cultural barriers and regional disparities faced by music students through provincial admission data and case studies. The Gaokao mechanism disproportionately disadvantages talented musicians, reducing the nation's musical talent pool. Art educators explore the root causes of this educational dilemma while highlighting opportunities arising from Gaokao reforms and digital technologies. Research reveals that in Henan Province in 2024, approximately 12% of top-scoring art candidates failed to gain admission due to failing cultural score thresholds, with remote region students being admitted at one-third the rate of urban peers. Policy adjustments (e.g., merged admission batches) and market shifts (e.g., digital music industry expansion) are reshaping career pathways for music professionals. The paper advocates reforming the Gaokao system to ensure fair talent selection and enhance training effectiveness.

Author Biography

Jincan Zhang, Francisk Skorina Gomel State University

Francisk Skorina Gomel State University, Ph.D. Student.

References

[1] The Epoch Times. (2025, August 4). Chinese universities are in a crisis of confidence: They are not getting enough students to enroll. https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/25/8/4/n14567162.htm

[2] Henan Engineering University. (2023). 2023 Henan Province arts major admission scores – Arts undergraduate segment A. https://www.qqhru.edu.cn/info/1171/19249.htm

[3] National Chiayi University. (n.d.). Supplement or substitute? The dilemma of implementing educational subsidy policies in remote senior high schools. https://website.ncyu.edu.tw/giee/Contents?nodeId=61924

[4] Henan Provincial Bureau of Statistics. (2025, June 24). Policy interpretation of new college entrance examination provincial control line in Henan Province in 2025. https://tjj.henan.gov.cn/2025/06-24/3173122.html

[5] Wukong Scholarship. (2025). The most complete introduction to China’s college entrance examination in 2025. https://www.wukongsch.com/blog/zh/gaokao-post-32078/

[6] BBC News Chinese. (2021, April 20). Too many liberal arts students: The People’s Bank of China paper accidentally sparked a debate about the uselessness of liberal arts. https://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/chinese-news-56800291

[7] Sun, Z. (2022). The effects of supportive music imagery therapy on mental health, metacognition, and self-function, and the exploration of its mechanisms (Doctoral dissertation, China Medical University). https://doi.org/10.27652/d.cnki.gzyku.2022.001781

[8] Zhan, Y. (2025). The role of music education in promoting mental health among high school students (Master’s thesis, Xi’an Conservatory of Music). https://doi.org/10.27402/d.cnki.gxayc.2025.000093

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Published

2025-08-21

How to Cite

Zhang, J. (2025). The Dilemma and Opportunity of Music Students Under China’s College Entrance Examination System. Journal of Educational Theory, 2(2), 7–12. https://doi.org/10.70393/6a6574.333131

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 2 (2025)

Section

Research Article

ARK

https://n2t.net/ark:/40704/JET.v2n2a02

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Copyright (c) 2025 The author retains copyright and grants the journal the right of first publication.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.