| Summer is finally here. It's the best time for seniors. | | | | He will be immediately given a high rank post in |
| They have finished 12 years of elementary education. | | | | government, and considered as the student of |
| Many will go to college to continue their education. It | | | | emperor. If he happen to be a handsome young |
| is same for Chinese students. In 2008, there were | | | | man, it is possible to be the son-in-law of the |
| 10.1 million Chinese seniors graduated, with less than 6 | | | | emperor too. So there is an old Chinese idiom saying |
| million will go to colleges. The education system of | | | | "A farmer at morning may appear in royal court at |
| China is different from that of America. There is no | | | | evening". |
| on-going test like SAT where students can take it | | | | The Imperial Exam has been a continuous policy for |
| any time they think they are ready. In contrast, | | | | all the dynasties since then. Many famous scholar, |
| there is an annual countrywide college admission test | | | | ministers, statesmen, and even generals started their |
| at June 7 & 8 every year. If anyone failed or | | | | rise from this exam. Though it is abandoned at 1905 |
| missed this test, the only chance will be the next | | | | with the falling of last empire of China, its DNA is still |
| year same time. | | | | alive and being weaved into various aspects of China |
| This tradition of national test can be traced back to | | | | today. For example, the national college entrance |
| 605AD in Sui Dynasty, when the first Imperial Exam | | | | exam is always considered the way to transform |
| was introduced. It was the Chinese Dream for the | | | | someone's life, especially those from less developed |
| educated people. No matter how low your social | | | | areas. One major department of Republic of China, |
| status is, you can still enter the inner circle of | | | | which suceeded Qing Dynasty at 1911, was even |
| emperor if you can pass a serious of strict tests. The | | | | called Test department. |
| No. 1 scholar of the final exam is called Zhuang Yuan. | | | | |