A Research On The Reform Of Second-Round Examination Of Academic Postgraduate Enrollment In China

As a result of the inadequacies of the Graduate Entrance Written Test, and in order to raise the quality of graduate students, the Government has suggested to hold a second selection to investigate candidates’abilities more comprehensively and effectively, known as ’second-round examination’. In the past years, the policy of second-round examination has experienced several adjustments. Particularly, ever since the policy of increasing enrollment in higher education has been launched, the number of master’s students has raised rapidly. It is therefore imperative to reform the second-round examination.According to the review of relevant policies on’second-round examination’, the Ministry of Education as the dominant player in second-round examination reform aims to improve the function of second-round examination in recruiting excellent candidates. This reform is conduced mainly within aspects such as content, subject, and format.Taking equality and excellence into consideration respectively, this study interviewed those supervisors and administrators who participate in second-round examinations. It is then revealed from these interviews that the second-round examination policy is problematic in terms of both recruiting outstanding candidates and securing equality. To illustrate, the format and criteria of the second-round examination are simple and require further improvement, which lead to its inability of assessing candidates comprehensively and scientifically; further, institutions that are responsible for the organization, implement, and management of the second-round examination are not regularized, making it easy for its equality to be affected by some adverse social morality.This research also compares the Chinese graduate admissions system with those of the United Sates and Japan. Focusing on the characteristics of graduate admissions in these two countries, experience that can be learned to reform the second-round examination of academic master’s candidates is summarized. Finally, this paper proposes a value orientation of seeking for excellence and brilliance in the context of securing equal selection when reforming the graduate second-round examination, as well as an integration of both excellence and equality. It also suggests that the responsibilities of admission institutions should be reinforced, that the admission system should be enhanced, and that the right of educational subjectivities should be respected and protected. With the joint efforts of the Government and admission institutions to improve existing test formats, to make appropriate innovations, to establish multiple assessment systems, to speed up the construction of second-round examination system, and to form a self-improving and self-controlling mechanism, it is hoped that the intention to recruit outstanding candidates scientifically and equally could be realized.In conclusion, this study examines the second-round examination of graduate admission in Chinese higher institutions, in the light of its current reformation. It takes views of equality and excellence respectively, and investigates existing problems with regards to these two aspects. The research concludes with an orientation for furture second-round examination reformation and its precise measures, by comparing and analysing experience of graduate admissions from Western countries, and bearing in mind the aim to realize the integration of both excellence and equality.