Systemic Defects of Graduate Examination for Admission into Master Degree in China and Improving Policies.

The graduate examination for admission into master degree in China is investigated systemically in a structuralistic view. It is found that the preliminary exam has gotten into a rut and the re-exam is poor in distinguishing a talented candidate from the rest. The whole exam system emphasizes unduly the theoretic knowledge that a candidate is going to major and his/her marks that are just gotten in written exam, but it overlooks his/her experience in practice, ability in creativity, attainment of basic humane studies and test of psychological traits all those are what the existing exam system lacks. Some policies are therefore suggested to improve the existing exam system, i. e. , change the number of exams each year and subjects in exam; encourage a candidate to select his/her major and university on the basis of his own interest; take more flexible modes to examine the knowledge really grasped; make much of candidate's experience through social practice, which should be accented by weighting the relevant mark in the evaluation for enrollment. In addition, all candidates should be tested psychologically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]