China mandates significant cut in routine tests for primary, secondary school students

China has mandated a significant reduction in routine tests for primary and secondary school students to alleviate excessive testing and academic pressure, the Ministry of Education said on Tuesday.

According to a guideline issued by the ministry, the frequency of exams is strictly limited. Written tests are banned for grades 1 and 2 in primary schools. Other primary school grades are allowed only one final exam per semester, while middle schools can conduct one final exam and an additional mid-term exam.

High schools are also required to limit test frequency, and cross-school or district-wide exams are prohibited for all non-graduating classes, the guideline stated.

The rules call for higher-quality test design, ensuring questions align with curriculum standards and avoid obscure or overly tricky content. Schools are prohibited from purchasing ready-made tests; those lacking design capacity must use papers provided by education authorities, the guideline said.

A strict review system is being implemented, requiring at least three reviewers to check each paper for compliance, accuracy, and correct values orientation.

Importantly, exam results in compulsory education must use a grade-based system instead of scores and cannot be publicly ranked. The focus should shift to diagnosing learning gaps and guiding teaching.

Education departments will train teachers in test design and explore the use of AI in exam processes. Violations will be investigated, with designers, reviewers, and schools held jointly accountable.