Ever since the college entrance exam was resumed in 1977, more than 60-million students have been admitted to universities by taking the exam. For most of them, the exam offers a golden chance to change their fate.

Mike Weber tells us more about the development of this fate-defining exam and how it is adapting to this fast changing world.

The thirst for better education is strong for most Chinese.

Thanks to the decision of Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, the college entrance exam was resumed in 1977 after a halt of ten years.

In December that year, 5.7 million students took the exam, but only 5-percent of them were admitted to universities.

Mr. Gong Ke is one of the lucky ones.

Being the headmaster of one of China's prestigious universities, he has a deeper understanding of the exam.

Gong Ke, Exam Taker in 1977, said, "Despite the existing problems, I think the college entrance exam is very important and has great value. It is a relatively fair way to test all students."

As past exam takers grow up to become parents, their children are now taking the same path.

The only difference is that students nowadays are receiving more support from their parents and society as a whole.

Father of Exam Taker, said, "Nowadays, everything seems to have been adjusted to make way for the exam takers, including those from the traffic control center and the medical staff."

The development of the exam is also reflected by the content itself.

The national standardized test was introduced in 1990, and Chinese universities began recruiting more enrollees nine years later, giving more students the chance to receive a higher education.

With the educational reform going deeper, new requirements for the exam takers are also being established.

Liu Guoheng, Teacher of Beijing 12th High School, said, "One of the purposes of the college entrance exam is to enable students to learn what the mainstream views of the society are and what responsibilities they should take."

Knowledge is power, and knowledge also changes people's fate.

The college entrance exam takers understand that more than most.

Many hope more reforms will be conducted in the future to make the exam better adaptable to this rapidly changing world.

(CNTV June 9, 2011)