The Dilemma and Opportunity of Music Students Under China's College Entrance Examination System

Jincan Zhang

doi:10.70393/6a6574.333131

OPEN ACCESS |Research Article ||21 August 2025

The Dilemma and Opportunity of Music Students Under China's College Entrance Examination System

Jincan Zhang

Francisk Skorina Gomel State University

zhangjincan067@gmail.com

Francisk Skorina Gomel State University, Ph.D. Student.

* Corresponding Author¹: Jincan Zhang, E-Mail: zhangjincan067@gmail.com

Publication

Accepted 2025 August 12 ; Published 2025 August 21

Journal of Educational Theory, 2025, 2(2), 3079-5931.

Abstract

This study examines China's college entrance examination (Gaokao) system, analyzing cultural barriers and regional disparities faced by music students through provincial admission data and case studies. The Gaokao mechanism disproportionately disadvantages talented musicians, reducing the nation's musical talent pool. Art educators explore the root causes of this educational dilemma while highlighting opportunities arising from Gaokao reforms and digital technologies. Research reveals that in Henan Province in 2024, approximately 12% of top-scoring art candidates failed to gain admission due to failing cultural score thresholds, with remote region students being admitted at one-third the rate of urban peers. Policy adjustments (e.g., merged admission batches) and market shifts (e.g., digital music industry expansion) are reshaping career pathways for music professionals. The paper advocates reforming the Gaokao system to ensure fair talent selection and enhance training effectiveness.

Keywords

Music Candidates , College Entrance Examination System , Cultural Threshold , Regional Fairness , New College Entrance Examination Reform , Digital Music Industry .

Metadata

DOI:

10.70393/6a6574.333131

ARK:

ark:/40704/JET.v2n2a02

Pages: 7-12

References: 8

Disciplines: Educational Policy

Subjects: Education Reform

Cite This Article

APA Style

Zhang, J. (2025). The dilemma and opportunity of music students under china's college entrance examination system. Journal of Educational Theory, 2(2), 7-12. https://doi.org/10.70393/6a6574.333131

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the editor and anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments and valuable suggestions.

FUNDING

Not applicable.

INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD STATEMENT

Not applicable.

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/supplementary material, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.

INFORMED CONSENT STATEMENT

Not applicable.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS

Not applicable.

References

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Henan Provincial Bureau of Statistics. (2025, June 24). Policy interpretation of new college entrance examination provincial control line in Henan Province in 2025. https://tjj.henan.gov.cn/2025/06-24/3173122.html

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Wukong Scholarship. (2025). The most complete introduction to China’s college entrance examination in 2025. https://www.wukongsch.com/blog/zh/gaokao-post-32078/

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PUBLISHER'S NOTE

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Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Southern United Academy of Sciences.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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