Student, 56, Keeps Trying After 27 Failed College Entrance Exam Attempts

Liang Shi, 56, has had a successful career spanning several sectors, owned his own company, and had a family. One objective, though, has eluded him: getting a good score on China's college entrance exam to get admission to a prestigious university.

Liang has garnered attention for his perseverance in completing the grueling two-day exam known as the "gaokao," taking it 27 times over the course of 40 years. The majority of applicants only sit for the exam once a year, and admission is exclusively based on the results.

Unfortunately, Liang's most recent effort was unsuccessful, earning 428 out of 750 points—a lesser score than the year before. His test results fall short of the standards for the majority of institutions, including the prestigious Sichuan University, which he had always wished to attend. Liang voiced his dismay on a social media livestream, saying he had not anticipated his score to be lower than it had been the year before. In many courses, but especially in Chinese and the liberal arts, he felt let down.

In 1983, Liang's involvement with the gaokao began after he did not get the required mark for entrance to college. He continued to prepare for the exam while going to a technical school and pursuing other careers, and on occasion he received high enough grades for admission to a university. He turned down those chances, though, and persevered in trying to retake the gaokao.

Liang was able to resume taking the test annually starting in 2010 once the age restriction was removed in 2001. He put a lot of time and effort into studying this past year, giving up his free time to do so at a friend's tea business. Even his expectations had been modified to take into account any "key university" that would admit him.

We can all learn a valuable lesson from Liang about perseverance!