Passing the Imperial Exam: The World’s First Standardized Test

The Path to Success, Status, and Prosperity

THE IMPERIAL EXAM IS EVERYTHING

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Episode Description

China was doing standardized tests long before the SAT’s. Like a thousand years.

Today we are talking about the world’s original test- the Imperial Examination. We will talk about how it worked, its origins, its role in Chinese society, and how long this system was used. We raise the truly important question- Is it really possible to cheat on the imperial exam?! We finish up with thoughts about the most modern version of the imperial exam in China today. 

Credits

• Podcast: MandarinPod (中文特高级)

• Episode language: Chinese

• Host: Tian Zhou

• Tech Coordinator: Emily Charash

• Produced by Sishu Mandarin

这期中文特高级中，我们会谈到以下的跟古代中国科举考试相关的话题。

• 科举的前身是什么？

• 科举制度的真正开始是在隋朝

• 科举一共持续了多长时间？

• 科举制度在亚洲的影响

• 科举的形式

• 科举考试的内容

• 科举的时间和地点

• 科举作弊

• 科举考试存不存在歧视？

• 科举在今天的表现