June 7 is a big day for students in China hoping to go to college: It’s the first day of the National College Entrance Exam, or gaokao. Failure means no degree, poorer job prospects, and possibly a life of regret. However, if one aces the gaokao, he or she will likely be accepted to a top university in China. The exam has long been controversial for imposing uniformity in picking talents. Do students in other countries face similar pressures to score a spot at a university? CCTV America takes a look.

Source: iCIBA  CNN

Quiz: Are you smarter than a Chinese high school student?