Since 1978, China has adopted the
education policy of "nine-year compulsory schooling system", which
means all children are required to attend school for at least nine years. During
the period, students will finish both the primary school program and the junior
middle-school program. For higher education, students must pass examinations of
all levels. First, one should pass the entrance examination for senior middle
schools or middle-level technical schools. Then after two, three or four years,
one may sit in for the national college entrance examination which usually take
place on July 7 to 9. Due the grueling weather and the stress one bears all
those days, the month of July is widely nicknamed the "black July."