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Updated: 2007-06-27 11:12

Although the final results of the university entrance examination will not be released until tomorrow, many parents are already busy booking back-up schools for their children.

The Shanghai-based Labor Daily has reported that 40 students have already applied to register at a computer-training institution in 20 days' time.

And some parents have been checking with vocational schools about their tuition fees.

Many parents register their children for vocational training programs immediately after the exam to guarantee that they develop certain skills as quickly as possible.

Thirty years after China resumed the annual college entrance examination system, many people have come to view it as the only route to success.

However, experts and the media have called for people to take a more relaxed attitude towards the test.

Many students showed symptoms of anxiety as they await the results of the exams. The Shanghai Psychic Consulting Center has reported that growing numbers of students and parents have been seeking counseling.

"I can't think of any other things for high school graduates to do, especially those in urban areas. They are too young to look for a job, and have to stay home. Fortunately, my nephew did well on the exam.

"This exam is like the traditional imperial one given in ancient times. I don't think students will ever be relieved of the pressure of competition."

Xu Xiaobo, whose nephew took the exam this summer

"Hopefully I won't have to take the college entrance exam in Shanghai. I want to go to college in the US, maybe to Harvard or Stanford.

"Every year about 40 students at my school (the middle school attached to Shanghai International Studies University) apply to study abroad, and every year 10 or 20 of them get into schools in the US, France or other foreign countries."

Shirley Chen, a high-school student who could face the exam in two years' time

"I've seen many students go to college, and many others fail the exam. If we take the long view, those who go to college might not necessarily turn out to be more successful than those who didn't. Some of them are simply not good at academic studies, but are very good at business, for example.

"Those who fail the exam face a very dark period in life, though. They need to adjust and find out for themselves what they want to do with their lives.

"One rare case happened to a student from our school. He passed the exam and enrolled at a private college out of town. Unfortunately, the college closed when he was a junior. His old classmates who failed the exam laughed at him because at least they didn't have to pay the expensive tuition."

Zat Kong, a middle-school English teacher