星孤集 2016-2019 The Solitary Star of Tianshui 2016–2019 第 13 篇 Section 13
星孤之外 Beyond the Solitary Star
返回 星孤集 2016-2019 Back to The Solitary Star of Tianshui 2016–2019本文目录 Contents
一、2019苏州中考大事件 Major Events in the 2019 Suzhou High School Entrance Examination
7–8月关键词：暑假，游泳考试
对于市区学生，初二暑假会有游泳考试，今年游泳考试的新变化是分值增加到15分，且一旦参加成绩不能放弃。2019年中考游泳第一批已考完。
July–August keywords: Summer vacation, swimming examination For students in the urban districts, there is a swimming examination during the summer vacation after eighth grade. A new change to this year’s swimming examination is that its value has increased to 15 points, and once you participate, the score cannot be discarded. The first batch of the 2019 high school entrance-examination swimming tests has already been completed.
9月关键词：开学，化学新学科
开学之后，对于初三学生来说会加速课程进度，且迎来新学科：化学。很多孩子在暑假期间已经开始接触这门学科，提醒孩子一定不要因为学过而放松。
September keywords: Beginning of school, chemistry as a new subject After school begins, ninth-grade students will face an accelerated curriculum and a new subject: chemistry. Many students will already have begun studying chemistry during summer vacation. They should remember not to relax merely because they have encountered the material before.
10–11月关键词：月考，期中考试
10月份月考、11月份期中考试，进入初三之后的每一次考试都很重要，尤其苏外、星海、木高这类有着本校初中部的学校，对于后面涉及的签约或者直升有着至关重要的作用。
October–November keywords: Monthly examination, midterm examination There is a monthly examination in October and the midterm examination in November. Once ninth grade begins, every examination becomes important. This is particularly true at schools such as Suzhou Foreign Language School, Xinghai Experimental Middle School, and Mudu High School, which have their own junior high divisions. Examination results may be extremely important for later agreements or direct-admission opportunities.
12月关键词：备战期末考
元旦之前孩子主要攻克期末考，提醒对于苏州外国语学校（高新区）、南师大苏州实验学校（相城区）这两所民办学校有意向的爸爸妈妈们要特别注意了！往年这个时候报名已经开始，平时需要多多关注此类招生信息。
December keyword: Preparing for the final examination Before New Year’s Day, students’ main task will be preparing for their final examinations. Parents and students interested in Suzhou Foreign Language School in the High-Tech Zone or Nanjing Normal University Suzhou Experimental School in Xiangcheng District should pay particular attention. In previous years, registration at these two private schools had already begun by this time, so families should regularly monitor relevant admissions information.
1–2月关键词：期末考试，苏高冬令营，寒假
期末考试结束之后就迎来了上一学期的寒假，对于关注苏州中学的同学一定要留意苏州中学冬令营活动，对于后期报名匡亚明班和苏州中学都有至关重要的作用。
January–February keywords: Final examinations, Suzhou High School Winter Camp, winter vacation After the final examinations comes the winter vacation. Students interested in Suzhou High School should pay close attention to the school’s winter camp. Participation can be extremely important for later applications to the Kuang Yaming Class and Suzhou High School itself.
3月关键词：中考报名，听力口语模考，提前自招报名
中考报名是由学校统一组织、网上填报，特殊的是，返苏生报名需要同学自己留意，带上相关材料到苏州教育考试院自主报名。
听力口语正式开考时间在4月份，在此之前，以学校为单位会组织学生进行模拟考，而且仅此一次机会，所以要特别珍惜。不管从考试内容、心态调整、还是问题积累，都要有自己的收获。
苏州中学匡亚明班、苏大附中费孝通班、省十中国科大班提前自主招生报名也在本月里陆续报名。
March keywords: High school entrance-examination registration, listening and speaking mock exam, early independent-admission registration Registration for the high school entrance examination is organized uniformly by each school and completed online. One special case is students returning to Suzhou, who must pay attention to the requirements themselves and bring the relevant materials to the Suzhou Education Examinations Institute to register independently. The official listening and speaking examination is held in April. Before that, schools organize a mock examination. There is only one opportunity for the mock exam, so students should value it. Whether in terms of understanding the exam content, adjusting their mentality, or identifying problems, they should gain something from the experience. Registration for early independent admission to the Kuang Yaming Class at Suzhou High School, the Fei Xiaotong Class at the High School Affiliated to Soochow University, and the Guokeda Class at Suzhou No. 10 High School also begins gradually during this month.
4月关键词：艺术考查，听力口语考试，模考与签约，自招
自2015年起，苏州中考新增了艺术考查科目，虽然平时没有专门的课程学习，但也不用担心，学校会在考前派发复习资料，艺术考查全部为选择题，考试只要合格即可通过。
听力口语考试共30分，包括听力部分20分和口语部分10分。从近几年的考试情况看，满分通过率也有90%以上。对于个别孩子，听力口语考试也存在缓试、免试的情况。
4月份比较重要的就是一模和签约，按区统考，一些重点高中学校会根据学生的一模成绩或排名进行签约，承诺中考成绩达到统招线即可进好班。
本月，苏州中学匡亚明班、苏州外国语学校、苏大附中费孝通班、省十中国科大班、南师大苏州实验学校自招考试自主招生考试陆续进行。
April keywords: Arts assessment, listening and speaking examination, mock examinations and agreements, independent admissions Since 2015, Suzhou’s high school entrance examination has included an arts assessment. Although students normally do not have special classes dedicated to it, there is no need to worry. Schools distribute review materials before the examination. The arts assessment consists entirely of multiple-choice questions, and students only need to achieve a passing score. The listening and speaking examination is worth a total of 30 points: 20 points for listening and 10 for speaking. Judging from examination results in recent years, more than 90% of students have achieved full marks. For certain students, arrangements also exist for delayed examinations or exemptions. The most important events in April are probably the first mock examination and admission agreements. Examinations are generally organized uniformly by district. Some leading high schools sign agreements with students based on their first mock-exam results or rankings, promising placement into strong classes if their eventual high school entrance-examination score reaches the school’s standard admission cutoff. During this month, independent-admission examinations also take place successively for the Kuang Yaming Class at Suzhou High School, Suzhou Foreign Language School, the Fei Xiaotong Class at the High School Affiliated to Soochow University, the Guokeda Class at Suzhou No. 10 High School, and Nanjing Normal University Suzhou Experimental School.
5月关键词：中考体育，二模考试，志愿填报，游泳考试
2019年苏州中考体育实施新政策，1000/800米定为必测项目，游泳作为选测项目成绩不可放弃，体育总分值从40分增加至50分。
二模考试学校自己出卷，也有多个学校联考的情况，少部分学生如果成绩理想可以通过二模签约成功。
比较重要的是志愿填报，学校统一组织、网上填报，需要爸爸妈妈们提前了解中考志愿录取原则和流程、了解指标生志愿填写的注意事项，保证不会因为志愿没填好影响孩子择校。志愿填报的同时间段也是市区四星高中自招报名时间，每个学生仅限报考本区域内的一所学校，参加对应学校的自招考试。
到了明年5月份是新一届中考生的第二批游泳考试时间，今年第一年实施，提醒准备参考考试的同学们要早作准备了。
May keywords: PE examination, second mock examination, preference submission, swimming examination In 2019, Suzhou introduced a new policy for the PE component of the high school entrance examination. The 1,000-meter run for boys and 800-meter run for girls became compulsory events. Swimming became an optional event whose score could not be discarded once taken. The total PE score increased from 40 to 50 points. The second mock examination is set independently by schools, although several schools sometimes conduct joint examinations. A small number of students with particularly strong results may successfully sign agreements on the basis of their second mock-exam performance. Another particularly important event is the submission of school preferences. Schools organize the process uniformly, and students submit their choices online. Parents need to understand the admission principles and procedures in advance, including the rules governing quota-based recommendation choices, so that mistakes in filling out preferences do not interfere with school placement. The same period is also when four-star high schools in the urban area accept applications for independent admission. Each student may apply to only one school within their own district and must participate in that school’s independent-admission examination. By May of the following year, the second batch of swimming tests for the next cohort of high school entrance-examination students will also take place. Since this is the first year under the new system, students intending to participate should prepare early.
6月关键词：中考，四星自招，真题答案，成绩查询
中招考试3天7门，今年总分有变，具体信息还要等明年中考政策公布之后才能知晓。
中考之后是四星高中自招考试时间，每个学校独立测试、录取。
真题答案和成绩查询也是在6月份发生。
June keywords: High school entrance examination, four-star high school independent admissions, examination questions and answers, score release The high school entrance examination lasts three days and covers seven subjects. The total score will change this year, but specific details will only become clear after the policy for next year’s examination is officially released. After the high school entrance examination come the independent-admission examinations for four-star high schools. Each school organizes its own examination and admissions. Official examination questions and answers, as well as score inquiries, also become available in June.
7月关键词：中考录取，分数线，发放录取通知书
四星高中自主招生录取结束之后开始中考志愿表的录取工作，二者时间不冲突，所以互不影响，前者是可以放弃的，不影响后者。
紧接着就是中考录取分数线陆续公布，学生收到录取通知书，中考顺利结束。
July keywords: Admissions, cutoff scores, admission letters After independent admissions to four-star high schools are completed, the regular preference-based admissions process begins. The two processes do not conflict with each other. Students admitted through independent admission may decline that offer without affecting their regular admissions outcome. Next, admission cutoff scores are announced successively. Students receive their admission letters, and the high school entrance-examination process finally comes to an end.
二、百所名校中学生阅读书目（70本） A 70-Book Reading List for Secondary-School Students from One Hundred Renowned Schools
《论语译注》 杨伯峻/著
Annotated Analects of Confucius — Yang Bojun《三国演义》《西游记》《水浒传》《红楼梦》套装 罗贯中 吴承恩 施耐庵 曹雪芹/著
Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Journey to the West, Water Margin, and Dream of the Red Chamber — Luo Guanzhong, Wu Cheng’en, Shi Nai’an, Cao Xueqin《繁星·春水》 冰心/著
A Maze of Stars and Spring Water — Bing Xin《子夜》 茅盾/著
Midnight — Mao Dun《家》 巴金/著
Family — Ba Jin《骆驼祥子》 老舍/著
Rickshaw Boy — Lao She《围城》 钱钟书/著
Fortress Besieged — Qian Zhongshu《湘行散记》 沈从文/著
Sketches of a Trip to Hunan — Shen Congwen《唐诗·宋词·元曲三百首》 蘅塘退士/编
Three Hundred Tang Poems, Song Lyrics, and Yuan Songs — compiled by Hengtang Tuishi《唐诗素描》（典藏版） 曾冬/著
Sketches of Tang Poetry: Collector’s Edition — Zeng Dong《中国人史纲》 柏杨/著
An Outline History of the Chinese People — Bo Yang《我们的中国》 李零/著
Our China — Li Ling《少年派的奇幻漂流》 扬·马特尔/著
Life of Pi — Yann Martel《林中水滴》 米·普里什文/著
Forest Drops — Mikhail Prishvin《鲁迅全集》 鲁迅/著
The Complete Works of Lu Xun — Lu Xun《射雕英雄传》 金庸/著
The Legend of the Condor Heroes — Jin Yong《挪威的森林》 村上春树/著
Norwegian Wood — Haruki Murakami《哈利·波特与魔法石》 J·K·罗琳/著
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone — J. K. Rowling《麦田里的守望者》 塞林格/著
The Catcher in the Rye — J. D. Salinger《莫泊桑短篇小说选》 莫泊桑/著
Selected Short Stories of Maupassant — Guy de Maupassant《契诃夫短篇小说选》 契诃夫/著
Selected Short Stories of Chekhov — Anton Chekhov《中华散文百年精华》 丛培香/选编
The Essence of a Century of Chinese Prose — selected and edited by Cong Peixiang《外国名家散文经典》 于文心/选编
Classics of Prose by Foreign Masters — selected and edited by Yu Wenxin《大地上的事情》 苇岸/著
Things on the Earth — Wei An《草叶集》 惠特曼/著
Leaves of Grass — Walt Whitman《纪伯伦散文诗全集》 纪伯伦/著
The Complete Prose Poems of Kahlil Gibran — Kahlil Gibran《枕草子》 清少纳言/著
The Pillow Book — Sei Shōnagon《守望的距离》 周国平/著
The Distance of Watching — Zhou Guoping《文化苦旅》 余秋雨/著
Cultural Odyssey — Yu Qiuyu《林清玄散文》 林清玄/著
Selected Prose of Lin Qingxuan — Lin Qingxuan《飞鸟集》 泰戈尔/著
Stray Birds — Rabindranath Tagore《瓦尔登湖》 梭罗/著
Walden — Henry David Thoreau《愿你与这个世界温暖相拥》 毕淑敏/著
May You Embrace This World Warmly — Bi Shumin《平凡的世界》 路遥/著
Ordinary World — Lu Yao《三体》 刘慈欣/著
The Three-Body Problem — Liu Cixin《1984》 奥威尔/著
1984 — George Orwell《美学散步》 宗白华/著
Aesthetic Strolls — Zong Baihua《音乐的故事》 保罗·贝克/著
The Story of Music — Paul Bekker《史记选》 王伯祥/译注
Selections from the Records of the Grand Historian — translated and annotated by Wang Boxiang《傅雷家书》 傅敏/著
The Fu Lei Family Letters — Fu Min《人人皆可为国王》 梁衡/著
Everyone Can Be a King — Liang Heng《万历十五年》 黄仁宇/著
1587, A Year of No Significance — Ray Huang《把黑夜点燃》 张承志/著
Set the Night Ablaze — Zhang Chengzhi《野火集》 龙应台/著
Wild Fire — Lung Ying-tai《苏菲的世界》 乔德坦·贾德/著
Sophie’s World — Jostein Gaarder《毛泽东传》 中共中央文献研究室/编
Biography of Mao Zedong — compiled by the CPC Central Committee Literature Research Office《林肯传》 戴尔·卡耐基/著
Lincoln: The Unknown — Dale Carnegie《梵高传》 欧文·斯通/著
Lust for Life: A Novel of Vincent van Gogh — Irving Stone《一个人的村庄》 刘亮程/著
One Man’s Village — Liu Liangcheng《狼图腾》 姜戎/著
Wolf Totem — Jiang Rong《百年孤独》 加西亚·马尔克斯/著
One Hundred Years of Solitude — Gabriel García Márquez《追风筝的人》 卡勒德·胡赛尼/著
The Kite Runner — Khaled Hosseini《活着》 余华/著
To Live — Yu Hua《蛙》 莫言/著
Frog — Mo Yan《尘埃落定》 阿来/著
Red Poppies — Alai《落花生》 许地山/著
Peanuts — Xu Dishan《文学回忆录》 木心/著
Literary Memoirs — Mu Xin《谈美书简》 朱光潜/著
Letters on Beauty — Zhu Guangqian《沉默的大多数》 王小波/著
The Silent Majority — Wang Xiaobo《读书与做人》 梁实秋/著
On Reading and Being a Person — Liang Shiqiu《历史深处的忧虑》 林达/著
The Anxiety in the Depths of History — Lin Da《人类群星闪耀时》 斯蒂芬·茨威格/著
Decisive Moments in History — Stefan Zweig《叩响命运之门》 马小平/编著
Knocking at the Door of Destiny — compiled and written by Ma Xiaoping《与神对话》 尼尔·唐纳德·沃尔什/著
Conversations with God — Neale Donald Walsch《寂静的春天》 蕾切尔·卡逊/著
Silent Spring — Rachel Carson《人类征服的故事》 房龙/著
The Story of Mankind — Hendrik Willem van Loon《文明的溪流》 H·G·威尔士/著
The Stream of Civilization — H. G. Wells《万物简史》 比尔·布莱森/著
A Short History of Nearly Everything — Bill Bryson《时间简史》 史蒂芬·霍金/著
A Brief History of Time — Stephen Hawking《极简人类史：从宇宙大爆炸到21世纪》 大卫·克里斯蒂安/著
This Fleeting World: A Short History of Humanity — David Christian
三、匡班 The Kuang Yaming Class
匡班是什么？
匡亚明实验班是苏州中学的特招班级，和国际班、双语实验班、伟长实验班的唯一区别是学生来自苏州大市范围。What is the Kuang Yaming Class?
The Kuang Yaming Experimental Class is a specially recruited class at Suzhou High School. Its only difference from the International Class, Bilingual Experimental Class, and Weichang Experimental Class is that students in the Kuang Yaming Class are recruited from throughout the greater Suzhou area.进了匡班要参加高考吗？可以直升南大吗？
虽然班级名称有“南大”二字，但匡班实则已和南大无任何关系。进了匡班依然要参加高考，凭高考成绩填报志愿，志愿不局限于南大，报考南大也没有任何优惠。这就是上一题之所以和国际班等班级无差别的原因。If I enter the Kuang Yaming Class, do I still have to take the Gaokao? Can I enter Nanjing University directly?
Although the class name contains the words “Nanjing University,” the Kuang Yaming Class actually no longer has any relationship with Nanjing University. Students in the class must still take the Gaokao and submit university preferences based on their Gaokao scores. Their choices are not restricted to Nanjing University, nor do they receive any special advantage when applying to Nanjing University. This is why, as explained in the previous question, the class is essentially no different from programs such as the International Class in this respect.匡亚明实验班的课程设置是怎样的？
匡亚明实验班课程设置为ABC三类课程，A类课程为基础课程，包括语文、数学、英语、物理、化学、生物、政治、历史、地理、信息技术、体育、艺术，基础课程重在激发兴趣、传授知识、训练技能；B类课程为拓展课程，包括纳米课程、量子课程、机器人课程、设计控制与航模、电子课程、专家讲堂等；C类课程为综合实践课程，包括考察实践、企业课堂、志愿者服务、微课题研究等。What is the curriculum of the Kuang Yaming Experimental Class?
The Kuang Yaming Experimental Class divides its curriculum into three categories: A, B, and C. Category A consists of basic courses, including Chinese, mathematics, English, physics, chemistry, biology, politics, history, geography, information technology, physical education, and art. These basic courses focus on stimulating interest, transmitting knowledge, and training skills. Category B consists of extension courses, including nanotechnology courses, quantum courses, robotics, design and control with model aircraft, electronics courses, expert lectures, and so forth. Category C consists of comprehensive practical courses, including field investigations, enterprise-based classes, volunteer service, and small-scale research projects.匡班和国际班哪个好？
一样好。只不过国际班是中考录取的，匡班是提前录取的。能够录取这两个班的学生都是非常优秀的，不能说匡班有初试、面试的选拔机制，录取的学生就比国际班略胜一筹。老师都是一样的，况且国际班有达线的硬性标准，从一定角度来说选拔标准是比匡班更科学的（个人观点）。Which is better, the Kuang Yaming Class or the International Class?
They are equally good. The only difference is that students enter the International Class through the high school entrance examination, whereas the Kuang Yaming Class admits students in advance. Students capable of entering either class are extremely strong. You cannot say that students admitted to the Kuang Yaming Class are necessarily superior merely because its selection process includes a written preliminary examination and an interview. The teachers are the same. Moreover, the International Class has a hard score threshold. From a certain perspective, its selection standard is actually more scientific than that of the Kuang Yaming Class. (Personal opinion.)进了匡班，还需要中考吗？
需要的。中考是你的毕业考，不中考大概是不能毕业的。但是一旦被苏州中学提前录取，中考成绩的高低就不会产生任何影响。你可以考个市状元，也可以考500分，无所谓，开心就好。不过，为了以后回母校不被初中老师扔出去，还是好好考为妙。If I enter the Kuang Yaming Class, do I still have to take the high school entrance examination?
Yes. The high school entrance examination is also your graduation examination. If you do not take it, you probably cannot graduate. But once Suzhou High School has admitted you in advance, the score you receive on the high school entrance examination will no longer have any effect. You can become the top scorer in the city, or you can score 500 points. It does not matter. Just enjoy yourself. Still, if you do not want your middle-school teachers to throw you out when you visit your old school in the future, you had better take the exam seriously.既然匡班和国际班差不多，为什么我要去考匡班？
提前录取了，没有中考压力了呀。如上题，立志考市状元为母校争光为了回母校不被扔出去的除外。If the Kuang Yaming Class and the International Class are basically the same, why should I take the Kuang Yaming Class examination?
Because if you are admitted early, you no longer have to worry about the high school entrance examination! As mentioned above, the exception is if you are determined to become the city’s top scorer and bring honor to your old school—or simply want to avoid being thrown out when you return to visit.匡班生活是怎么样的？
超级逗比，超级开心。不知道今年要收多少人，2015级有两个匡班一共96人，我们两个班的感情就像是一个班，不分彼此，大概在全校都是绝无仅有的。
有理科常年满分的大神，也有可爱欠抽的智障。课上老师说个很生僻的词，大概全班二分之一的人会齐声报出中文意思。课间一大堆人都跑到走廊里晒太阳聊聊天，也有人永远守在位子上写作业复习笔记，但是考试考得特别好的，从来不仅仅是后者。
并不会觉得整个班的气氛就是学习学习学习，有时候甚至感受不到一丁点紧迫。但是就有一种神奇的一定要好好学习的自觉，在社团玩得再疯，也不会忘记要好好努力，最后大家一起进步，其乐融融。
如上文所说，匡班有那种逆天大神的存在。但是从来没有人会嫉妒别人，别人优秀，和我自己优秀有什么关系？考试没什么大不了的，收到成绩单以后五分钟就忘了，该玩还是要玩，该哭就哭一分钟呗，称兄道弟，和成绩何干？年级第一和年级第二是好机油的事情见怪不怪。反正学习是自己的事情，立个flag好好学习下次一不小心考进前五十什么的开心一下就好了，考不到嘛还有再下一次呀。
说到底，我们只是苏中几千学子中最平凡的一员，没有任何优越，如果说有值得骄傲的地方，就是：我们是苏中人。这种感情，会让人流泪的。What is life in the Kuang Yaming Class like?
Absolutely hilarious. Extremely happy. I do not know how many students they will admit this year. In the 2015 cohort, there were two Kuang Yaming classes with a total of 96 students. The relationship between our two classes was essentially that of a single class. There was no distinction between us. That was probably unique in the entire school. We had geniuses who could routinely get full marks in science subjects, as well as adorable idiots who practically begged to be smacked. In class, whenever a teacher mentioned an obscure term, roughly half the class would immediately shout out its Chinese meaning in unison. During breaks, a large group of people would run out into the corridor to sunbathe and chat. Others remained permanently at their seats doing homework and reviewing notes. But the students who performed exceptionally well in examinations were never limited to the latter group. The atmosphere of the class never felt like nothing but “study, study, study.” Sometimes you could barely sense any pressure at all. Yet there was a strange and spontaneous feeling that everyone simply ought to study hard. No matter how wildly someone enjoyed themselves in a club, they never forgot to keep working. In the end, everyone improved together and had a great time. As mentioned above, the Kuang Yaming Class certainly contained absurdly talented geniuses. But nobody was ever jealous of someone else. If someone else is excellent, what does that have to do with whether I myself am excellent? Exams are no big deal. Five minutes after getting our report cards, we would have forgotten about them. If it was time to play, we played. If you needed to cry, cry for one minute. Then we were brothers again. What did grades have to do with friendship? Nobody found it unusual for the student ranked first in the grade and the student ranked second to be best friends. After all, studying is your own business. Set yourself a flag, study hard, and maybe accidentally make it into the top fifty next time—then celebrate a little. If you do not make it, there is always the time after that. Ultimately, we are only the most ordinary members among the thousands of students at Suzhou High School. We have no superiority whatsoever. If there is anything worth being proud of, it is simply this: We are students of Suzhou High School. That feeling can bring tears to your eyes.匡班有多难考？我现在好慌（方），非常迷茫，怎么办？
肯定难考的咯，据2015的经验，初试懵逼，复试接着懵逼。什么，你还想知道考什么？我们考了语数英物化，经验就是：没有经验，不需要准备。
还好我当年就什么都没有准备地去考了，否则肯定要后悔白花时间。
题目很神奇，很灵活，还是一句话，开心就好。
别去找往年的题了，考过的又不会再考，鬼知道再考什么。
只要你平常认真学习，初中的基础的东西都搞懂了（一般人都搞懂了），就去考考看吧。就这么简单，此为肺腑之言。
复试嘛，不知道和去年一不一样。小组讨论一个话题，派代表发言，全程打分。什么，你又急吼吼地想知道什么话题了？要考时事嘛？我是不是最近要多看新闻多看报？
算了吧，首先你要过了初试是不是，真过了也别去准备了，没什么用的，如果你连美国大选都不知道，虽然学姐会为此感到惊奇，但是好像也不会影响你的复试。此为又一肺腑之言。
这个复试资格就是百分百了，复试只剩形式了，都能够录取。祝各位学弟学妹都能录取心仪的学校！How difficult is it to get into the Kuang Yaming Class? I’m panicking and completely lost. What should I do?
Of course it is difficult. Based on the experience of the 2015 cohort, the preliminary examination left us completely bewildered, and then the second round left us bewildered all over again. What, you still want to know what the exam covers? We took Chinese, mathematics, English, physics, and chemistry. My experience can be summarized as follows: There is no experience. You do not need to prepare. Fortunately, I went to take the examination without preparing anything at all. Otherwise, I would definitely have regretted wasting my time. The questions are strange and extremely flexible. So once again: just enjoy yourself. Do not go looking for previous years’ examination questions. Questions that have already been used will not be used again. Who knows what they will test next time? As long as you study seriously in ordinary classes and understand the basic material from middle school—which most people do—then just go and give the examination a try. It really is that simple. I mean this sincerely. As for the second round, I do not know whether it will be the same as last year. We discussed a topic in small groups and then selected a representative to speak. The evaluators scored us throughout the entire process. What, now you desperately want to know what topic we discussed? Will they test current affairs? Should you start reading more news and newspapers? Forget it. First of all, you still have to pass the preliminary examination, right? And even if you do pass it, do not bother preparing specifically for the second round either. It is not very useful. If you do not even know about the U.S. presidential election, although this senior student might be surprised, it apparently still would not affect your second-round result. Consider that another piece of heartfelt advice. At this point, once you have qualified for the second round, admission is essentially guaranteed. The second round is mostly a formality, and everyone who reaches it can be admitted. I wish every younger student success in entering the school of their dreams!