A girl in China, who was recently admitted to the prestigious Tsinghua University with an extremely high score on the national university entrance exam, has gone viral on social media after it emerged that her parents had never sent her to after-school tutoring classes, choosing instead to provide a relaxed home environment.
Xu Yifang graduated from Xuchang High School in central China’s Henan province this summer. In mid-July, she received an admission notice from Tsinghua after she achieved a score of 694 out of a possible 750 points, Dahe News reported.
She will study nuclear technology, the report said.
What sets Xu apart from most elite students in China is that she never received private tutoring. She just finished her homework as required by school teachers.
As one of China’s most selective and prestigious academic institutions, Tsinghua University remains the ultimate dream destination for millions of gaokao candidates nationwide. The national university entrance exam, known as gaokao in Chinese, is regarded as the most important test in the country, with many young people seeing it as a fate-changing opportunity.
Fees at these institutions in cities like Shanghai can reach up to 1 million yuan (US$150,000) for the three-year span of secondary school. In Xu’s case, her parents are both teachers at a local college.
“I think the most important thing is to form a good habit for studying,” her father told the media. He said he only tutored Xu in maths for a short period when she was a primary school pupil, but focused on supervising her to do her homework on time.
The father said for the past three years, he had mostly cared about his daughter’s mental health. Prioritising her mental well-being over rigid test scores, Xu’s parents fostered a relaxed home environment built on the belief that life is a long journey where mistakes are a natural part of growth.
“An ordinary university will be fine. It’s not a must that you go to a super top school. Just work hard and try your best,” he often told Xu.
This life philosophy is shared by Xu’s mother. “Life is a long journey. You don’t need to be so nervous or anxious on a particular part of it. It is allowed to make mistakes,” she was quoted as saying.
The mother said she gave birth to Xu’s younger brother when the girl was 10. Since then, the mother has not checked on the girl’s studies. “I am busy with my work and I need to take care of the younger kid. I feel a bit guilty for my daughter as I have not offered any help with her studies,” she said.
Xu said she had three success tips for studying – summarising and reviewing in time, finding out one’s own suitable method and maintaining a stable mindset. She also thanked her teacher for ordering her to run a long distance every evening.
Dong Jingliang, Xu’s form teacher at secondary school, praised her as a persistent student who liked to think independently and “insists on getting to the bottom of the matter”.
The girl chose to study nuclear technology because she is passionate about it. “Nuclear energy will be important in the future. It is also related to our country’s military industry. I hope I can serve the country through this major,” Xu explained.
The news generated considerable buzz among the public. “She never attends private tutoring and gets high scores, while many students take countless after-school classes but still score low. Can someone tell me why?” asked one online observer. Another internet user said: “Her parents’ inclusive attitude is a factor behind her academic success.”