Chinese businessman fails university entrance exam for 27th time

Luong That, 56, failed the university entrance exam for the 27th time, making him wonder if he could fulfill his dream.

Mr. Liang made headlines during this year’s college entrance exams in China because he took the exam 27 times. However, despite months of studying, he still fell 34 points short of the Sichuan province benchmark to get into any university.

"Before knowing the results, I had a feeling that I wouldn't be able to get enough points to get into a top university, but I didn't expect that I wouldn't be able to get into a regular school either," Luong said on June 25.

Mr. Liang Shi in the 2020 Chinese college entrance exam. Photo: AFP — Mr. Liang Shi in the 2020 Chinese college entrance exam. Photo: *AFP*

In previous years, every time he learned that he had failed the exam, Luong would insist that he would try again the following year. However, this was the first time he wondered whether his hard work would pay off.

"If I really don't see much hope for improvement, then it's useless to try. I've been working hard every day. It's hard to say whether I'll continue to take the exam next year," Mr. Luong said.

However, he also added that he did not want to give up taking the university entrance exam and called it a difficult decision that he might regret for the rest of his life.

Mr. Luong started out as a factory worker and rose to become the owner of a construction materials company. Despite his successful career, he still dreamed of going to university and becoming an intellectual.

Liang first took the Gaokao (China's college entrance exam) in 1983, at the age of 16. He continued to try to improve his score over the next decade, until he had to give up in 1992, because that year's exam was limited to single people under the age of 25.

After the rule was abolished in 2001, Mr. Liang’s dream was rekindled. Since then, he has taken the Gaokao 16 times, every year since 2010, even when strict Covid-19 restrictions made it more difficult to take the exam.

Liang Shi's determination earned him the nickname "the king of exam candidates." He was also teased as "the exam candidate dingzihu," a term used to describe people who refuse to move to make way for construction projects.

During his exam preparation this year, Mr. Luong shared that he spent 12 hours a day for several months studying, did not drink alcohol, did not play mahjong, and ignored the teasing or even suspicion that he was just looking for attention.

Ngoc Anh (According to AFP )

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