Society

Markets trade exam scores

(Shanghai Daily)
Updated: 2006-07-01 14:16

College entrance exam scores have been traded at temporary open-air score markets near high schools in eastern China's Shandong Province, alarming loopholes in the enrollment system.

A score that ensures a place at a leading university earned as much as 250,000 yuan (US$31,279), the Shandong-based Qilu Evening News reported yesterday.

High school graduates in Shandong took the exam on June 7 and 8. The results were announced on June 24.

A candidate had to file applications by Thursday, listing university preferences based on their scores.

After receiving tips about the illegal trade, a Qilu Evening journalist went to the gate of the No. 1 High School in downtown Shanxian County about 9pm on Wednesday and found the market had just ended. Locals said the line of traders extended as long as more than 400 meters during that day. Many people traded the mark at the site.

Early on Thursday morning, the journalist arrived at the school gate again and saw many people were already bargaining about the scores. Some sellers marked down the price as Thursday was the deadline.

Buyers and sellers have posted small-size ads on lamp posts or tree trunks near the gate, the report said.

The paper published two of the ads, one by a buyer who claimed to need a score, printing a mobile phone number, the other publishing the score and a contact number. The paper said it found similar ads near other schools in Shanxian and Caoxian counties.