Lowering the proportion of English used in gaokao does not mean we should lower our demands on our students to learn English. English is an important skill, but it's not only a subject to be tested. Our school always pays a great deal of attention to a student's abilities in English. No matter how much gaokao covers the English language, it will be an important part of a student's knowledge base.

Li Jinmiao, English teacher at Tianjin Foreign Lauguages School, on lowering the proportion of English used in gaokao, the Chinese college entrance exam.

We, teachers and students, all oppose the decision to cancel the English listening test in gaokao. The cancellation is contrary to the process of learning a language. Students need to practice listening, speaking, reading and writing in learning a language. If there isn't a listening test, students will pay less attention to that skill.

Jiao Yongmei, English teacher at the Yantai Second Middle School in Shandong province, on the decision to cancel the English listening test in the 2014 gaokao in Shandong province.

Chinese students today are nowhere near mastering the English language. Language is an important tool for understanding the world. As I understand it, in Europe, students are required to master two foreign languages. The current problem in China is finding the most efficient methods of teaching English. We should not be discussing how much English we should be testing. It's regrettable that many Chinese students are still inadequate in English after years of studying.

Qian Tiefeng, principal of Xianlin Branch School of Nanjing Foreign Language School, on plans to reform the English test in the National College Entrance Exam.

(China Daily USA 10/22/2013 page4)