China to scrap college exam bonus points for athletes, math champions

Promising athletes and academic Olympiad winners will no longer receive bonus points in China's national college entrance exam, as the government aims to make the process more fair.

The Ministry of Education said on Wednesday that, starting in June, extra points for "provincial-level excellent students", winners of science and technology competitions, or students honored for performing "righteous and courageous deeds" will be scrapped.

The authority did not mention students from ethnic groups, children of national martyrs or returned overseas Chinese, which means they could still receive bonus points.

Until now, students with outstanding achievements in sports and science could be awarded up to 20 extra points in the exam.

Some provinces have already canceled the policy after receiving a notice from the ministry in 2014 that required authorities to review and reduce the number of extra points given to students with strong abilities in science or sports.

The ministry's latest amendment published last year offered bonus points to the top six finishers in international or national sports competitions, as well as winners of national academic Olympiads including math, physics, chemistry and biology.