Expert calls for reform of art exams

Intensive training at art studios helps hopefuls gain admission to colleges, but the system requires greater regulation and supervision, said Chen Xile, an industry consultant.

In March last year, the graduate of the China Academy of Art in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, set up a social media channel, the Studio Intelligence Bureau, in Beijing to provide students with advice on preparing for the exam and choosing the right art studio.

The channel has also released comprehensive analysis of such studios, focusing on exam results, teaching resources, environment, class types, fees and reviews.

Chen said that after years of development, the art exam has become a fair way of selecting top talent, adding that while the test does not cater to any student's personal style and can appear homogeneous, it tests potential by asking for very basic skills.

"Take drawing, for example: examiners check if the students have drawn the model accurately and with the right proportions. These are very basic skills. If you can't handle them, how can you improve at college? In fact, it is no different from studying academic courses－you build from the very basics," she said.

She added that at high school and before, most students are accumulating knowledge, so it is only in college that they start to develop and show real individuality. "If you are really passionate about fine art and have ideas, then your basic skills certainly won't be too bad," she added.

The art studios have the advantage of being close to students' dream schools, so they can provide the fastest and most accurate information about them and employ their graduates as teachers. Each studio has a target school or art major, and each creates a good environment for students to study and practice.

"With its rapid economic development, China will definitely need more talent in the aesthetic and creative industries. These art studios are helping more students to become such talents," Chen said.

However, as studios expand in scale and number, some gray areas have been created by the increasingly competitive market.

Chen said there have been cases where studios have shared the same exam performance and admissions rates, using false information to advertise or to smear each other.

Some have also tricked students by promising a good teaching environment and resources, but failed to deliver. "For example, the student pays the fee for the premium class, but only gets the lowest level of standard class," she said, noting that students arrive at studios in Beijing from all over the country, so they often don't have an open and fair way to access real information online.

"I have been through the process of choosing a studio, training and taking tests. After graduation, many students came to me for advice, so I started the channel in the hope of helping more candidates make the right choice," Chen said

She added that with reform of the art exam on the way, more focus will be placed on the students' academic performances, while the art studio sector will become more standardized and transparent.