> I can't speak to the latter three, but for China it's in large part whether you tested into a good middle school (at age 10 or whatever), and then tested into

> I can't speak to the latter three, but for China it's in large part whether you tested into a good middle school (at age 10 or whatever), and then tested into a good high school, and then spent a sufficient amount of time (read: 20hrs/day) cramming in the ~year before the exam supported by your good high school. > Or have rich parents So sounds like a useful test then: actual knowledge or skill is at best second order, but ability to fit into the upper tier networks has been demonstrated.