That is indeed a nightmare scenario. In The Netherlands at the end of elementary school there is an aptitude test that high schools base their admittance on. T

That is indeed a nightmare scenario. In The Netherlands at the end of elementary school there is an aptitude test that high schools base their admittance on. This is a nationwide system, with 3 levels of education. The highest level is a 6 year long education that grants you automatic admittance (except for some number-limited fields) to any university. Note that even if you get a score that only gives you admittance to the lowest level of education you can still get into any university by taking a few years longer and finishing the other levels as well. Anyway, my best friend in elementary school was always in extra classes because of his supposed special intellectual ability. I feared very much that if I didn't score well at the aptitude test he'd go to a school I wouldn't be able to go to. Luckily I did score well and was admitted to the highest level, but I can imagine this system could smash dreams.