Exams are a time of great stress. Especially in East Asia, where the pressure is on to achieve sky-high results.
Whatever the cultural differences, all students have their own rituals and superstitions, whether it is playing a lucky song, eating special food or even wearing a pair of lucky pants.
Here are some of the ways that exam-crazy students from across Asia ensure they pass with flying colours.
And there is a comment form at the end to let us know your favourite exam rituals and special ways of preparing.
1. Praying for success.
Many students in East Asia have the attentive support of their parents, whether they want it or not.
“Some parents wait for their children outside the exam hall praying for them to pass,” says South Korean teacher Ji-Youn Jung, “My mum did, but my test results turned out to be awful.”
Ultra-keen parents will go as far as praying at Buddhist temples every day for the 100 days leading up to the exam.
2. Wear red underwear.
Red is widely believed to be a lucky colour in China. So many believe that it’s a good idea to wear some red clothing, or more specifically red underwear, during an exam.
When a person is particularly successful, there is a Chinese saying, “Are you wearing red underwear?”
3. How KitKat got lucky.
Traditionally, Japanese students would eat Katsudon before or on the day of an exam, comprising a warm bowl of rice topped with egg and a deep-fried pork cutlet.
The dish name’s likeness to the word “katsu”, meaning “winning” is thought to bring students luck.
But KitKat in Japan has also been marketing itself as a bringer of good luck.
Pronounced as “kitto katto”, the chocolate’s name is similar to the phrase “kitto katsu”, meaning “surely winning”, making it a good candidate for a good luck charm.
4. An apple a day.
Canteens across Hong Kong University campuses serve apples, and a variety of apple dishes, in the run-up to the exam period.
“The pronunciation of apple in Chinese is “ping guo”, which also means “safety”. So it’s considered that you will safely pass the exam,” says Chong Wang, from Nanjing in China.
5. Avoid washing your hair.
In your vicious cycle of all-night revision, microwave food and highlighter pens, you may have forgotten to have a shower.
But not to worry – in South Korea, it’s thought that washing your hair could wash all the knowledge out.
“There was one boy in our class who didn’t wash hair before exams. The rest of the time he was very clean, but once you came to know his exam ritual, you didn’t want to go near him,” said one student about a classmate.
6. A slice of luck.
Returning to the hall, it’s time for everyone to have a turn at slicing through a giant roast pig, considered to be an important sacred offering in China.
Each participant is given one try at cutting the pig into two halves.
Those who succeed are thought to go on to pass all their exams the first time round, and those who fail, will have to re-sit some.
