English is one of three core subjects for students in China, along with math and Chinese.
Posted by The Headlines, Checked
- Sources
- 3 support1 context
- Said
- 1 time·
- Confidence
- 85%
The HeadlinesSep 16, 2026
The claim that English is one of three core subjects in China, along with math and Chinese, is supported by the NYT article (published 2026-09-16, the posting date) and corroborated by The Star and The Diplomat, which say English is a core subject alongside Chinese and mathematics.
This claim is about the present, so it is judged as of the day it was checked.
What was said
… And finally, in China, since the late 19 seventies, schools across the country have embraced teaching English. The language was seen as a key part of efforts to open up China to the rest of the world, and English is one of three core subjects there for students, along with math and Chinese. It takes up a significant amount of classroom time, even as there have been questions about how effective the teaching has been, and it counts heavily toward the country's college entrance exam. …
The Headlines · · from the transcriptPost →What we found
Supports. The NYT piece dated 2026-09-16 states that since the late 1970s China has embraced teaching English, which is one of three core subjects along with math and Chinese.[1]
Supports. The Star (2026-09-13) states that at present English is a core subject in China's basic education system, alongside Chinese and mathematics, with each of the three worth 150 points on the gaokao.[2]
Supports. The Diplomat (2026-09-23) describes English as a required subject from third grade, weighted on par with Chinese and mathematics on exams, and notes the CEM subjects are the three most important on the gaokao.[3]
Context. A 2023 academic article describes the public debate over removing English as a core subject, and a 2022 curriculum revision reduced English class hours, but neither shows English ceased to be a core subject.[4]
Sources
4 sources: 1 tier 2, 3 not rated
- 1In the Age of A.I., Some in China Wonder if Learning English Is ...nytimes.com · tier 2 · cited for: supports
- 2Should Chinese schools demote English as a core subject? - The Starthestar.com.my · not rated · cited for: supports
- 3A Debate Is Raging in China Over English Educationthediplomat.com · not rated · cited for: supports
- 4From 'Main Course' to 'Side Dish?' Debates about ...tandfonline.com · not rated · cited for: context
Where this claim was made
Said in 1 published post
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