China's National College Entrance Examination system (NCEE) is the driving force behind the Chinese education system as a whole. This single test is not only a determinant of an examinees future, but also guides the entire country's education system and curriculum while encouraging many traditional Chinese beliefs. In theory the test simply serves to filer students into appropriate colleges using a high-stakes testing system. However, in practice the NCEE serves as a lens through which the Chinese culture looks. This high-stakes testing system has created social urgency and fever surrounding education and college admission. As a single predictor of success and the only factor in college admissions, intense competition and pressure is created in Chinese society. Though the culture created the test, the test is in some respects also shaping the culture.