The test that started a war.

• Position: China - First standardized test in China - Brief article

If the SAT or ACT is turning your life upside down, consider this: The first standardized test actually sparked a war. Officials in China during the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. to 220 A.D.) designed the "imperial examination" to select government workers based on merit instead of aristocratic status. Test takers had to show their knowledge of the teachings of Confucius, the ancient Chinese philosopher who called for morality and loyalty in personal and civic affairs. The pass rate was only I percent. The exam was used until 1850, when one...