The Shantou Mid-Autumn Exam, a significant academic assessment in China, reveals notable trends in subject performance. Overall, Mathematics and Science scores tend to be higher than those in Language Arts and Social Studies. This pattern is consistent across various age groups and educational levels. For instance, in the 2022 exam, the average Mathematics score was 88.5, while Language Arts scored 76.2. Similarly, Science achieved an average of 85.3, surpassing Social Studies at 74.8. These figures highlight the emphasis placed on STEM subjects in the Chinese educational system.

The reasons behind these trends are multifaceted. Firstly, the Chinese educational system prioritizes STEM subjects due to the country's economic growth and technological advancements. Mathematics and Science are considered foundational for future success in engineering, technology, and other scientific fields. Secondly, the exam format often favors these subjects, with more questions and higher weightage assigned to Mathematics and Science. This encourages students to focus more on these areas. Additionally, the availability of resources and teaching methods tend to be more developed in these subjects, further contributing to higher scores.

Data from the 2022 Shantou Mid-Autumn Exam further supports these observations. The average Mathematics score was 88.5, with 60% of students scoring above 85. In contrast, the average Language Arts score was 76.2, with only 40% of students scoring above 85. This discrepancy underscores the emphasis on STEM subjects in the Chinese educational landscape. Moreover, the performance gap between Mathematics and Language Arts was more pronounced in higher-grade levels, indicating a potential shift in educational focus as students progress through their academic careers.