Thanks for clarifying, then. I certainly do agree with much of what you have to say.
I do, however think it must be noted that the Gaokao in China (and I would imagine the respective systems in Korea and Japan, although I may very well be wrong) is a far, far more important exam that the HSC is in NSW with regards to the student's future, so the result is not "simply a number", as many some people refer to ATARs. People can perform very poorly in the HSC, yet still end up taking a good course at an excellent university eventually, through a variety of different pathways, and subsequently live out a very respectable life. This is not the case with the Gaokao in China, where your result will determine the tier and prestige of the University you go to, and thus essentially determine the type of job, and the type of life you will live out. For many people, especially rural and lower-class people, performing well in the Gaokao is considered some kind of "salvation" to a better life, not just for yourself, but your entire lineage. So there certainly is a kind of rationale in subjecting students to "harsh regimes and commitments" that wouldn't apply in the case of Australia.