The term 落榜 (luòbǎng) is inseparable from the concept of high-stakes testing in Chinese culture, a tradition stretching back over a thousand years. Historically, the Imperial Examinations (科举 - kējǔ) were the primary path for commoners to achieve social mobility and become scholar-officials in the government. Success, known as 金榜题名 (jīn bǎng tí míng), brought immense honor to one's entire family and hometown. Conversely, to 落榜 was a devastating and public failure, often after years or even decades of dedicated study. This historical weight is directly transferred to the modern era with the National College Entrance Examination (高考 - gāokǎo). For millions of students, the gaokao is seen as a single event that determines their entire future. The pressure from family and society is immense. Therefore, to 落榜 in the context of the gaokao is not just a personal academic setback; it's often perceived as a major life failure that brings disappointment to one's parents and elders. A Western comparison might be not getting into your first-choice university after taking the SATs. However, the comparison is weak. In the West, there are many pathways to success, retaking tests is common, and the results are a private matter. In China, while diversifying, the “one exam, one chance” mentality surrounding the gaokao makes 落榜 a far more final and culturally significant event, echoing the historical binary outcome of the ancient imperial system.
While most strongly associated with the gaokao, 落榜 is used in any highly competitive, pass/fail selection process.
The connotation is always negative and carries a sense of finality and disappointment. You would never use it for a simple quiz or a midterm exam in a single class. For that, you would use a simpler phrase like 没考好 (méi kǎo hǎo) - “didn't do well on the test.”