12.9 million Chinese students take college entrance exam

File: Li Hao/GT

On June 7th, 12.9 million people in China took the gaokao, or annual college admission exam, which is a significant event for many Chinese youth. Gaokao is widely considered one of the hardest and most competitive exams in the world. The entrance exam will continue until June 10th.

Approximately 348,000 exam rooms and 7,981 testing facilities have been established nationwide. On the first day of the test, Chinese language and math were tested. Besides these mandatory subjects, students must take exams specific to the academic paths they have selected, such as history, geography, physics, chemistry, biology, politics, and ideology.

To guarantee a seamless and equitable examination procedure, authorities have mobilized a variety of resources, from traffic control and noise-reduction measures to AI-powered anti-cheating technologies and emergency medical services. The essay subjects for this year, which frequently discussed technology and social development, show how the gaokao supports China's strategic aims and reflects the nation's changing social ideals.

Since the reintroduction of the gaokao in 1977, the college admission exam has served as both a selection procedure and a significant catalyst for social mobility and national development.