In China, a historic number of high school students have commenced the highly competitive exam, which could determine their future in a nation facing a slowing economy and reduced opportunities for young graduates.
The two-day national college entrance exam, commonly known as “gaokao,” stands as the world’s largest academic assessment. Described by Chinese media as “the world’s toughest” college entrance exam due to its high stakes, competitiveness, and intensity, students channel years of learning into a handful of subject tests, each lasting less than two hours.
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This year, over 13.4 million students registered for the exam, surpassing last year’s record of 12.9 million, marking it the largest “gaokao” ever held in China.
Chinese students dedicate years to preparing for this challenging exam, as a high score is the sole pathway to admission into the country’s top universities. The exam encompasses subjects such as Chinese literature, math, English, physics, chemistry, politics, and history.
Unlike US students, the vast majority of Chinese students have only one opportunity to undertake this rigorous test, without the option of retaking SAT exams.
The backdrop of China’s economic slowdown and soaring youth unemployment has amplified the pressure to excel.
On the first day of the exam, anxious parents waited outside school gates after seeing their children off to the exam halls. Many parents and teachers, clad in red, the color of victory in China, carried sunflowers, symbolizing auspiciousness for academic success.
Authorities have implemented various measures to ensure order and stability around the examination sites.
In Beijing, traffic police were visible on the streets from as early as 6 a.m. to assist in easing and managing traffic around a school near the Summer Palace, a renowned tourist attraction. In Shanghai, taxi dispatch centers started accepting bookings for students sitting the exam a week ago.
Chinese social media platforms were flooded with messages of good luck and encouragement, with “gaokao” emerging as a top trending topic on platforms like Weibo.
Numerous Chinese celebrities, along with some international stars, took to social media to extend their best wishes to the exam takers.
British football icon David Beckham shared his well wishes on Weibo, where he has a fan base of 10 million.
