A record number of high school students in China have begun taking a highly competitive exam that could determine their future amid a struggling economy and shrinking opportunities for young graduates.
The two-day national college entrance exam, known as “gaokao,” is the largest academic test in the world. Chinese state media has described it as “the world’s toughest” college entrance exam due to its high stakes, competitive nature, and intensity.
Students must apply everything they have learned over 12 years to a series of subject tests, each lasting less than two hours.
This year, over 13.4 million students registered for the exam, surpassing last year’s record of 12.9 million, making it the largest “gaokao” ever conducted in China.
Chinese students dedicate years to preparing for this extremely challenging exam, as a high score is crucial for admission to the country’s top universities. The exam covers subjects including Chinese literature, mathematics, English, physics, chemistry, politics, and history.
Most students have only one opportunity to take this demanding test, unlike their US counterparts who can retake the SAT if needed.
The pressure to perform has been intensified by China’s slowing economic growth and rising youth unemployment.
On the first day of the exam, parents anxiously waited outside school gates after sending their children into the exam halls.
Many parents and teachers were dressed in red, a color symbolizing victory in China, and some carried sunflowers, considered a lucky flower for academic success.
Authorities have implemented various measures to ensure order and stability at the examination sites. In Beijing, traffic police were out by 6 a.m. to help manage traffic around a school near the Summer Palace, a popular tourist destination, as reported by state news agency Xinhua.
In Shanghai, taxi dispatch centers began accepting bookings for students taking the exam a week in advance, according to Xinhua.
Chinese social media was filled with good-luck messages and encouragement, with “gaokao” trending as a top search topic on the X-like platform Weibo.
Many Chinese celebrities and even some international stars have posted messages of support for the exam takers.
British soccer legend David Beckham shared his well wishes on Weibo, where he has 10 million followers.
“I just want to say ‘good luck’ to all the students that are taking their exams soon. You’ve worked so hard. Jin Bang Ti Ming!” Beckham said in a video, using a Chinese phrase meaning achieving honors and success in important exams.
