BEIJING. A record-breaking 13.4 million high school students across China are undertaking the highly competitive national college entrance exam, known as “gaokao,” in a crucial bid to secure their future amidst a slowing economy and shrinking job opportunities for young graduates.
The two-day “gaokao,” the world’s largest academic test, has been described by Chinese state media as “the world’s toughest” college entrance exam due to its high stakes, competitiveness, and intensity. Students pour 12 years of learning into a series of subject tests, each lasting less than two hours.
This year’s record number of participants surpasses last year’s 12.9 million, marking the largest “gaokao” in China’s history. The exam covers subjects including Chinese literature, math, English, physics, chemistry, politics, and history, and a high score is essential for entry into the country’s top universities.
Unlike U.S. students, who can retake the SAT exams, most Chinese students have only one shot at the grueling test. The pressure is further amplified by China’s slowing economic growth and soaring youth unemployment rates.
On the first day of the exam, parents anxiously waited outside school gates, sending their children off into exam halls. Many parents and teachers dressed in red, the color symbolizing victory in China, and some held sunflowers, considered an auspicious symbol for academic success.
Authorities have implemented various measures to ensure order and stability around examination sites. In Beijing, traffic police were on the streets as early as 6 a.m. to manage traffic flow near a school close to the Summer Palace, a renowned tourist spot, state news agency Xinhua reported. In Shanghai, taxi dispatch centers began accepting bookings for students taking the exam a week in advance.
Chinese social media was abuzz 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 their well wishes for the exam takers.
British soccer legend David Beckham, boasting 10 million fans on Weibo, shared his support in a video message. “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, using a Chinese phrase that means achieving honors and success in important exams.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
