Gaokao: China's National College Entrance Exam

An examinee hugs the teacher before entering an examination site in Beijing on June 7, 2025. This year's national college entrance exam, or gaokao, kicked off on Saturday. A total of 78,900 candidates registered for the exam in Beijing. [Photo by Zou Hong/chinadaily.com.cn]



Candidates enter an examination site in Beijing on June 7, 2025. [Photo by Zou Hong/chinadaily.com.cn]



Candidates prepare to enter an examination site in Beijing on June 7, 2025. [Photo by Wang Zhuangfei/chinadaily.com.cn]



Parents cheer on the candidates outside an examination site in Beijing on June 7, 2025. [Photo by Wang Zhuangfei/chinadaily.com.cn]



Candidates hug their family members before entering an examination site in Beijing on June 7, 2025. [Photo by Wei Xiaohao/chinadaily.com.cn]



Students walk into an examination site in Beijing on June 7, 2025. [Photo by Wei Xiaohao/chinadaily.com.cn]

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A student prepares for the exam outside a national college entrance examination site in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on June 7, 2025.

This year's national college entrance exam, also known as the gaokao, kicked off Saturday nationwide. A total of 13.35 million Chinese students are set to sit this year's exam. (Xinhua/Wang Song)



A student hugs his teacher before walking into a national college entrance examination site in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, June 7, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)



Students prepare for the exam at a national college entrance examination site in north China's Tianjin, June 7, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Ran)



A student hugs her teacher before walking into a national college entrance examination site in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, June 7, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)



A student wearing a T-shirt with the words "all correct" on it waits to enter the examination room at a national college entrance examination site in north China's Tianjin, June 7, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Ran)



Teachers give thumbs up to encourage students outside a college entrance examination site in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, June 7, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)



A student gives a high-five to her father before walking into a national college entrance examination site in Beijing, capital of China, June 7, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin)



Students walk into a national college entrance examination site in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, June 7, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

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Volunteers provide bottled water to students at a national college entrance examination site in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, June 8, 2025. Tianxin District of Changsha has organised volunteers to provide help for students and their parents at multiple local examination sites during this year's national college entrance exam. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)




Volunteers maintain order outside a national college entrance examination site in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, June 8, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)



Volunteers provide bottled water to a student at a national college entrance examination site in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, June 8, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)



A volunteer guides students to enter a national college entrance examination site in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, June 8, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)

Students celebrate after the exam at a national college entrance examination site in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, June 9, 2025. China's national college entrance exam, also known as the gaokao, began on June 7 this year. The exam in some regions has ended on Monday. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan)



Students run out of a national college entrance examination site in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 9, 2025. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)




Students run out of a national college entrance examination site in Changsha City, central China's Hunan Province, June 9, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)



A student runs out of a national college entrance examination site in Shijiazhuang City, north China's Hebei Province, June 9, 2025. China's national college entrance exam, also known as the gaokao, began on June 7 this year. The exam in some regions has ended on Monday. (Photo by Li Mingfa/Xinhua)



Students run out of a national college entrance examination site in Qinhuangdao City, north China's Hebei Province, June 9, 2025. (Photo by Cao Jianxiong/Xinhua)


Students run out of a national college entrance examination site in Suining City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 9, 2025. (Photo by Liu Changsong/Xinhua)

A family member presents flowers to a student after the exam at a national college entrance examination site in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, June 9, 2025. China's national college entrance exam, also known as the gaokao, began on June 7 this year. The exam in some regions has ended on Monday. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan)



A parent (1st R) welcomes her daughter after the exam at a national college entrance examination site in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, June 9, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan)



Parents celebrate for their son (1st R) after the exam at a national college entrance examination site in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, June 9, 2025.(Xinhua/Chen Sihan)



A student takes selfies with family members at a national college entrance examination site in Shijiazhuang City, north China's Hebei Province, June 9, 2025. (Photo by Liang Zidong/Xinhua)


A student receives flowers after the exam at a national college entrance examination site in Tengchong City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 9, 2025.(Photo by Gong Zujin/Xinhua)



A student receives flowers after the exam at a national college entrance examination site in Qinhuangdao City, north China's Hebei Province, June 9, 2025. (Photo by Cao Jianxiong/Xinhua)



A family member kisses a student after the exam at a national college entrance examination site in Yangzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province, June 9, 2025. (Photo by Meng Delong/Xinhua)

All these pictures remind me of the good old days when I needed to take the exams. Got up early in the morning. Borrowed my mom's watch, rode an old bike to the appointed school and found the classroom. When all subjects went through in 3 days with a lot of sweat. No one escorted me and bought me flowers. Walked in and out alone. Time flies. So many years passed by already.

It feels nice to see happy/relieved faces. Does anyone here have some good stories of people who may not have cleared the exams but went on to do very well in life?

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Parents wait with bouquets outside the exam site of Lhasa Middle School in China's Xizang Autonomous Region on June 9, 2025. (Photo: China News Service/Li Lin)



Candidates pose for a photo outside an examination center in Chaoyang District, Beijing, June 10, 2025. This year's national college entrance exam, also known as the gaokao, concluded Tuesday. (Photo: China News Service/Wang Ziru)



Candidates walk out of Beijing Chen Jinglun High School, June 10, 2025. This year's national college entrance exam, also known as the gaokao, concluded Tuesday. (Photo: China News Service/Zhang Xiangyi)



A candidate speaks with his mother at the examination center of Beijing Chen Jinglun High School, June 10, 2025. This year's national college entrance exam, also known as the gaokao, concluded Tuesday. (Photo: China News Service/Chen Fangting)



Examinees receive gifts prepared by their families after walking out of the examination center at Beijing No. 2 High School, June 10, 2025. This year's national college entrance exam, also known as the gaokao, concluded Tuesday. (Photo: China News Service/Zhao Wenyu)