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)