Why more Chinese students are writing ‘world’s toughest college entrance exams’

More than 13.4 million Chinese students registered for this year's college entrance exam, surpassing last year's record of 12.9 million, making it the largest ever held in China. Known as the world's toughest college entrance exam due to its high stakes, competitiveness, and intensity, students pour everything they've learned over 12 years into a few subject tests, each lasting less than two hours.

These students look forward to the exam, as success or failure could essentially decide their future in a country grappling with a slowing economy and very few opportunities for young graduates. The stakes of these exams are high because only an impressive score will guarantee admission to the country's top universities. The exam includes subjects such as Chinese literature, math, English, physics, chemistry, politics, and history. Authorities have implemented various measures to maintain order and stability around the examination sites.

According to the state news agency Xinhua, traffic police in Beijing appeared on the streets as early as 6 a.m. to smooth and reduce traffic flow around a school near the Summer Palace, a famous scenic spot popular with tourists.

Furthermore, the whole society seems mobilised to lend a helping hand to the gaokao candidates. In Beijing, 58,000 candidates are taking the gaokao exams at 100 test centres. The exams started on Wednesday and will end on Saturday. City authorities have banned construction sites from working at night, and those within a 500-meter radius of any test centre will also suspend operations during the day.

In Shanghai, taxi dispatch centres began accepting bookings for students taking the exam a week in advance. Many Chinese celebrities, and even some international stars, have posted on social media, wishing the exam takers good luck.