Millions of Chinese students sit for gruelling 'gaokao'
Over 12.9 million Chinese students began the grueling national university entrance exam, the gaokao, on Sunday, with scores determining university admission, while shifting attitudes reflect growing concerns over youth unemployment and student well-being. Parents and students, like Beijing resident Zhang Xinnan, expressed anxiety over the exam’s difficulty, though some, such as mother Deng Ju, prioritize mental health over high scores, questioning the exam’s necessity in an evolving job market.
China’s national university entrance exam, the gaokao, began Sunday with 12.9 million students registered nationwide, according to the Ministry of Education. The multi-day test covers subjects including Chinese, mathematics, English, science, and humanities, with results due later this month. Students like 18-year-old Zhang Xinnan from Beijing admitted nervousness, particularly for the essay portion, though he expressed confidence after a year of practice. Zhang, aiming for a career in new energy vehicles, emphasized maintaining mental stability as key to success. Outside exam halls in Beijing, parents dressed in red—a symbol of good fortune—gathered as police and security personnel monitored the scene. Some parents filmed their children entering, while others, like Deng Ju, focused on last-minute revisions with their children. Deng, 53, said she prioritizes her daughter’s physical health over high scores, calling the gaokao a ‘formality’ and expressing a desire for its abolition, though acknowledging its inevitability. The gaokao’s significance has evolved amid China’s economic shifts, with youth unemployment at roughly one in six for ages 16–24, excluding students. Rising expectations and job market challenges have led some students and parents to question the exam’s value, though many still view it as a critical step toward achieving academic and career goals. Zhang noted that while the gaokao remains important, maintaining a stable mindset is essential to performing well. Despite changing attitudes, the exam retains its status as the primary gateway to higher education in China. Authorities have not signaled plans to reform the system, leaving students like Zhang and their families navigating its pressures while balancing academic rigor with growing concerns over mental and physical well-being.
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