The Gaokao

By Jaesun Yang ’27

Every June, a peculiar silence falls over the bustling cities of China. The deafening roar of construction sites vanishes, and even the flight paths of major airlines are rerouted to ensure quiet skies. This nationwide stillness is for the "Gaokao," China’s grueling National College Entrance Examination. For more than 13 million candidates, this single test is not just an evaluation; it is a lifeline—a definitive moment that can illuminate their future or leave them in the shadows. But what makes this exam so powerful that it can bring the world's second-largest economy to a temporary standstill?

1. What is Gaokao?

The Gaokao, or "Higher Education Exam," has a long and turbulent history. Launched in 1952, it was suspended during the chaotic decade of the Cultural Revolution before being triumphantly reinstated in 1977. Since then, it has evolved into the ultimate symbol of social mobility. For many, particularly those from impoverished rural backgrounds, the Gaokao remains the only "fair" ladder available to climb the social strata. In a society where connections often dictate success, the exam is viewed as a pure meritocracy. If a student studies hard and achieves a top score, they

can enter elite "Double First-Class" universities, gaining access to prestige and opportunities previously unimaginable for their families. Spanning two intense days, the exam rigorously tests students in Chinese, Mathematics, English, and selected elective subjects. In this system, a single decimal point can be the difference between a high-paying corporate career and a life of struggle, making it the most decisive factor in determining a student's social standing.   However, this obsession with performance has a darker side. The "school district demand"—the desperate rush by parents to relocate near top-tier schools—has caused real estate prices in cities like Beijing and Shanghai to skyrocket, pricing out the middle class. Furthermore, the system faces criticism for regional inequality; admission quotas often favor students from major cities over those from less-developed inland provinces, turning a supposedly fair race into a source of growing social tension.

2. The Human Cost: A Marathon of Agony and Hope

For the average Chinese teenager, the Gaokao is less of a test and more of a "marathon through hell." The preparation often begins years in advance. In many "exam factories"—specialized high schools—the routine is relentless: students wake at 5:00 AM and study until midnight. It is a hauntingly common sight to see classrooms where students study under fluorescent lights while hooked up to intravenous (IV) nutritional drips, desperate to maintain their stamina. This extreme pressure takes a devastating toll on mental health. The "do-or-die" mentality creates a culture where students feel that failing the Gaokao means failing at life. Yet, amidst the exhaustion, there is a sense of collective resilience. The sight of millions of students pushing their limits symbolizes the immense drive and ambition of China’s younger generation, even as they navigate a system that often treats them like cogs in a machine.

3. Asia’s Academic Arms Race: From India’s IIT to Korea’s Suneung

China’s academic intensity is mirrored across Asia, creating what many call a regional "academic arms race." In India, students face the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) for admission into the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT). Known for its extreme focus on STEM, the JEE is arguably even more selective than the Gaokao. For an aspiring Indian engineer, an IIT seat is a "golden ticket" to global success, often leading directly to high-ranking positions in Silicon Valley. To achieve this, students spend years in coaching hubs like Kota, sacrificing their youth for a statistically slim chance of success. Similarly, South Korea’s "Suneung" (CSAT) shares the high-pressure DNA of the Gaokao. For one day in November, the entire country shuts down to accommodate the test-takers. In Korea, the obsession focuses heavily on "SKY" universities and medical schools. The competition has become so hyper-intense that parents enroll children as young as six in "medical school prep classes." This culture, while producing highly skilled professionals, has sparked national debates over its role in the country's declining birth rates and rising youth depression.

The Gaokao remains the bedrock of China’s talent selection, ensuring that the brightest minds lead the nation’s industries. However, it sits at a crossroads. Critics argue that the exam stifles individuality and rewards rote memorization over the creative thinking required for the modern digital economy. While the Chinese government has introduced various reforms to foster holistic growth, the fundamental reliance on the Gaokao persists because the public still values its perceived "fairness" above all else. Ultimately, the Gaokao is more than an academic assessment; it is a profound reflection of the dreams, anxieties, and relentless ambition of modern China—a race where the finish line is just the beginning of a lifelong journey.

Works Cited

Gaokao exam scene. G-enews image host, nimage.g-enews.com/phpwas/restmb_allidxmake.php?idx=5&simg=20190620000752008609ecba8d8b8617764132.jpg. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.

Students taking an exam. News2day image host, cdn.news2day.co.kr/data2/content/image/2016/06/13/20160613182847.jpg. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.

Student writing on exam sheet. EyesMag image host, cdn.eyesmag.com/content/uploads/posts/2025/07/07/c2-5448e13f-29a4-44d5-aec7-92fb34575bd4.jpg. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.