View source for Gaokao

{{short description|Undergraduate admission exam of China}}
{{Multiple issues|{{More citations needed|date=June 2014}}
{{Overly detailed|date=August 2019}}
{{Rough translation|1=zh|date=February 2021}}|collapsed=June 2024}}
{{Infobox Chinese
| order = stl
| s = 普通高等学校招生全国统一考试
| t = 普通高等學校招生全國統一考試
| p = Pǔtōng gāoděng xuéxiào zhāoshēng quánguó tǒngyī kǎoshì
| tp = Pǔ-tong gao-děng syué-siào jhao-sheng cyuán-guó tǒng-yi kǎo-shìh
| w = {{tone superscript|P'u3-t'ung1 kao1-teng3 hsüeh2-hsiao4 chao1-sheng1-kuo2 t'ung3-i1 k'ao3-shih4}}
| mi = {{IPAc-cmn|p|u|3|.|t|ong|1|-|g|ao|1|.|d|eng|3|-|xue|2|.|x|iao|4|-|zh|ao|1|.|sh|eng|1|-|quan|2|.|g|uo|2|-|t|ong|3|.|yi|1|-|k|ao|3|.|shi|4}}
| bpmf = ㄆㄨˇ ㄊㄨㄥ ㄍㄠ ㄉㄥˇ ㄒㄩㄝˊ ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄓㄠ ㄕㄥ ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄊㄨㄥˇ ㄧ ㄎㄠˇ ㄕˋ
| j = pou2 tung1 gou1 dang2 hok6 haau6 ziu1 saang1 cyun4 gwok3 tung2 jat1 haau2 si3
| y = Póu tūng gōu dáng hohk haauh jīu sāang chyùhn gwok túng yāt háau si
| ci = {{IPAc-yue|p|ou|2|-|t|ung|1|-|g|ou|1|-|d|ang|2|-|h|ok|6|-|h|aau|6|-|z|iu|1|-|s|aang|1|-|c|yun|4|-|gw|ok|-|t|ung|2|-|j|at|1|-|h|aau|2|-|s|i|3}}
| poj = Phó͘-thong Ko-téng Ha̍k-hāu Chiau-seng Choân-kok Thóng-it Khó-chhì
| hain = pu2 hong1 gao1 ddeng3 o5 hhiao5 ziao1 de1 suan2 gog7 hong3 id7 hao3 si4
| buc = Pū-tŭng Gŏ̤-dēng Hŏk-hâu Ciĕu-sĕng Cuòng-guók Tūng-ék Kō̤-sé̤ṳ
| mblmc = Pǔ-tó̤ng Ǎu-dǎing Hă-hāu Ciáu-sáing Cṳ̌ing-gŏ Tǒ̤ng-ĭ Kǎu-si̿
| hhbuc = Pô-to̤ng Go̤-dêng Ha̍h-hāu Ca̤u-seng Cé̤ⁿ-go̤h Tô̤ng-ih Kô̤-si̍
| altname = Higher Exam
| c2 = {{linktext|高考}}
| p2 = Gāokǎo
| tp2 = Gao-kǎo
| w2 = {{tone superscript|Kao1-k'ao3}}
| mi2 = {{IPAc-cmn|g|ao|1|.|k|ao|3}}
| bpmf2 = ㄍㄠ ㄎㄠˇ
| zh-dungan = Путуң гаудəəң школа жаушəң цууангуй тонйи экзамен
}}
The '''Nationwide Unified Examination for Admissions to General Universities and Colleges''' ({{Lang-zh|s=普通高等学校招生全国统一考试|labels=no}}), commonly abbreviated as the '''Gaokao''' ({{Lang-zh|c=高考|s=|t=|l=Higher Exam|labels=no|p=}}), is the annual nationally coordinated undergraduate admission exam in [[mainland China]], held in early June. Despite the name, the exam is conducted at the provincial level, with variations determined by provincial governments, under the central coordination of the Ministry of Education of China. Gaokao is required for undergraduate admissions to all higher education institutions in the country. It is taken by high school students at the end of their final year.[[File:National Higher Education Entrance Examination NK.JPG|thumb|A 2013 banner at [[Chongqing Nankai Secondary School]] announcing it as an examination venue for the 2013 National Higher Education Entrance Examination]]
[[File:Supporters of examinees outside Bayi Middle School (20160608142944).jpg|thumb|Parents and teachers outside [[Beijing Bayi School]] during the 2016 National College Entrance Examination]]
[[File:Score stripe of gaokao in liaoning.png|thumb|Results as issued in Liaoning Province in 2018]]

==History==
[[File:VM 4690 Wuhan Huazhong Keji Daxue campus.jpg|thumb|A banner on the [[Huazhong University of Science and Technology|HUST]] campus in [[Wuhan]] congratulates top exam score achievers from the university-affiliated high school]]

=== Background ===
The first Gaokao was held on 15–17 August 1952.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lishi de jintian: 1952 nian 8 yue 15 ri juxing shouci quanguo tongyi gaokao |url=https://gaokao.eol.cn/news/201608/t20160815_1439792.shtml |script-title=zh:历史的今天：1952年8月15日举行首次全国统一高考|trans-title=History today: The first national unified gaokao on August 15, 1952|website=Zhongguo jiaoyu wang |access-date=June 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609122959/https://gaokao.eol.cn/news/201608/t20160815_1439792.shtml |archive-date=June 9, 2021 |language=zh}}</ref>

The Nationwide Unified Examination for Admissions to General Universities and Colleges marked the start of the reform of National Matriculation Tests Policies (NMTP) in the newly established [[People's Republic of China]]. With the implementation of the first [[Five-Year Plans of the People's Republic of China|Five Year Plan]] in 1953, the NMTP was further enhanced. After repeated discussions and experiments, the NMTP was eventually set as a fundamental policy system in 1959. From 1958, the tertiary entrance [[examination system]] was affected by the [[Great Leap Forward]] Movement. Unified recruitment was soon replaced by separate recruitment by individual or allied tertiary education institutions. Meanwhile, political [[censorship]] on candidate students was enhanced. From 1962, the NMTP system was criticized due to its negative impact on the working class; In July 1966, the NMTP was officially canceled and substituted with a new admission policy of recommending workers, farmers and soldiers to college.<ref>Guodong Wei, "On the Reform of China's NCEE since 1977" (PhD diss., Hebei University, 2008).</ref> During the next ten years, the [[Down to the Countryside Movement]], initiated by [[Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party]] [[Mao Zedong]], forced both senior and junior secondary school graduates, the so-called "intellectual youths", to work as farmers in countryside villages. Against the backdrop of world revolution, millions of such young people joined the ranks of farmers, working and living alongside them.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}

In the early 1970s, CCP Chairman [[Mao Zedong]] resumed the operation of universities. However, new students were selected through evaluation by a [[revolutionary committee (China)|revolutionary committee]] rather than through formal academic scores. This practice continued until the [[Death and state funeral of Mao Zedong|death of Mao]] in September 1976. In late 1977, [[Deng Xiaoping]], then under [[Hua Guofeng]], the [[heir apparent]] of Mao, officially resumed traditional examinations based on academics, the National Higher Education Entrance Examination, which has continued to the present day.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}} In addition to being an important part of university admissions since its reintroduction in 1977, the Gaokao has represented meritocracy in contemporary China and reflected strong cultural values derived from the old imperial examination system.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-05-02 |title=The Gaokao: History, Reform, and Rising International Significance of China's National College Entrance Examination |url=https://wenr.wes.org/2016/05/the-gaokao-history-reform-and-international-significance-of-chinas-national-college-entrance-examination |access-date=2024-11-30 |website=WENR |language=en-US}}</ref>

The first such examination after the [[Cultural Revolution]] took place in late 1977. There was no limit on the age or official educational background of examinees. Consequently, most of the hopefuls who had accumulated during the ten years of the Cultural Revolution and many others who simply wanted to try their luck took the examination. The youngest were in their early teens and the oldest were in their late thirties. The examinations took place in the winter of 1977, and the exam questions were designed by each province individually. A total number of 5.7 million candidates took the national college entrance exam. Initially, only 200,000 people were to be admitted to college. Although the [[Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China|Ministry of Education]] eventually expanded enrollment, with admissions being granted to a total number of 272,971 students, the admission rate of 4.8% was the lowest in the history of the [[PRC]].<ref>Wei, "On the Reform of China's NCEE since 1977".</ref> These students are known as the [[Class of 1977 (China)|Class of 1977]].

Starting from 1978, the examination was uniformly designed by the Ministry of Education and all the students across the country took identical examinations.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}

However, reforms on the content and structure of the exam persisted, with one of the most salient issues being agency for individual provinces to customize their own exams. The Ministry of Education allowed the College Enrollment Office of [[Shanghai]] to employ an independent exam in 1985, which was the beginning of the provincial proposition. In the same year, [[Guangdong]] was permitted to adopt an independent proposition. Beginning from 2003, [[Beijing]], [[Tianjin]], [[Jiangsu]], and [[Zhejiang]] were allowed to adopt independent propositions. Since then, 16 provinces and municipalities have adopted customized exams.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}

Although today's admission rate is much higher than in 1977, 1978 and before the 1990s, it is still fairly low compared to the availability of higher education in the [[Western world]]. Consequently, the examination is highly competitive, causing prospective examinees and their families to experience enormous pressure. For the majority of examinees, the exam is a watershed that divides two dramatically different lives.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}

In 1970, less than 1% of Chinese people had attended higher education, and less than 1/1000 of the population of China was admitted to universities. In the 1970s, 70% of students who were recommended to attend university had political backgrounds reflecting the political nature of university selection at the time. At the same time, the undergraduate course system reduced the time from 4 years to 3 years. According to incomplete statistics, from 1966 to 1977, institutions of higher learning recruited 940,000 people who belonged to the worker-peasant-soldier group.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}

For most provinces, the National Higher Education Entrance Examination is held once a year; however, some provinces hold examinations twice a year, with the additional exam referred to as the Spring Entrance Examination. Prior to 2003, the National Higher Education Entrance Examination took place in July every year. It now takes place every June. This move was made in consideration of the adverse effects of hot weather on students living in southern China and possible flooding during the rainy season in July. Partial Provincial administrative units determine the schedule of the exams on 7 and 8 June.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}

Under the [[general secretaryship of Xi Jinping]], some provinces have instituted reforms to eliminate extra points for [[Ethnic minorities in China|ethnic minorities]] and students who exhibited "ideological and political correctness".<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=June 6, 2024 |title=Changes to China's gaokao exam are about politics, not fairness |url=https://www.economist.com/china/2024/06/06/changes-to-chinas-gaokao-exam-are-about-politics-not-fairness |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240606131909/https://www.economist.com/china/2024/06/06/changes-to-chinas-gaokao-exam-are-about-politics-not-fairness |archive-date=June 6, 2024 |access-date=2024-06-07 |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |issn=0013-0613}}</ref> Extra point schemes have been retained for Taiwanese students in an effort to lure them to mainland universities.<ref name=":2" />

=== 2006 Gaokao ===
In 2006, a record high of 9.5 million people applied for tertiary education entry in China. Of these, 8.8 million (93%) took the Gaokao and 27,600 (0.28%) were exempted ({{Lang-zh|c={{linktext|保送}}|s=|t=|labels=no}}) as these students demonstrated exceptional merit in the quality of their work and understanding of the academic subjects. Out of the 9.5 million applicants, 5,460,500 (57.48%) were admitted to universities or colleges. Everyone else (700,000 students) took other standardized entrance exams, such as those designed for [[adult education]] students.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}

=== 2017 Gaokao ===
In 2017, 9.40 million students took the Gaokao, 7 million of whom were admitted into colleges or universities.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.eol.cn/html/g/gkrs/index.shtml|title=中国教育网|date=2018-06-06|website=中国教育在线(Chinese simplified)|access-date=2018-06-13|archive-date=2018-06-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180610031607/http://www.eol.cn/html/g/gkrs/index.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>  The percentage of first-class admission (Yi Ben; {{lang|zh-CN|一本}}), considered to be good universities in China, varied from 9.48% to 30.5%,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sohu.com/a/156585521_559502|title=全国31省市一本录取率排名，哪个省份高考最难？|date=2017-07-12|website=Sohu (Chinese simplified)|access-date=2018-06-13|archive-date=2018-06-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613040735/http://www.sohu.com/a/156585521_559502|url-status=dead}}</ref> with the lowest admission rates in [[Henan|Henan province]] and [[Shanxi|Shanxi province]], at less than 10%.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}

Below are the changes of the exam scope from 2016 to 2017 (in most areas of China, where the students use the Nationwide Exam Papers in Gaokao):

'''Chinese'''

* All the exam contents are set into compulsory examination scope.

'''Mathematics'''

* Elective Course 4–1 (Selection of Geometric Proof) is removed from the elective examination scope.

'''Foreign Language'''

* No changes.

'''Physics'''

* Elective Course 3–5 is changed from the elective examination scope into the compulsory examination scope.

'''Chemistry'''

* Elective Course 2 (Chemistry and Technology) is removed from the elective examination scope.

'''Biology'''

* Topic 3 (Tissue Culture Technology of Plants) is removed from the elective examination scope of Elective Course 1 (Biotechnology Practice).

'''Political Science'''

* No changes.

'''History'''

* Elective Course 2 (Democratic Thought and Practice in Modern Society) is removed from the elective examination scope.

'''Geography'''

* Elective Course 5 (Natural Disasters and Prevention) is removed from the elective examination scope.

=== 2018 Gaokao ===
9.75 million students attended Gaokao on 7–8 June with 7,909,900 (or 81.13% of the total attending students) being successful in being admitted to colleges or universities.<ref name=":0" />

=== Acceptance rate for each year ===

Source:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eol.cn/html/g/gkrs/index.shtml|title=高考报名人数{{!}}高考录取率{{!}}2018年高考报名人数{{!}}历年高考人数{{!}}2019高考|website=www.eol.cn|language=en|access-date=2018-10-28|archive-date=2018-10-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028190256/https://www.eol.cn/html/g/gkrs/index.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>

The number of higher education institutes in the People's Republic of China has risen annually since 1977. From 1999 to 2020, the number of institutes increased dramatically from 1,071 to 2,740,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eol.cn/shuju/uni/202007/t20200711_1737852.shtml|title=普通高等院校数量持续增长—中国教育在线|date=2020-07-11|website=gaokao.eol.cn (Chinese simplified)|access-date=2020-11-27|archive-date=2020-10-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022211600/https://www.eol.cn/shuju/uni/202007/t20200711_1737852.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> which significantly contributed to the rapid growth in the number of NCEE examinees and accepted students.

{| class="wikitable collapsible sortable"
|+ Annual acceptance rate
|- align=center 
! Year !! Number of examinees !! Accepted students !! Acceptance rate
|- align=center 
| 1977 || 5,700,000 || 270,000 || 5.19%
|- align=center 
| 1978 || 6,100,000 || 402,000 || 6.59%
|- align=center 
| 1979 || 4,680,000 || 280,000 || 5.98%
|- align=center 
| 1980 || 3,330,000 || 280,000 || 8.41%
|- align=center 
| 1981 || 2,590,000 || 280,000 || 10.81%
|- align=center 
| 1982 || 1,870,000 || 320,000 || 17.11%
|- align=center 
| 1983 || 1,670,000 || 390,000 || 23.35%
|- align=center 
| 1984 || 1,640,000 || 480,000 || 29.27%
|- align=center 
| 1985 || 1,760,000 || 620,000 || 35.23%
|- align=center 
| 1986 || 1,910,000 || 570,000 || 29.84%
|- align=center 
| 1987 || 2,280,000 || 620,000 || 27.19%
|- align=center 
| 1988 || 2,720,000 || 670,000 || 24.63%
|- align=center 
| 1989 || 2,660,000 || 600,000 || 22.56%
|- align=center 
| 1990 || 2,830,000 || 610,000 || 21.55%
|- align=center 
| 1991 || 2,960,000 || 620,000 || 20.95%
|- align=center 
| 1992 || 3,030,000 || 750,000 || 24.75%
|- align=center 
| 1993 || 2,860,000 || 980,000 || 34.27%
|- align=center 
| 1994 || 2,510,000 || 900,000 || 35.86%
|- align=center 
| 1995 || 2,530,000 || 930,000 || 36.76%
|- align=center 
| 1996 || 2,410,000 || 970,000 || 40.25%
|- align=center 
| 1997 || 2,780,000 || 1,000,000 || 35.97%
|- align=center 
| 1998 || 3,200,000 || 1,083,600 || 33.86%
|- align=center 
| 1999 || 2,880,000 || 1,596,800 || 55.44%
|- align=center 
| 2000 || 3,750,000 || 2,206,100 || 58.83%
|- align=center 
| 2001 || 4,540,000 || 2,682,800 || 59.09%
|- align=center 
| 2002 || 5,100,000 || 3,205,000 || 62.84%
|- align=center 
| 2003 || 6,130,000 || 3,821,700 || 62.34%
|- align=center 
| 2004 || 7,290,000 || 4,473,400 || 61.36%
|- align=center 
| 2005 || 8,770,000 || 5,044,600 || 57.52%
|- align=center 
| 2006 || 9,500,000 || 5,460,500 || 57.48%
|- align=center 
| 2007 || 10,100,000 || 5,659,200 || 56.03%
|- align=center 
| 2008 || 10,500,000 || 6,076,600 || 57.87%
|- align=center 
| 2009 || 10,200,000 || 6,394,900 || 62.70%
|- align=center 
| 2010 || 9,460,000 || 6,617,600 || 69.95%
|- align=center 
| 2011 || 9,330,000 || 6,815,000 || 73.04%
|- align=center 
| 2012 || 9,150,000 || 6,888,300 || 75.28%
|- align=center 
| 2013 || 9,120,000 || 6,998,300 || 76.74%
|- align=center 
| 2014 || 9,390,000 || 7,214,000 || 76.83%
|- align=center 
| 2015 || 9,420,000 || 7,378,500 || 78.33%
|- align=center 
| 2016 || 9,400,000 || 7,486,100 || 79.64%
|- align=center 
| 2017 || 9,400,000 || 7,614,900 || 81.01%
|- align=center 
| 2018 || 9,750,000 || 7,909,900 || 81.13%
|- align=center 
| 2019 || 10,310,000 || 9,149,000 || 88.74%
|- align=center 
| 2020 || 10,710,000 || 9,675,000 || 90.34%
|- align=center 
| 2021 || 10,780,000 || 10,013,200 || 92.89%
|- align=center 
| 2022 || 11,930,000 || 10,145,400 || 85.04%
|- align=center 
| 2023 || 12,910,000 || 10,970,000 || 84.97%
|- align=center 
| 2024 || 13,420,000 || – || –
|- align=center 
| 2025 || 13,350,000 || – || –
|}

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed sortable" style="vertical-align:middle;"
|+ {{nowrap|Annual number of examinees by province}}
|- style="font-weight:bold;"
! Province
! Chinese
! 2023
! 2022
! 2021
! 2020
! 2019
! 2018
! 2017
! 2016
! 2015
! 2014
! 2013
! 2012
! 2011
! 2010
! 2009
! 2008
! 2007
! 2006
! 2005
! 2004
! 2003
! 2002
! 2001
! 2000
! 1999
|-
| Beijing
| 北京
| 58,000
| 54,728
| 51,738
| 49,225
| 59,209
| 63,073
| 60,638
| 61,222
| 68,000
| 70,500
| 72,736
| 73,000
| 76,000
| 81,000
| 88,192
| 103,789
| 109,876
| 110,259
| 98,745
| 85,073
| 81,266
| 71,808
| 64,479
| 56,000
| –
|-
| Tianjin
| 天津
| style="color:#333333;" | 68,000
| 58,000
| 56,000
| 56,300
| 56,000
| 55,074
| 57,015
| 60,000
| 61,990
| 60,000
| 63,000
| 64,000
| 64,600
| 71,000
| 76,500
| 88,500
| 88,500
| 83,600
| 73,836
| 67,000
| 59,000
| 57,797
| 52,312
| 37,028
| –
|-
| Hebei
| 河北
| style="color:#333333;" | 862,000
| 753,200
| 634,000
| 624,800
| 559,600
| 486,400
| 436,200
| 423,100
| 404,800
| 418,200
| 449,800
| 459,300
| 485,000
| 503,000
| 559,000
| 574,800
| 561,800
| 557,600
| 483,000
| 389,535
| 337,000
| 302,000
| –
| –
| –
|-
| Shanxi
| 山西
| style="color:#333333;" | 344,700
| 337,000
| 315,700
| 326,000
| 314,000
| 305,071
| 317,000
| 339,131
| 342,278
| 341,600
| 358,000
| 361,000
| 339,000
| 362,000
| 360,000
| 370,000
| 331,000
| 320,000
| 297,288
| 247,858
| 210,114
| 171,717
| –
| –
| –
|-
| Inner Mongolia
| 内蒙古
| style="color:#333333;" | 211,672
| 185,000
| 184,700
| 197,901
| 199,000
| 195,000
| 198,697
| 201,131
| 189,500
| 188,000
| 193,267
| 189,500
| 205,600
| 219,000
| 246,000
| 270,000
| 239,000
| 200,000
| 200,000
| 186,743
| 166,457
| 137,129
| –
| –
| –
|-
| Liaoning
| 辽宁
| style="color:#333333;" | 195,882
| 207,706
| 191,000
| 218,152
| 244,000
| 185,000
| 208,502
| 218,252
| 225,191
| 239,000
| 254,000
| 256,000
| 245,000
| 243,500
| 280,000
| 300,000
| 290,000
| 270,000
| 247,000
| 205,123
| 176,000
| 186,480
| 160,000
| –
| –
|-
| Jilin
| 吉林
| style="color:#333333;" | 141,000
| 150,000
| 152,412
| 150,000
| 162,787
| 150,239
| 142,900
| 148,500
| 137,681
| 160,200
| 159,000
| 162,000
| 165,000
| 169,000
| 197,000
| 208,000
| 201,000
| 172,000
| 160,000
| 124,796
| 118,866
| 109,224
| –
| –
| –
|-
| Heilongjiang
| 黑龙江
| style="color:#333333;" | 191,000
| 182,900
| 165,000
| 183,000
| 204,000
| 190,424
| 188,000
| 197,000
| 198,000
| 204,000
| 208,000
| 210,000
| 208,000
| 195,000
| 230,000
| 228,000
| 224,000
| 219,200
| 201,130
| 173,100
| 159,800
| 150,400
| 120,000
| –
| –
|-
| Shanghai
| 上海
| style="color:#333333;" | 59,824
| 50,000
| 50,000
| 50,000
| 50,000
| 50,000
| 51,000
| 51,000
| 51,000
| 52,000
| 53,000
| 55,000
| 61,000
| 67,000
| 83,000
| 108,000
| 110,452
| 113,800
| 112,000
| 110,000
| 91,922
| 93,900
| 91,200
| –
| –
|-
| Jiangsu
| 江苏
| style="color:#333333;" | 445,000
| 406,000
| 359,000
| 348,900
| 339,000
| 331,500
| 330,100
| 360,400
| 392,900
| 425,700
| 451,000
| 475,000
| 500,000
| 527,000
| 546,000
| 508,000
| 530,000
| 495,000
| 480,000
| 405,000
| 341,410
| 289,400
| 290,731
| 249,420
| 210,000
|-
| Zhejiang
| 浙江
| style="color:#333333;" | 390,900
| 365,000
| 332,400
| 325,700
| 325,100
| 306,000
| 291,300
| 307,400
| 280,000
| 308,600
| 313,000
| 315,800
| 299,000
| 300,800
| 348,500
| 364,400
| 358,800
| 352,000
| 313,000
| 250,000
| 229,000
| 205,900
| 179,000
| –
| –
|-
| Anhui
| 安徽
| style="color:#333333;" | 647,000
| 601,000
| 542,500
| 523,800
| 513,000
| 499,000
| 498,600
| 509,900
| 546,000
| 527,000
| 511,000
| 506,000
| 540,000
| 562,000
| 572,000
| 610,000
| 564,000
| 463,500
| 417,000
| 346,885
| 292,106
| 242,530
| 201,300
| 185,677
| –
|-
| Fujian
| 福建
| style="color:#333333;" | 232,000
| 218,000
| 201,000
| 202,600
| 207,800
| 200,927
| 188,200
| 175,000
| 189,300
| 255,000
| 255,000
| 250,000
| 267,000
| 292,000
| 305,000
| 312,000
| 309,300
| 250,000
| 256,800
| 220,000
| 204,588
| 167,264
| –
| –
| –
|-
| Jiangxi
| 江西
| style="color:#333333;" | 628,000
| 574,800
| 493,000
| 462,000
| 421,300
| 380,000
| 364,900
| 360,600
| 354,641
| 325,000
| 274,300
| 269,000
| 288,600
| 312,000
| 350,000
| 384,493
| 384,292
| 350,000
| 316,667
| 278,298
| 205,389
| 165,951
| 150,885
| 124,737
| –
|-
| Shandong
| 山东
| style="color:#333333;" | 980,000
| 867,000
| 795,000
| 782,000
| 756,000
| 760,000
| 720,000
| 710,000
| 696,198
| 658,106
| 589,701
| 648,671
| 692,309
| 778,405
| 826,761
| 943,522
| 917,033
| 943,522
| 862,339
| 668,316
| 624,773
| 532,034
| –
| –
| –
|-
| Henan
| 河南
| style="color:#333333;" | 1,500,000
| 1,300,000
| 1,046,000
| 1,158,000
| 1,084,000
| 983,800
| 865,800
| 820,000
| 772,000
| 724,000
| 758,000
| 805,000
| 855,000
| 952,400
| 959,000
| 905,000
| 878,847
| 780,000
| 719,970
| 595,537
| 498,000
| 354,000
| 291,000
| –
| –
|-
| Hubei
| 湖北
| style="color:#333333;" | 501,091
| 464,646
| 405,000
| 394,800
| 384,000
| 374,302
| 362,000
| 361,478
| 368,425
| 402,700
| 438,000
| 457,000
| 484,700
| 492,000
| 519,500
| 525,000
| 503,300
| 533,000
| 460,500
| 372,000
| 330,000
| 288,000
| 228,842
| –
| –
|-
| Hunan
| 湖南
| style="color:#333333;" | 684,000
| 655,000
| 574,900
| 537,000
| 499,000
| 451,800
| 410,800
| 401,600
| 390,000
| 378,000
| 373,000
| 352,000
| 372,000
| 413,000
| 507,000
| 540,000
| 518,782
| 480,000
| 425,000
| 349,000
| 299,104
| 258,100
| 218,100
| –
| –
|-
| Guangdong
| 广东
| style="color:#333333;" | 900,000
| 857,000
| 783,000
| 788,000
| 768,000
| 758,000
| 730,000
| 733,000
| 754,000
| 756,000
| 727,000
| 692,000
| 655,000
| 615,000
| 644,000
| 614,000
| 553,826
| 517,400
| 451,400
| 389,400
| 335,000
| 260,000
| 241,026
| 185,521
| –
|-
| Guangxi
| 广西
| style="color:#333333;" | 650,000
| 610,200
| 550,400
| 507,000
| 470,000
| 400,000
| 365,000
| 330,000
| 310,000
| 315,000
| 298,000
| 285,000
| 292,000
| 299,000
| 302,000
| 304,000
| 300,000
| 274,900
| 255,232
| 216,675
| 185,465
| 156,141
| 128,365
| –
| –
|-
| Hainan
| 海南
| style="color:#333333;" | 70,069
| 63,874
| 60,000
| 57,000
| 60,148
| 58,775
| 57,000
| 60,403
| 62,000
| 61,000
| 56,662
| 55,000
| 54,000
| 54,700
| 57,800
| 49,800
| 42,300
| 41,000
| 45,000
| 34,400
| –
| 26,265
| 19,596
| –
| –
|-
| Chongqing
| 重庆
| style="color:#333333;" | 341,000
| 314,000
| 289,500
| 283,000
| 264,000
| 250,473
| 247,500
| 248,888
| 255,460
| 250,600
| 235,000
| 230,000
| 216,400
| 196,700
| 196,000
| 186,000
| 177,349
| 190,000
| 160,000
| 130,000
| 95,329
| 81,917
| 62,665
| –
| –
|-
| Sichuan
| 四川
| style="color:#333333;" | 800,000
| 770,000
| 700,000
| 670,000
| 654,200
| 620,000
| 582,800
| 571,400
| 575,700
| 571,700
| 540,000
| 538,000
| 514,000
| 511,500
| 500,000
| 517,600
| 498,800
| 453,300
| 450,000
| 339,000
| 258,798
| 227,500
| 193,351
| –
| –
|-
| Guizhou
| 贵州
| 491,000
| 478,000
| 491,700
| 470,602
| 458,700
| 441,731
| 411,897
| 373,873
| 330,591
| 292,700
| 247,800
| 248,000
| 243,100
| 234,000
| 240,000
| 240,000
| 225,700
| 209,180
| 168,502
| 131,982
| 109,122
| 76,776
| 68,416
| 65,784
| –
|-
| Yunnan
| 云南
| 399,300
| 388,300
| 358,000
| 343,200
| 326,100
| 300,296
| 293,467
| 281,071
| 272,126
| 255,900
| 236,000
| 210,000
| 230,000
| 220,000
| 220,000
| 260,000
| 200,000
| 181,400
| 171,824
| 123,321
| 119,956
| 101,358
| –
| 79,033
| –
|-
| Tibet
| 西藏
| 33,000
| 32,000
| 36,000
| 32,973
| 27,580
| 25,343
| 28,500
| 23,976
| 22,590
| 19,625
| 18,949
| 19,000
| 18,000
| 18,000
| 13,600
| 15,000
| 15,000
| 13,700
| 14,000
| 12,157
| 9,500
| 6,510
| –
| –
| –
|-
| Shaanxi
| 陕西
| 336,798
| 323,058
| 312,919
| 322,344
| 325,911
| 319,000
| 319,196
| 328,000
| 344,000
| 353,000
| 366,498
| 375,300
| 383,900
| 378,500
| 405,000
| 414,000
| 411,700
| 373,200
| –
| 295,941
| 244,707
| 189,250
| 149,200
| –
| –
|-
| Gansu
| 甘肃
| 247,848
| 243,248
| 245,917
| 263,100
| 266,807
| 273,639
| 284,758
| 296,920
| 303,862
| 297,514
| 283,504
| 295,981
| 297,457
| 290,952
| 286,532
| 290,000
| 272,000
| 249,000
| 207,000
| 163,000
| 136,000
| 115,000
| 87,101
| –
| –
|-
| Qinghai
| 青海
| 51,100
| 48,400
| 58,000
| 56,700
| 55,114
| 42,000
| 46,346
| 44,600
| 42,682
| 39,700
| 40,600
| 38,000
| 40,600
| 38,000
| 39,000
| 41,000
| 38,000
| 40,000
| 33,000
| –
| –
| –
| –
| –
| –
|-
| Ningxia
| 宁夏
| 71,612
| 65,694
| 69,119
| 60,300
| 71,702
| 69,475
| 69,233
| 69,119
| 67,708
| 64,000
| 58,700
| 60,200
| 60,100
| 57,000
| 58,000
| 58,000
| 56,500
| 50,000
| –
| –
| 41,244
| 30,388
| 30,166
| –
| –
|-
| Xinjiang
| 新疆
| 220,000
| 218,500
| 236,100
| 229,300
| 220,900
| 207,400
| 183,700
| 166,100
| 160,500
| 162,600
| 158,700
| 154,700
| 147,700
| 164,200
| 164,500
| 170,000
| 154,096
| 128,100
| 130,000
| 100,000
| 91,000
| 79,300
| 67,000
| 66,810
| –
|}

==Subjects before NCEE Reform==
{{Unreferenced section|date=June 2024}}
The subjects tested in the National Higher Education Entrance Examination have changed over time. Traditionally, students would undertake either a set of "art" subjects or a set of "science" subjects, with some shared compulsory subjects which were Chinese, mathematics and a foreign language. The subjects taken in the Examination affected the degree Examination, or implemented flexible systems for selecting the subjects to be tested, resulting in a number of different systems. A multi-phased reform was announced in 2014 and was slated to be completed by 2025.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}

==="3+X" system===
As a pilot examination system used in order to promote education system reform, this examination system was implemented in most parts of the country, including [[Beijing]], [[Tianjin]], [[Hebei]], [[Liaoning]], [[Jilin]], [[Heilongjiang]], [[Anhui]], [[Fujian]], [[Guangdong]], [[Jiangxi]], [[Henan]], [[Shandong]], [[Hubei]], [[Shaanxi]], [[Sichuan]], [[Guizhou]], [[Yunnan]], [[Shanxi]], [[Chongqing]], [[Gansu]], [[Qinghai]], [[Inner Mongolia]], [[Guangxi]], [[Ningxia]], [[Xinjiang]] and [[Tibet Autonomous Region|Tibet]]. However, within the context of the reforms of the National College Entrance Examination, this program was suspended in Beijing, Tianjin, Shandong and Hainan provinces from 2020, and will be suspended in most provinces and cities in China from 2021. It ceased across mainland China by 2022.

*"3" refers to compulsory subjects, including "Chinese, Mathematics and a foreign language", each of which accounts for 150/750 in total score.
*"X" means that students can choose, according to their own capability, one subject from either Social Sciences (including Political Sciences, History and Geography), or Natural Sciences (including Physics, Chemistry and Biology), which accounts for 300/750 in total score.
*If a student chooses Natural Sciences, then he or she will take a relatively harder mathematics test as well, including Curves and Equations, Space Vector and Solid Geometry, The Concept of Definite Integral, Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, Simple Application of Definite Integral, Mathematical Induction, Counting Principle, Random Variable and Its Distribution.
*For candidates of minor ethnic groups in Tibet, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Qinghai and Jilin, their Literature score consists of an easier Chinese Literature test and an optional subject on Tibetan, Mongolian, Uyghur and Korean Literature, each counting for 75 points.
{| class="wikitable"
!
!Compulsory Subjects
!Score
!Time
!Elective Subjects
!Score
!Time
|-
|Social Sciences
|Chinese, Mathematics (for arts students) and a foreign language 
|450/750, 150 each
|150 minutes for Chinese (9:00 to 11:30 on 7 June), 120 minutes for Mathematics (15:00 to 17:00 on 7 June) and the foreign language (15:00 to 17:00 on 8 June)
|Political Science, History, and Geography
|300/750, 100+100+100
|150 minutes (9:00 to 11:30 on 8 June)
|-
|Natural Sciences
|Chinese, Mathematics and a foreign language
|450/750, 150 each
|150 minutes for Chinese (9:00 to 11:30 on 7 June), 120 minutes for Mathematics (15:00 to 17:00 on 7 June) and the foreign language (15:00 to 17:00 on 8 June)
|Physics, Chemistry, and Biology
|300/750, 110+100+90
|150 minutes (9:00 to 11:30 on 8 June)
|}

===Region specific===
===="3+X+Y" system====
The system was used in [[Zhejiang Province]], with the last exam offered in 2016 to "Class-of-2013" ({{lang|zh-CN|2013级}}, meaning admitted to senior high school in 2013, i.e., being Grade 10 in 2013) while "Class-of-2014" students have been taking the reformed version of Gaokao since 2017.

The "3" and "X" are the same as the national "3+X" system, weighed at 750 points. The "Y" part consists of 18 questions, covering 9 subjects (Chinese, Maths, English, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Political Science, and Geography), from which students need to choose 6 questions to answer, weighed at 60 points. The total score is 810 points.

===="3+2" system====
This system used to be employed in [[Jiangsu Province]], but was replaced by another system in 2020. The total score was 480 points.

*"3" refers to three compulsory subjects "Chinese, mathematics, and a foreign language", which are recorded in the total score.
*"2" refers to selecting two subjects either from Political Science, History or Geography for art students, or from Biology, Chemistry or Physics for science students, which are not recorded in total score but a class like A, B, etc. will be recorded.
* Bonus Points: refers to 4 comprehensive science or liberal arts exams, one gets a bonus of 5 points if they get 4 "A"s in all 4 elective exams.

===="4+X" system====
This system was used after the New Curriculum Reform was employed in [[Guangdong]] province and now has been abandoned.
*"X" means that according to their own interests, candidates can choose one or two subjects either from arts subjects, including Political Science, History, and Geography (Political Science and Geography cannot be chosen simultaneously), or from science subjects, including Biology, Physics, and Chemistry (Physics and Biology cannot be chosen simultaneously).
*Chinese and a foreign language are compulsory. Two separate Mathematics tests are designed respectively for art students and science students.
*In addition to three compulsory subjects and X subject, art students have to take comprehensive tests of arts, and science students have to take comprehensive tests of science.

===="3+1+X" system====
This system was implemented in [[Shanghai]] since the employment of comprehensive courses but now abandoned.
*"3" refers to three compulsory subjects "Chinese, Mathematics, and a foreign language", with 150 scores for each subject.
*"1" refers to one subject that candidates choose according to their own interests and specialty from "Political Science, History, Geography, Physics, Chemistry and Biology". This subject accounts 150 scores when admitted by universities and colleges at undergraduate level. The score is not included in the total score when admitted by vocational and technical colleges. Therefore, candidates can give up this subject when applying for colleges at vocational and technical level.
*"X" refers to comprehensive ability test, which is categorized into arts tests and science tests. Arts students can either choose one subject from Political Science, History and Geography, or take an arts comprehensive test when giving up "1' subject. Science students can either choose one subject from Physics, Chemistry and Biology, or take a science comprehensive test when giving up "1" subject. Regardless of arts and science categories, all the comprehensive ability tests cover knowledge of six subjects, including Political Science, History, Geography, Physics, Chemistry and Biology. In the first volume of the arts test, number of questions related to arts subjects exceeds science questions, and vice versa; the second volume of the two tests are the same.

===="3+2+X" system====
This was a pilot college entrance examination system implemented by the [[Jiangsu]] Province in 2003 after examining other testing systems, but it was subsequently replaced by the "3+2" system in 2008. Subject tests will take turns into the embrace of National Standard. A new policy substituted the old one in 2021.

*"3" refers to three compulsory subjects "Chinese, mathematics and a foreign language", which are recorded in the total score.
*"2" refers to choosing two subjects from the following six areas "political science, history, geography, physics, chemistry, biology", which are not recorded in total score but a class like A+, A, etc. will be recorded.
*"X" refers to a comprehensive science or liberal arts exam, which is not recorded in the total score, only for university admission reference.

===="3+X+1" system====
This is part of the curriculum reform in China.

*"3" refers to Chinese, Mathematics and a foreign language, which are compulsory testing subjects for each candidate.
*"X" means choosing one of the two comprehensive tests in either sciences or liberal arts, according to the student's interest. The "3" and "X" are the same as the national "3+X" system.
*"1" refers to a basic proficiency test on skills ({{lang|zh-CN|基本能力测试}}) that high school graduates needs and should have in order to adapt to social life. This college entrance examination system was implemented for the first time in [[Shandong]] in 2007 and ended in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2014-05/21/content_2684161.htm|title=山东高考取消外语听力和基本能力测试_要闻_新闻|publisher=中国政府网|access-date=2022-08-02|archive-date=2023-04-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407084417/http://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2014-05/21/content_2684161.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
* The examination system in Shandong Province reverted to the "3+X" system as of the most recent testing in June 2014 and assumed the reformed plan in 2020.

== Reform of the National College Entrance Examination ==
{{self-reference|For a summary of information about this program, see ''the topic page of Sina Education''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://edu.sina.cn/zt_d/xgkp|title=新高考{{!}}高考改革_新浪专题|last=sina_mobile|website=edu.sina.cn|date=11 September 2018|access-date=2018-11-17|archive-date=2018-11-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181117105053/http://edu.sina.cn/zt_d/xgkp|url-status=live}}</ref>}}

==="3+1+2" system===
This system was first introduced in 2019, when [[Hebei Province]], [[Liaoning Province]], [[Jiangsu Province]], [[Fujian Province]], [[Hubei Province]], [[Hunan Province]], [[Guangdong Province]], [[Chongqing City]] announced their examination reform plan, and performed on the 2018 students. This system gives students a wider choice on what subjects they are being tested on comparing to "3+X" system, but limits students' choice against the "3+3" system. By 2024, most regions of the country would implement the system as the successor of their "3+X" system.

*"3" refers to compulsory subjects, including "Chinese, Mathematics and a foreign language", each of which accounts for 150/750 in total score.
*"1" refers to a selection between Physics and History, which accounts for 100/750 of the total score.
*"2" refers to two subjects that candidates choose according to their own interests and specialty from Chemistry, Biology, Political Science, and Geography. This test was renamed as Grading Exam of the Academic Proficiency Examination for Senior High School Students ({{lang|zh-CN|普通高中学业水平等级性考试}}) as these exams are held per region, unlike the compulsory courses which are held nationally by the Ministry of Education.

To promise the legitimacy of the Grading Exam courses, the final scores of the four courses were transferred to band scores before they were counted into the total score. Example below is Guangdong's algorithm.<ref>{{Cite web|title=广东省教育厅关于普通高中学业水平考试思想政治等4门选择性考试科目等级赋分方法的通知 广东省教育考试院|url=http://eea.gd.gov.cn/bmbk_stjwj/content/post_2282600.html|access-date=2021-07-04|date=2019-04-24|work=广东省教育考试院|archive-date=2021-11-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105182242/http://eea.gd.gov.cn/bmbk_stjwj/content/post_2282600.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

When weighing the score, the candidate's score of one course are sorted from high to low, and divided into five group according to rank distribution. A grade from A to E was given to these groups. The band score is then calculated after confirming the grade.

{| class="wikitable"
|+Relativity Between Portion of Each Grade and the Band Score
!Grade
!A
!B
!C
!D
!E
|-
!{{approx}} portion
|~17%
|~33%
|~33%
|~15%
|~2%
|-
!Band score range
|100–83
|82–71
|70–59
|58–41
|40–30
|}

The band score has a range from 100 to 30, each grade has a typical range of 10pts to 17pts. According to each candidate's actual score, the score's belonging grade, and the grade's scoring range, the score was transferred in proportion by the following formula:

<math display="block">\frac{s_2-s_0}{s_0-s_1}=\frac{t_2-t_0}{t_0-t_1}</math>

<math display="inline">s_1</math>, <math display="inline">s_2</math>represents the lower and higher limit of the actual score of each grade; <math display="inline">t_1</math>, <math display="inline">t_2</math>represents the lower and higher limits of the band score of each grade. <math display="inline">s_0</math>represents the candidate's actual score, <math display="inline">t_0</math>represents the candidate's band score.

=== "3+3" system ===
This system has been implemented in Shanghai and Zhejiang since the employment of comprehensive courses since September 2014. Since 2017, Beijing, Tianjin, Shandong, Hainan have begun to use this program.

* The first "3" stands for three compulsory courses, including Chinese, mathematics, and a foreign language (a choice of one from English, Japanese, Russian, German, French, Spanish). 
* The second "3" stands for three selective courses which depend on students' choice from physics, chemistry, biology, technology (Zhejiang only), geography, politics and history. Like above, this test was renamed as Grading Exam of the Academic Proficiency Examination for Senior High School Students ({{lang|zh-CN|普通高中学业水平等级性考试}}).
* Originally, the initial intention of the reform was to let students develop their strengths and avoid their weaknesses; however, students taking the exam rushed to test into subjects that were perceived as higher-scoring. This has resulted in very few people entering into certain subjects, such as physics.
* In the calculation of the scores of the other, 70 points (in Shanghai) or 100 points (in Zhejiang) for each of the subjects, according to the levels like A+, A, B+,&nbsp;..., D, E, etc. (Divided into 21 grades in Zhejiang, 11 in Shanghai; 3 points between every two grades). According to the published news, Beijing and Tianjin indicated that their plan is similar to the Zhejiang plan, and Anhui's request for comment is similar to Zhejiang, too;<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://edu.365jia.cn/news/2015-07-08/163DAA3A156DEEEE_2.html|title=安徽省普通高中学业水平考试实施办法(征求意见稿)__万家热线-安徽门户网站|website=edu.365jia.cn|access-date=2018-08-30|archive-date=2018-08-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830142239/http://edu.365jia.cn/news/2015-07-08/163DAA3A156DEEEE_2.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Shandong is divided into eight grades of A, B+, B, C+, C, D+, D, and E. According to the original scores and equal conversion rules of the candidates, they are converted to 91–100, 81–90, 71–80, 61–70, 51–60, 41–50, 31–40, 21–30 eight score intervals, get the grades of candidates.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sdzk.gov.cn/gkgg/message/327/3271f9ff22d6710447bf.shtm|title=山东省教育招生考试院|website=www.sdzk.gov.cn|access-date=2018-08-30|archive-date=2018-08-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830110423/http://www.sdzk.gov.cn/gkgg/message/327/3271f9ff22d6710447bf.shtm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sdjys.org/mobile.php/News/view/id/26498.html|title=山东高考综合改革的等级计分规则_山东教育社|website=www.sdjys.org|access-date=2018-08-30|archive-date=2018-08-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830110455/http://www.sdjys.org/mobile.php/News/view/id/26498.html|url-status=live}}</ref>'
* Another concern is that candidates who want to take the college entrance examination must first take the Qualifying Exam of the Academic Proficiency Examination for Senior High School Students ({{lang|zh-CN|普通高中学业水平合格性考试}}), which results are credited as "qualified" and "failed".

{|class="wikitable"
|+ Exam scope
! |Subject
! |Compulsory Courses
! |Elective Compulsory Courses
|-
|[[Chinese language|Chinese]]
| Compulsory First Volume<br />Compulsory Last Volume
| Elective Compulsory First Volume<br />Elective Compulsory Middle Volume<br />Elective Compulsory Last Volume
|-
|[[Mathematics]]
| Compulsory First Volume<br />Compulsory Second Volume
| Elective Compulsory First Volume<br />Elective Compulsory Second Volume<br />Elective Compulsory Third Volume
|-
|[[English language|English]]
| Compulsory First Volume<br />Compulsory Second Volume<br />Compulsory Third Volume
| Elective Compulsory First Volume<br />Elective Compulsory Second Volume<br />Elective Compulsory Third Volume<br />Elective Compulsory Fourth Volume
|-
|[[Physics]]
| Compulsory First Volume<br />Compulsory Second Volume<br />Compulsory Third Volume
| Elective Compulsory First Volume<br />Elective Compulsory Second Volume<br />Elective Compulsory Third Volume
|-
|[[Chemistry]]
| Compulsory First Volume<br />Compulsory Second Volume
| Elective Compulsory I Principle of Chemical Reaction<br />Elective Compulsory II Material Structure and Properties<br />Elective Compulsory III Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry
|-
|[[Biology]]
| Compulsory I Molecules and Cells<br />Compulsory II Heredity and Evolution
| Elective Compulsory I Steady State and Regulations<br />Elective Compulsory II Creatures and Environment<br />Elective Compulsory III Biotechnology and Biological Engineering
|-
|[[Political Science]]
| Compulsory I Socialism with Chinese Characteristics<br />Compulsory II Economy and Society<br />Compulsory III Politics and Rule of Law<br />Compulsory IV Philosophy and Cultures
| Elective Compulsory I Contemporary International Politics and Economy<br />Elective Compulsory II Law and Life<br />Elective Compulsory III Logic and Thinking
|-
|[[History]]
| Compulsory Outline of Chinese and Foreign History (I)<br />Compulsory Outline of Chinese and Foreign History (II)
| Elective Compulsory I National System and Social Governance <br />Elective Compulsory II Economic and Social Life<br />Elective Compulsory III Cultural Exchange and Communication
|-
|[[Geography]]
| Compulsory First Volume<br />Compulsory Second Volume
| Elective Compulsory I Fundamentals of Physical Geography<br />Elective Compulsory II Regional Development<br />Elective Compulsory III Resources, Environment and National Security
<!-- This part isn't in gaokao scope
|-
|[[Information Technology]]
| 1. Data and calculation<br />2. Information system and society
| 1. Data and data structure<br />2. Network foundation<br />3.Data management and analysis
|-
|[[General Technology]]
| Technology and design 1<br />Technology and design 2
| 1. Electronic control technology<br />4. Modern housekeeping Technology<br />7. Fundamentals of Vocational Technology
-->
|}
<noinclude>

==Procedure==
The National Higher Education Entrance Examination is not uniform across the country, but administered uniformly within each [[province of China]] or each [[direct-controlled municipality]]. The National Higher Education Entrance Examination is graded variously across the country.

===Before the examination===
In the winter of the year before the examination year, students are required to register for the examination. The registration is usually completed on the official website of the provincial academy of educational recruitment and examination, and examinees are required to fill out an online form, which includes name, gender, date of birth, identification number, address, domicile, political status, school, phone number, and other information about the examination and admission. The form requires students to choose elective-mandatory subjects they elected. Three subjects are universally mandatory: [[Chinese language|Chinese]], [[Mathematics]], and a foreign language — usually [[English language|English]]. Students may choose [[Russian language|Russian]], [[Japanese language|Japanese]], [[German language|German]], [[French language|French]] or [[Spanish language|Spanish]] but less than 1% choose a language other than English. The other six standard subjects are three natural-science subjects — [[physics]], [[chemistry]], [[biology]], and three liberal arts subjects — [[history]], [[geography]], and [[Political Science|political science]];<ref>This subject is partly a [[civics]] or introductory [[legal studies]] class, and partly [[ideology]] from the [[Chinese Communist Party]].</ref> applicants can elect 3 subjects to take tests from them.

However, there are general requirements examinees have to comply with:
# Abide by the Constitution and laws of the People's Republic of China.
# Have a high school diploma or equivalent.
# Be in good health.
# Have read carefully and are willing to abide by the rules of the Register and other regulations and policies of the Institutions of Higher Learning and the Office of Admissions Committee about the enrollment management.
# If foreign immigrants who settle down in China conform to the enlisted condition of the National Higher Education Entrance Examination, they can then apply for the National Higher Education Entrance Examination with the foreign immigrants' resident certificate, which are sent by the Provincial Public Security Department at the location that is assigned.
# If willing to apply for the Military Academy: students who are graduating this year and have studied in high school for the first time cannot be older than 20 years of age and unmarried; if willing to apply for the Police Academy: students who are graduating this year and have studied in high school for the first time cannot be older than 22 years of age and unmarried; if willing to apply for the foreign language major in Police Academy: students who are graduating this year and have studied in high school for the first time cannot be older than 20 years of age and unmarried.
# If students from Juvenile Classes want to take the National Higher Education Entrance Examination, their schools need to pre-select, send a certification of approval, inform the exact required courses, and clarify the offices of Admissions Committee where they will take the National Higher Education Entrance Examination. After doing so, the students can then file the application. After the Office of Admissions Committee reviews and approves, the students can apply for and attend the National Higher Education Entrance Examination at the correct location. Students who apply for Shao Nian Ban must be part of a small percentage of the population. They must have a very high IQ, their grades must be excellent, and they must study at a secondary or high school under the age of 15 (excluding those who are graduating this year and have studied in high school for the first time).

The following groups are prohibited from taking the exam:
# Students who are currently studying in higher education.
# Students whose [[Hukou system|files]] are incomplete, such as those with no school status.
# One who is serving a prison sentence or is being prosecuted for violating [[Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China|Criminal Law]] of the People's Republic of China.

In the spring before Gaokao, examinees participate in school-organized medical examinations, in order to find diseases that affect future majors. For example, students with myopia are not allowed to apply for military schools, and colorblind students won't be admitted by medical professions. It is also noting that "have a high school diploma or equivalent" requires students to firstly take Qualifying Examination of the Academic Proficiency Examination for Senior High School Students ({{lang|zh-CN|普通高中学业水平合格性考试}}), unofficially called "Huikao ({{lang|zh-CN|会考}})", including 12 subjects students learned in senior high school. The examination are always very simple to pass. Their results are credited as "qualified" and "failed", "qualified" accounts for 97% of the total number of examination and "failed" accounts 3% of the total, in the end hand in a Comprehensive Qualification Report based on the student's performance and social activity. The result of the Qualifying Examination and the Report would be given to the college as a reference when admitting. Failed students have three chances to take makeup examinations. Chemistry, biology, geography and history examinations are held in the summer of senior one; Chinese, mathematics, English, physics, politics examinations took places in the winter of senior two; and information technology and general technology examinations took up in the summer of senior two; physical education test is in the spring of senior three-months before Gaokao. Elective subjects they failed in Huikao are not available for applicants when signing up to Gaokao.

===Examination===
It is arranged at the end of the spring semester and secondary school graduates across the country take the examination simultaneously over a two to four-day period.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" width="100%"
|+ Gaokao Time Arrangement
! Date
! colspan="2" |7 Jun.
! colspan="1" |8 Jun.
! colspan="3" |9 Jun.
! colspan="3" |10 Jun.
|-
! Time
| 9:00–11:30
| 15:00–17:00
| 15:00–16:40
| 8:00–9:30
| 11:00–12:30
| 15:30–17:00
| 8:00–9:30
| 11:00–12:30
| 15:30–17:00
|-
! Subject
| Chinese
| mathematics
| foreign language
| physics
| politics
| chemistry
| history
| biology
| geography
|-
! Score
| 150
| 150
| 150
| 100
| 100
| 100
| 100
| 100
| 100
|}

===Admission===
Applicants to some specialist programs are also screened by additional criteria: some art departments (e.g. audition), military and police schools (political screening and physical exam), and some sports programs (tryout).

Exam scores can be used to apply to universities outside mainland China. Across the globe, Hong Kong is on their top list. In 2007, 7 students with the overall highest score in their provinces entered Hong Kong's universities rather than the two major universities in mainland China. In 2010, over 1,200 students entered the 12 local institutions which provide tertiary education courses through this examination. In addition, the [[City University of Hong Kong]] and [[Chinese University of Hong Kong]] directly participate in the application procedure like other mainland universities.<!--In 2008, there are at least 967 students entered the [[Joint University Programmes Admissions System|8 major local institutions]], or [[Hong Kong Shue Yan University|Shue Yan University]]'s undergraduate degrees in Hong Kong, this number did not include the late admissions of particular students affected by the [[2008 Sichuan earthquake|earthquake]].<ref>www.mingpaonews.com/20080710/gfb1.htm 14-years-old student admitted by HKU, Mingpao news Hong Kong, July 10, 2008.</ref>--> In Malaysia, the [[University of Malaya]] recognized application via Gaokao for bachelor's degree with a minimum score of 520 starting March 27, 2025.

The examination is essentially the only criterion for tertiary education admissions. Poor test performance almost always means giving up on that goal. Students hoping to attend university will spend most of their waking moments studying prior to the exam. If they fail in their first attempt, some students repeat the last year of high school to retake the exam during the following year.

In different places and across different time periods in history, students were required to apply for their intended university or college ''prior'' to the exam, ''after'' the exam, or more recently, ''after'' they receive their scores, by filling a list of ranked preferences. The application list is classified into several tiers (including at least early admissions, key universities, regular universities, vocational colleges), each of which can contain around 4–6 choices for institutions and programs. Typically, an institution or program would only admit students who apply to it as their first choice in each tier. In some regions, students are allowed to apply for different tiers at different times. For example, in [[Shanghai]], students apply for early admission, key universities and regular universities prior to the exam, but can apply for other colleges after they receive their scores.

==Criticisms==

===Regional discrimination===
A university usually sets a fixed admission quota for each province, with a higher number of students coming from its home province. As the advanced educational resources (number and quality of universities) are distributed unevenly across China, it is argued that people are being discriminated against during the admission process based on their geographic region. For example, compared to [[Beijing]], [[Jiangxi]] province has fewer universities per capita. Therefore, Jiangxi usually receives fewer admission quotas compared with Beijing, which makes a significantly higher position among applicants necessary for a Jiangxi candidate to be admitted by the same university than their Beijing counterpart. The unequal admission schemes for different provinces and regions might intensify competition among examinees from provinces with fewer advanced education resources. For example, Peking University planned to admit 800 science students from Beijing (with 80,000 candidates in total), but only 38 from Shandong (with 660,000 candidates in total). This is not similar to the practice of regional universities in other countries which receive subsidies from regional governments in addition to or in place of those received from central governments, as universities in China largely depend on state budget rather than local budget. However, this regionally preferential policy does provide subsidies to minority students from under-developed regions that enjoy limited educational resources, such as [[Tibet]] and [[Xinjiang]].

In recent years, varied admission standards have led some families to [[Gaokao migration|relocate]] for the sole purpose of advancing their children's chances of entering university.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsgd.com/culture/universities/200508040017.htm|title=Migrating college candidates could be left out in cold, News Guangdong, 2005|access-date=2006-06-08|archive-date=2006-02-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060216083756/http://www.newsgd.com/culture/universities/200508040017.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

In addition, regional discrimination is not only restricted to the ratio for admission. This is best illustrated with an example of the [[Hubei]] Province, where students' exam scores have been higher than other provinces for a long time. A score for a Hubei student to just reach the admission cut-off line for a key university may be enough for a student from another province to be admitted by a much better university, and even enough for a Beijing student to be admitted by top universities like Tsinghua University and Peking University.

Some local students in [[Hong Kong]] complained that it was unfair that the increasing intake of Mainland students who have performed at a high level in this examination increases the admission grades of universities, making it harder for local students to get admission. In 2010, more than 5,000 out of the 17,000 students who achieved the minimum university entry requirement were not offered places in any degree courses in the UGC-funded universities.

===Migrant children===
As a student is required to take exams in the region where their household registration (under the [[Hukou]] system) is located, the qualification of migrant children becomes controversial.<ref>{{cite news |last=Fu |first=Yiqin |date=2013-06-19 |title=China's Unfair College Admissions System |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/china/archive/2013/06/chinas-unfair-college-admissions-system/276995/ |journal=The Atlantic |access-date=2019-06-07 |archive-date=2018-06-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629131139/https://www.theatlantic.com/china/archive/2013/06/chinas-unfair-college-admissions-system/276995/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Since 2012, some regions began to relax the requirements and allow some children of migrants to take their College Entrance Exam in regions outside of their household registration. As of 2016, Guangdong's policies are the most relaxed. A child of migrants can take their Entrance Exam in Guangdong if they have attended 3 years of highschool in the province, and if the parent(s) have legal jobs and have paid for 3 years of social insurance in the province.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hornby |first1=Lucy |last2=Mao |first2=Sabrina |date=2012-12-30 |title=Chinese cities to relax school entry for rural migrants |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-migrants-education/chinese-cities-to-relax-school-entry-for-rural-migrants-idUSBRE8BT03D20121230 |location=Beijing, China |work=Reuters |access-date=2019-06-07 |archive-date=2021-09-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918190008/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-migrants-education/chinese-cities-to-relax-school-entry-for-rural-migrants-idUSBRE8BT03D20121230 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Jin |first=Dan |date=2016-06-07 |title=Nearly 10,000 migrant students sit for gaokao in Guangdong |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2016-06/07/content_25637706.htm |journal=China Daily |access-date=2019-06-07 |archive-date=2021-09-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918190020/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2016-06/07/content_25637706.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Special concessions===
There are special concessions for members of [[Ethnic minorities in China|ethnic minorities]], foreign nationals, persons with family origin in [[Taiwan]], and children of military casualties. Students can also receive bonus marks by achieving high results in [[Olympiad#Other uses|academic Olympiads]], other science and technology competitions, sporting competitions, as well as "political or moral" distinction. In the [[2018 National People's Congress]], the government passed legislation abolishing all bonus scores from competitions.

===Psychological pressure===
{{See also|Mental health in China|Mental health of Chinese students}}
Because Gaokao is one of the most influential examinations in China and students can only take the test once a year, both teachers and students undergo tremendous pressure in preparing for and taking the exam. For teachers, because Chinese society heavily focuses on the rate of admission into universities, they work to prepare every student for the exam. Because of this, teachers give students more and more practice for exams. This teaching methodology, colloquially referred to as "cramming", involves students memorizing large amounts of information fed to them by teachers and undertaking many practice exercises in order to optimize exam writing ability. One of the disadvantages of this method is the lack of focus on teaching critical thinking and ignoring students' emotions, values and personalities. Many examinees suffer from severe anxiety resulting from and during the examination. In some cases, examinees may faint in the examination room.<ref>{{cite web|last=Xu|first=Xiuhua|title=基础教育弊端日益显现 中国课程改革势在必行|url=http://www.people.com.cn/GB/jiaoyu/1055/3051927.html|work=People Website|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829110022/http://www.people.com.cn/GB/jiaoyu/1055/3051927.html}}</ref>

Further and deeper-stemming criticisms have been leveled that the testing system is the "most pressure-packed examination in the world".<ref name="Stressful Times">{{cite magazine | last= Siegel | first= Ben | url= http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1631854,00.html | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070716112804/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1631854,00.html | url-status= dead | archive-date= July 16, 2007 | title= Stressful Times for Chinese Students | magazine = [[Time (magazine)|Time]] | date= June 12, 2007}}</ref> Behaviors surrounding the testing period have been extreme under some reports, with doctors in [[Tianjin]] purportedly prescribing [[birth control pill]]s to female students whose parents wanted to ensure their daughters were not menstruating at the time of examination.<ref name="Stressful Times" />  Testing pressure, for some critics, has been linked to fainting, increased drop out rates, and increased rates of teenage [[clinical depression]].

Pressure caused as a result of the Gaokao has been linked to a rise in student [[suicide]]s.<ref>{{Citation |title=Inside a Chinese Test-Prep Factory |last=Lamer |first=Brook |date=July 18, 2022 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/04/magazine/inside-a-chinese-test-prep-factory.html |publication-date=December 31, 2014 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=July 18, 2022 |archive-date=July 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220718211345/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/04/magazine/inside-a-chinese-test-prep-factory.html |url-status=live }}</ref> A school in [[Hebei|Hebei province]] installed [[suicide barrier]]s to prevent students from [[Suicide by jumping from height|jumping to their deaths]] in response to two suicides in the facility related to the exam.<ref>{{Citation |title=Chinese school installs 'anti-suicide' barriers before dreaded exam |last=Phillips |first=Tom |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/11551660/Chinese-school-installs-anti-suicide-barriers-before-dreaded-exam.html |publication-date=April 21, 2015 |publisher=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |access-date=July 18, 2022 |archive-date=July 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220718211345/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/11551660/Chinese-school-installs-anti-suicide-barriers-before-dreaded-exam.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Impact==
The Gaokao tends to impact the lives of most Chinese teenagers and their parents. In [[Zhengzhou]], Henan, the local bus company parked a  number 985 bus outside a Gaokao center for parents to wait in, echoing the popular [[Project 985]] enrollment program for university entrances.<ref name="daily">{{cite news |last1=Chi |first1=ma |date=8 June 2017 |title=Scenes from the most important test in China |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2017-06/08/content_29673286_3.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609115758/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2017-06/08/content_29673286_3.htm |archive-date=9 June 2017 |access-date=9 June 2017 |publisher=China Daily}}</ref>

The impact and importance of the Gaokao exam has only increased as the number of students taking the exam has risen to nearly 13 million people in 2023, a 900,000 person increase from 2022 and around a 9,000,000 person increase from 2000.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Zhu |first=Jessie Yeung,Candice |date=2023-06-07 |title=More people than ever are taking China's college entrance exam. But a dire job market awaits {{!}} CNN Business |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/06/business/china-gaokao-college-exam-jobs-intl-hnk/index.html |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=2023-10-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231016022116/https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/06/business/china-gaokao-college-exam-jobs-intl-hnk/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> This combines with strict quotas from the top schools such as Peking and Tsinghua University who take less than 7,000 students a year to make enrolling in a Chinese university much more competitive. Students successful in taking the Gaokao can give themselves a boost heading into a youth employment market in China with 20.4% unemployment.<ref name=":1" />

Due to the pressures surrounding the Gaokao exam, there have been reports of Chinese families and educators being 'jealous' of more western teaching styles. According to Lao Kaisheng, a professor in the education department of Beijing Normal University, "The education system here puts a heavy emphasis on rote memorization, which is great for students' test-taking ability but not for their problem-solving and leadership abilities or their interpersonal skills."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kaiman |first=Jonathan |date=2014-02-22 |title=Nine-hour tests and lots of pressure: welcome to the Chinese school system |language=en-GB |work=The Observer |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/22/china-education-exams-parents-rebel |access-date=2023-10-16 |issn=0029-7712 |archive-date=2015-09-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928154730/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/22/china-education-exams-parents-rebel |url-status=live }}</ref>  The results of this exam affect family honor and the future of the Chinese youth, creating a '''gaokao''-above-all' mentality and high pressure for students and parents alike.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Gaokao Equation: Study, Silence, Success |url=http://en.chinaculture.org/info/2012-06/12/content_435296_3.htm |access-date=2023-10-16 |website=en.chinaculture.org |archive-date=2023-10-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025220926/http://en.chinaculture.org/info/2012-06/12/content_435296_3.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> This may be why there has been an increase in '[[Sang (Chinese sub-culture)|sang]]' culture in China, which refers to the reduced work ethic, a lack of self-motivation, and an apathetic demeanor among Chinese youth.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tone |first=Sixth |date=Jun 26, 2017 |title=Turn Off, Drop Out: Why Young Chinese Are Abandoning Ambition |url=https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1000407 |access-date=2023-10-16 |website=#SixthTone |archive-date=2023-10-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002081734/https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1000407 |url-status=live }}</ref> An increasing number of young people describe themselves as sang because they feel that it is futile to pursue traditional notions of success.

==See also==
*[[Class of 1977 (China)]]
*[[Education in China]]
*[[Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education]]
*[[Higher education in China]]
*[[JEE-Main]]
*[[List of admission tests to colleges and universities]]
*[[List of universities in China]]
*[[Suneung]]
*[[Zhongkao]]
*[[Keju]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Yu, Lan and Hoi K. Suen ([[Pennsylvania State University]]). "[http://suen.educ.psu.edu/~hsuen/pubs/KEDI%20Yu.pdf Historical and Contemporary Exam-driven Education Fever in China]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20150301123007/http://suen.educ.psu.edu/~hsuen/pubs/KEDI%20Yu.pdf Archive]). ''[[KEDI Journal of Educational Policy]]'' Vol.2 No. 1 2005 17–33.

==External links==
* Szekely, E. (2023). [https://www.academia.edu/97691781/The_National_College_Entrance_Examination_in_China_Gaokao_A_Discreet_Driver_for_Global_Social_Change The National College Entrance Examination in China (Gaokao): A Discreet Driver for Global Social Change] In: The Palgrave Handbook of Global Social Change. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-87624-1_244-1
*[http://en.moe.gov.cn/ Ministry of Education]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050625074547/http://www.chinatoday.com.cn/English/e2005/e200506/p34.htm Test Fever] China Today, 2005. {{in lang|en}}
*[http://www.slate.com/id/2192732/ "China's SAT"]. ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]'', June 4, 2008.
*[https://dx.doi.org/10.1119/1.2343953 National University Entrance Examination for China], Ji-heng Zhang Translator, Harry Manos, ''The Physics Teacher'' March 1994—Volume 32, Issue 3, pp.&nbsp;187–189
*[https://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/episodes/a-woman-among-warlords-introduction/65/ ''China Prep''] PBS documentary on students preparing for China's National Higher Education Entrance Exam

{{Education of the People's Republic of China}}
{{Admission tests}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Academic pressure in East Asian culture]]
[[Category:Higher education in China]]
[[Category:Entrance examinations]]
[[Category:1952 introductions]]
[[Category:National exams in China]]