"China Comes to a Halt in June"...What Is the Gaokao?[China.zip]

Restrictions on AI Platforms’ Photo and Problem-Solving Features
Ban on Construction Work, Car Horns, and Other Noises

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Every June, the entire Chinese mainland collectively holds its breath. All construction work near test sites is completely halted, and honking car horns can result in penalties from the police. In an effort to prevent advanced cheating, even nearby base stations’ wireless signals are thoroughly blocked. Despite this tense atmosphere, a wave of support is palpable. The mothers of test-takers prepare traditional Chinese qipao dresses a month before the exam. Sometimes, fathers also don qipao to join in the encouragement. The red qipao, a symbol of victory and good luck, has become the go-to outfit for parents every year. Not just families, but even pets are dressed up in matching outfits and join outside the test centers to wish for success. This unique scene unfolds because of China’s college entrance exam, the Gaokao.

Essay topics in the spotlight every year...Mirroring government concerns

The Gaokao typically runs for at least three days, with some regions adding an extra day. Students take two to three subjects per day, such as language, mathematics, English, physics, chemistry, history, and geography. During the lunch break, students return home for a meal and rest before heading back for afternoon exams.

Each year, the essay question in the language section on the first day becomes a major topic of discussion. Dubbed a “reflection of the times in China,” these questions directly mirror the Chinese government’s concerns, desired values, and social issues. In 2015, students were asked to write a letter choosing who was right—father, daughter, or police—after a scenario where a daughter reported her father for jaywalking. In 2018, the prompt was “A time capsule letter to an 18-year-old in 2035.” Last year, essay topics included “Second wind in a marathon” and the value of writing in the era of short-form content—posing questions that captured the spirit of the times. There were also common prompts centered on patriotism and dreams. In major cities like Beijing and Shanghai, different topics are given, and every year, “model answer writing tips” are widely shared on portal sites.

The scene of the Gaokao being held in Shanghai, China. Reuters Yonhap News.

All of China comes to a halt...Complete noise control

The period when the Gaokao is held is so stringent that people say “all of China stops.” This year, the Ministry of Public Security announced it would deploy more than 600 police officers to secure 17 test sites. Temporary document issuance booths are set up at each test site entrance in case of lost IDs or other emergencies. Work start times for office workers are also rescheduled to avoid overlapping with exam times.

All noise, including construction work, promotional broadcasts, and car horns near test centers, is strictly prohibited. During the exams, operations at 247 nearby base stations are temporarily suspended. At 529 additional base stations, frequency reduction measures are implemented to completely block wireless signals in the test zone, strictly preventing cheating using wireless devices. The power supply bureau has assigned 119 power experts to test sites, who check circuits around the clock to ensure stable electricity supply. In addition, shaded walkways are installed near test centers in preparation for extreme heat or sudden rain.

Absolute prevention of cheating, even stricter glasses inspections

Chinese high school students preparing for the Gaokao exam. Photo by AFP.

Recently, as AI glasses equipped with real-time translation, voice assistant, photo and video recording, and information search functions have been released in China, education authorities have strengthened inspections of candidates’ glasses to prevent high-tech cheating. They emphasized that regardless of the reason or whether the device is actually used, bringing mobile phones, smartwatches, or smart glasses into the exam center constitutes cheating.

During the Gaokao, AI platforms’ photo-taking and problem-solving features are also restricted. According to China Central Television (CCTV), features such as photographing, recognizing, and providing explanations for test questions are temporarily disabled during Gaokao hours. Last year, several AI platforms limited test-related functions at the request of regulators during the college entrance exam period, but this year, the controls are even stricter.

Qipao remains popular every year, retail sector joins in with support products marketing

Gaokao Support Products. Chinese Portal Site Baidu.

Products wishing good luck are popular ahead of the Gaokao exam. China's Baidu.

In preparation for the college entrance exam, parents start getting qipao dresses ready a month in advance. The “qi” in qipao shares the same pronunciation as “qikai desheng” (旗開得勝), which means “victory as soon as the banner is raised,” making it the outfit of choice for parents on exam day. Different colors are worn on different days: red on the first day, green on the second, and yellow on the last. Red symbolizes a “good start,” green represents a “smooth journey,” and yellow stands for “success in the exam.” According to industry sources, most orders for custom qipao are placed about a month before the test, and this year, bamboo-patterned qipao are especially popular. Many parents also show support in red T-shirts printed with slogans such as “Good luck” and “Wishing you great success.”

The retail sector launches large-scale marketing strategies. Support items wishing for exam success, such as sunflowers, Dingshenggao, and zongzi keyrings, are also popular. The pronunciation of sunflower (“kuihua”)’s “kui” is the same as that in the idiom meaning “to win the top prize in one go.” The dessert Dingshenggao, which means “certain victory,” and zongzi, a traditional Chinese food (“zong”), whose pronunciation is similar to “pass” (“zhong”), are also in demand. This year, lucky pouches containing ginger, coins, and 100 yuan bills have become trendy items, symbolizing “achieving excellent results in all subjects.”

There is also heated debate about what students should eat. Searching “college entrance exam food” on Chinese portal sites yields a variety of content, including fruits, nuts, recommended chocolate brands for brain function, and recipes to keep the mind alert.

“Fake address transfers” for elite universities, a recurring controversy

Every year, controversy erupts over families changing their official residence to help their children gain admission to prestigious universities in big cities—a phenomenon known as “Gaokao migration.” This refers to moving from provinces with a huge number of test-takers, such as Shandong, Henan, and Hebei, to places with relatively lower admission thresholds like Tianjin, Harbin, and Liaoning—or sometimes to major cities. The underlying belief is that relocating will increase the chances of getting into a better university. This practice exposes not only the inequality of serious regional disparities in China, but also the limitations of the system—showing that the Gaokao is more than just a college entrance exam.

As the situation has become more severe, Chinese education authorities emphasize each year that “anyone who falsely transfers their household registration (hukou) or takes the exam in a different province will have their qualifications revoked upon verification, and in cases of serious offenses, information may be entered into their criminal records.”

Meanwhile, according to the education authorities, this year’s number of Gaokao candidates is 12.9 million. This is about 450,000 fewer than last year’s 13.35 million. Over the past ten years, the number of candidates had steadily increased, but in 2024 it reached 13.42 million, and last year 13.35 million, marking a recent downward trend. Chinese experts analyze that the annual decrease in Gaokao candidates is due to the growing perception among young people that a university degree no longer guarantees stable employment. As a result, more are seeking practical alternatives. Another factor is the government’s expansion of vocational education pathways to foster technical talent, leading some students to choose specialized vocational colleges instead. Additionally, the declining school-age population caused by China’s low birthrate—a recent social issue—is also cited.

China’s youth unemployment rate has not seen a significant drop in recent years. In August last year, when a record 12.2 million university graduates entered the market, the rate climbed to 18.9%, and since the fourth quarter of last year, it has hovered between 16% and 17%. According to the Ministry of Education, the number of Chinese university graduates this year is estimated at 12.7 million, an increase over last year. Authorities project that the annual number of university graduates in China will peak in 2035.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.