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National Higher Education Entrance Examination facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The Gaokao is a very important test in China that students take at the end of high school. It's like a big entrance exam for university. Almost all high school students in China take this test, and they spend a lot of time getting ready for it.

The Gaokao is known for being very tough. Many students work incredibly hard but don't get high enough scores to go to a university in China. This exam is a huge part of life for young people in China, just like similar big exams in other Asian countries such as Japan and South Korea.

What Subjects Are in the Gaokao?

The Gaokao has some required subjects and some you can choose.

  • Required subjects:

* Mathematics * Chinese * English Each of these subjects is worth 150 points.

  • Choice subjects: You pick one of two groups:

* Liberal Arts: This group includes History, Geography, and Politics. Each is worth 100 points. * Science: This group includes Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. Each is also worth 100 points.

The highest possible score a student can get on the Gaokao is 750 points. Many more students choose the science subjects than the liberal arts subjects.

Why Is the Gaokao So Important?

The Gaokao is super important because it's the main way students get into universities. In June 2018, about 9.75 million students took the exam! This shows how much competition there is.

One big challenge with the Chinese education system is that a student's future often depends on this one test. If a student doesn't do well, it can be very disappointing. However, because so many students want to go to university, this exam is how the country decides who gets a spot. Many people believe this way of choosing students has worked well over time.

Images for kids

  • National Higher Education Entrance Examination NK

    A 2013 banner at Chongqing Nankai Secondary School announcing it as an examination venue for the 2013 National Higher Education Entrance Examination

  • Supporters of examinees outside Bayi Middle School (20160608142944)

    Parents and teachers outside Beijing Bayi Middle School during the 2016 National College Entrance Examination

  • Score stripe of gaokao in liaoning

    Results as issued in Liaoning Province in 2018

  • VM 4690 Wuhan Huazhong Keji Daxue campus

    A banner on the HUST campus in Wuhan congratulates top exam score achievers from the university-affiliated high school

See also

Learn more about the Gaokao for kids! In Spanish: Gaokao para niños

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