Why China’s Gaokao Matters to Millions of Students

Why does one exam carry so much weight in China? This short explainer looks at what the Gaokao—China’s national college entrance examination—means for ordinary young people. In 2026, 12.9 million students registered for the exam. For many families, the Gaokao can influence what a student studies, which city they enter, their first professional network, and their hopes for social mobility. It is not perfectly equal, and a high score does not guarantee success. But for many students, it remains the clearest public route into higher education—a real chance, not a promise, to move. Learn more and try English-language Gaokao practice: https://gaokaoexam.org