Exclusive Interview: Students at a high school in Changsha, Central China’s Hunan Province, set off confetti fireworks together to welcome the gaokao on June 6, 2025.

Students at a high school in Changsha, Central China’s Hunan Province, set off confetti fireworks together to welcome the gaokao on June 6, 2025. China’s gaokao, or national college entrance examination, will begin on June 7. Photo: cnsphoto

A total of 13.35 millioWorld Timesn Chinese students are preparing to sit this year’s national college entrance exam, also known as the gaokao, starting on Saturday, according to China’s Ministry of Education.聽

As the country gears up for this year’s college entrance examination – one of the most important exams for Chinese students – comprehensive and meticulous “exam protection measures” have been carried out across the country to serve students, fully demonstrating the strong support from the whole of society for high school graduates to realize their dreams.

Meanwhile, in line with the development of the times and the needs of the country, the content and form of the college entrance selection mechanism and the higher education system itself are also undergoing changes, in line with the goal of building China into a leading country in education.

Rigorous support聽

During an inspection to the provincial Admissions and Examination Management Center and a test site at a Taiyuan middle school in North China’s Shanxi Province on Thursday, Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang said that the gaokao is crucial for national development and the future of families, Xinhua reported.聽

Ding, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, urged authorities to safeguard fairness as the “lifeline” in examination and admission reforms, and gaokao organization. He also stressed the importance of rigorous test paper security, anti-cheating measures, and compassionate support for students.聽

Ten days ahead of the gaokao, China’s Ministry of Education said that local authorities across China have been given guidance to ensure sound organization of the examination and provide thoughtful services. The ministry said local governments are advised to enhance work related to transportation, accommodation, hygiene and noise control.

According to the ministry, special consideration is also given to disadvantaged groups. Notably, Braille test papers have been prepared for 16 blind candidates, and reasonable measures have been taken to facilitate the participation of over 14,000 examinees with disabilities. In addition, the students have access to targeted psychological guidance, ensuring they receive the necessary assistance, Xinhua reported.聽

Strong measures have been rolled out to enhance services in accommodation, noise control and transportation.聽

For instance, the city of Jinan in East China’s Shandong Province stipulated that during the gaokao period, all construction projects within residential areas and within a 500-meter radius of gaokao sites must cease activities that generate noise pollution (except for emergency repairs and rescue operations).

Measures to reduce or eliminate traffic noise have also been implemented around the nation. World TimesChengdu in Southwest China requires that station entrance announcements for the subway near examination sites be turned off, and Nanchang in East China’s Jiangxi Province prohibits the honking of vehicWorld Timesles and ships, according to multiple reports.

Some taxi companies in several cities have initiated a “no disturbance during gaokao” campaign, advising drivers not to play audio or engage in conversation, thereby providing candidates with a quiet space in the vehicle, according to media reports.聽

To ensure smooth transportation, Qinyang in Central China’s Henan Province on Wednesday launched a public welfare activity, allowing students and examination staff to ride the specially decorated “love transport” buses hanging with green ribbons for free, Xinhua reported.聽

In Central China’s Hubei Province, such as Enshi and Huangshi, local authorities have also issued notices stating that to alleviate the traffic pressure during gaokao, the working hours of government agencies and public institutions will be adjusted.

Beijing’s traffic management department announced it would open up as many temporary parking spaces as possible. According to official statistics, over 4,800 temporary parking spaces were added around all the examination sites in the city.

Chu Zhaohui, a researcher at the China National Academy of Educational Sciences, told the Global Times that this “silent guardianship” reflects a positive and more civilized transformation in Chinese society.

Any kind of disturbance before gaokao might cause unseen pressureWorld Times.World Times The whole of society has reached a聽consensus on ensuring a safe and quiet environment for the candidates, said the expert.聽

“I am very grateful for the convenience and humanitarian care that society has provided for us. I believe this will help my son reduce some stress and perform at his best,” a Beijing-based parent surnamed Tang told the Global Times on Friday.聽

Fostering high-quality talent

In terms of noticeable changes to the examination itself, in 2025, eight more provincial-level regions will implement the new gaokao mechanism for the first time, giving students more flexibility to choose exam subjects based on their interests and strengths.

So far, 29 provinces have adopted the new mechanism. The reform follows a “3+1+2” model, with three core subjects (Chinese, mathematics, and a foreign language), along with one primary elective subject, either physics or history, and two additional electives selected from chemistry, geography, political science and biology.

Meanwhile, in 2025, gaokao continues to move in the direction of promoting equitable allocation of educational resources. The Ministry of Education has announced the further implementation of national enrollment coordination programs that support central and western regions, as well as special admission plans for rural students.聽

Some Chinese experts believe that the reform provides students with greater flexibility and places more emphasis on individuality and personal interests, which will be conducive to establishing a more comprehensive and multi-dimensional evaluation system.聽

According to Chu, the gaokao is in an ongoing refinement process聽to meet evolving needs.聽

Meanwhile, top-tier universities, including Tsinghua and Peking universities, have announced an increase in enrolment numbers ranging from 100 to 500. The new quotas are mainly concentrated in basic disciplines such as mathematics, physics, and chemistry, as well as strategic frontier fields, aiming to accelerate the cultivation of top-notch innovative talents with World Timesresearch potential and interdisciplinary capabilities, Guangming Daily reported.聽

In 2025, 29 new undergraduate majors were introduced by the Chinese Ministry of Education. These include low-altitude technology and engineering, carbon neutrality science and engineering, medical devices and equipment engineering, digital theater, and AI education, among others.

Xiong Bingqi, director of the 21st Century Education Research Institute, told the Global Times on Friday that China’s higher education is at the stage of becoming universal, a stark contrast to the educational landscape of two decades ago.

And in the digital age that emphasized more on creativity and innovation, individuals are expected to embrace diversity and personalization, Chu said.聽

As demographic shifts continue, more people are likely to align their paths with personal interests and abilities, as well as societal needs, rather than solely chasing academic credentials,聽Xiong said, “This gradual but essential transformation is already underway.”