358,000 examinees sit for Gaokao in Yunnan

Today is the first day of Gaokao, one of the most important examinations in every Chinese examinee’s life. What is Gaokao? Why is it so important to a student’s life?

Created in 1952, the National College Entrance Examination (NCEE), commonly known as the Gaokao, is an academic examination held annually in China. This standardized test is a prerequisite for entrance into almost all higher education institutions at the undergraduate level.

Gaokao can be regarded as a most equal exam in the world. Any senior high student is entitled to enroll in it regardless of gender, race, family, background or social status. The score will decide what kind of universities the students can attend. Therefore, many people’s fate has been changed after Gaokao.

A total of 358,000 Yunnan students sit for Gaokao this year at 244 standardized exam centers, among which Kunming has 32. Problems may happen on the way to the centers, such as forgetting the ID card, going to the wrong exam center or even oversleeping.

This morning, it was raining heavily, but the weather didn’t stop the work to guarantee Gokao. Traffic police got everything prepared and helped students reach the centers in spite of any unplanned emergencies.

Reporting by Chen Li (Xinhua Net); Trans-editing by Mo Yingyi