Is this the most difficult exam? - 15th June 2026

Students in Beijing are taking the 'Gaokao'. It's the university entrance exam, which 13.4 million high-school students are taking this year. The results are extremely important for their futures.

Gaokao results control which university you can go to. There's a lot of pressure on students to get good marks.

The highest results send students to Project 211 universities. These are the top 155 universities out of China's 2,820 colleges and universities. There's high demand for places at Project 211 universities.

Exam pressure used to make students unwell. Stress and tiredness were serious problems. But things are different now. Deng Ju's focused on her daughter's happiness.

Deng Ju: "She has her own plans. I am more hands-off, as long as she can perform normally. I care more about physical health."

The pressure makes Gaokao students nervous. The best strategy is to stay calm, says Zhang Xinnan.

Zhang Xinnan: "But if we can calm down, we should be able to get to a stable mentality. Mentality is the most important when it comes to the Gaokao."

The Gaokao takes from two to four days. All students take maths, Chinese and a foreign language. Three subjects are chosen by each student. These usually match their university courses.

Science majors choose biology, chemistry and physics. Others go for geography, history and politics.

This year, universities have introduced new degrees. Students can study AI, robotics, and green energy and engineering.

The Gaokao's the start of students' contribution to society, says teacher Wang.

Teacher Wang: "Everyone wants to contribute to society in their own way, even if methods vary from person to person. The Gaokao is a final stage for high school, but it's the starting point for the things that come later in life."