As the Gaokao examinations commenced in Beijing on Saturday, an atmosphere of anxiety and anticipation enveloped the families of approximately 13.35 million students participating, according to the Ministry of Education.

This year’s registered candidates represent a slight decrease compared to the previous year.

The Gaokao, or the National Higher Education Entrance Examination, symbolizes the culmination of 12 years of rigorous academic effort for many students.

Chen, a mother accompanying her daughter to the examination center, expressed her emotional support, stating, 'I am not nervous but very excited.

I am confident that my daughter will perform well.'

The Gaokao consists of challenging assessments in Chinese, mathematics, and English, which evaluate students' accumulated knowledge throughout their schooling.

The results of these examinations play a crucial role in determining candidates' eligibility for higher education institutions, influencing which universities they may attend.

On the first day of exams, teachers and school staff gathered at various educational institutions to support the students, displaying encouraging banners.

However, for some students, the pressure was palpable, with scenes of anxiety evident, such as a girl holding her mother’s hand, tears welling in her eyes as she entered the examination hall.

Wang, another parent, voiced her understanding of the stress students face, noting, 'As parents, we should not be too demanding on our children, as they already face significant pressure.'

In recent decades, China's higher education sector has experienced rapid expansion, fueled by economic growth that has improved living standards.

However, the job market for recent graduates has become less dynamic.

In April 2025, the unemployment rate for youth aged 16 to 24 in urban areas reached 15.8%, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

Students have increasingly been preparing for the Gaokao since a younger age, often engaging in continuous tutoring sessions to alleviate the pressures associated with the examination.

The topic of the Gaokao sparked significant conversation on the Chinese social media platform Weibo on Saturday, with many videos shared offering advice to students.

Notably, the phrase 'I can’t sleep before the Gaokao exam' saw considerable search activity on the platform.

Earlier in the week, videos circulated showing large crowds of enthusiastic students accompanied by music bands as school buses transported them to examination centers.

As is tradition, the authorities issued high-alert measures to prevent cheating or disruption during the examinations.

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang underscored the importance of maintaining an 'anti-cheating' environment as part of the preparations.

Surrounding areas of examination centers implemented strict security measures, including traffic closures and restrictions on honking to minimize distractions for examinees.

Some schools have integrated facial recognition technology to further deter cheating.

The acceptance rate for students taking the Gaokao has remained between 80% and 90% in recent years.

Nevertheless, many students, dissatisfied with their examination results, opt to retake the exam the following year.

Notably, there are no age limits placed on taking the Gaokao, leading to instances of individuals attempting the exam multiple times, whether due to failing or not being admitted to their desired university.

In a central Beijing high school, teachers indicate that only ten out of 600 final-year students are guaranteed places in one of the capital's top universities.

Jiang, a final-year student who introduced himself by surname, commented, 'Despite the immense pressure, I believe this system is fair.' Jiang aims to attend a university in the capital to study aerospace engineering and remains calm as he prepares for the Chinese language exam, one of the mandatory assessments.