What is the Gaokao?

A Beijing Chenjinglun High School student does exercises while she has breakfast in preparation for the national college entrance exam known as the gaokao, May 15, 2017. The gaokao starts on June 7. [Photo/VCG]

InChina,applyingtocollegeisaboutonethingandonethingonly:the gaokao.

Gaokao(高考)isshortfor“TheNationalHigherEducationEntranceExamination” (普通高等学校招生全国统一考试).

Students and teachers play games in a playground at the No 1 Middle School of Zhongshan, Guangdong province, to relax on May 29, 2014. [Photo/VCG]

Astudent’sscoreonthisall-important standardized test is pretty much the only thing that matters when it comes to determining whether or not they can go to college—and if they can, which schools they can attend.

WHENDOYOUTAKETHEGAOKAO?

Thegaokaoisheldonceannuallyattheendoftheschoolyear. Third-year high school students (high school in china lasts three years) generally take the test, although anyone may register for it if they desire to. The test generally lasts for two or three days.