Around 12.9 million students nationwide registered for this year's "gaokao", according to the Ministry of Education, which for most is the sole determining factor in admission to a Chinese university.The multi-day exam, which began Sunday, drills test-takers on subjects including Chinese, mathematics, English, science and the humanities -- with the tallied scores to be released later this month."It's my first time, so I'm a bit anxious," said student Zhang Xinnan moments before entering the exam hall.The spectacled Beijinger admitted he was nervous for the essay portion of the Chinese test, as he said he thought the prompts had become harder to respond to.But, wearing his school uniform, the 18-year-old told AFP that despite the jitters he thought he would do well, having spent the last year drilling practice questions."The things we needed to master have been mastered," said Zhang, who hopes to work with new energy vehicles. "Just go in with self-confidence; you'll be solid."
Anxious parents thronged the exam halls, hoping for the best for their children © WANG Zhao / AFP
Some mothers and fathers clustered outside the exam halls dressed in red, a symbol of good fortune in Chinese culture.Dozens of police and security guards milled about as parents stood beside the line of students waiting to enter the exam hall, hoping to film their children walking inside.Shifting attitudesHigh-level education has expanded rapidly in China in recent decades as an economic boom pushed up living standards -- as well as parental expectations for their children's careers.
