- China’s version of the American SAT and British A-level exams takes place in June every year.
- It’s called the gaokao, and is known as one of the toughest exams in the world.
- Lots of Western universities now take Chinese students based on their gaokao scores, rather than have applicants take other standardized tests.
- Scroll down to see past questions.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Students across China are studying hard for the gaokao, the country’s notoriously tough national standardized test that can get them into universities in countries including the US, UK, Italy, Australia, and Canada.
This year’s gaokao – which means for “high exam” in Chinese – takes place between June 7 and June 9 this year. It’s China’s version of the American SAT and British A-level tests, and is known as one of the hardest exams in the world.
More than 9.7 million people across the country took it last year, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Only Chinese universities accepted gaokao results in the past, but more and more Western institutions have started to accept them. Last year the University of New Hampshire became the first US state university to accept students based on their gaokao scores, rather than have them take other standardized tests.
Britain's University of Cambridge, Australia's University of Sydney, Canada's University of Toronto, Italy's Accademia delle Belle Arti di Firenze and some private US institutions also accept it.
The subjects on the test vary by region but typically include the Chinese language, mathematics, and a foreign language (typically English), Xinhua said.
The hardest questions are the essays - which can range from the student's views on philosophy, history, the environment, and President Xi Jinping's policies.
Try and tackle 15 questions from past gaokao exams here:
If x + y ≥ a, x - y ≤ -1, and the minimum value of z = x + ay = 7, what is a?
A. -5
B. -5 or 3
C. 3
D. 5 or -3
Answer: B
Source: Gaokao 2018 via People's Daily
Between June and August, a cruise ship travels from Fujian province to Venice, via Mumbai, as part of Xi's "21st century maritime silk road" strategy. Which of the following would it experience on the way?
A. When passing through the South China Sea, the cruise will face continuous rain.
B. When passing through the Arabian Sea, the cruise will sail against winds and currents.
C. When passing through the Red Sea, large stretches of forests will be seen alongside the coast.
D. When passing through the Mediterranean Sea, the cruise will experience several days of rainstorms.
Answer: B.
Source: Gaokao 2015, via China Daily
Read Business Insider's coverage of the Belt and Road Initiative, China's ambitious project to link itself to some 70 countries through infrastructure, here.
Four students can choose to participate in a charity event either on Saturday or Sunday. What’s the probability that there is at least one student at both Saturday's and Sunday's events?
A. 1/8
B. 3/8
C. 5/8
D. 7/8
Answer: D.
Source: Gaokao, year unknown, via Bloomberg
Fill in the blanks on this English grammar question: Good families are much to all their members, but ___ to none.
A. Something
B. Anything
C. Everything
D. Nothing
Answer: C.
Source: Gaokao, year unknown, via Bloomberg
President Xi has said that while art can release the wings of imagination, it should still be down-to-earth. There may be hundreds of ways to create art, but the best way is to have it take root in people's daily lives, and create something based off of that. From a materialist point of view, this is because (pick two of the statements below):
I. Art originates from people's daily lives.
II. Art depends on innovation.
III. The way art reflects on society and its style is unified.
IV. Art is a form of ideology that reflects people's lives, while serving the people at the same time.
A. I and II.
B. I and IV.
C. II and III.
D. III and IV.
Answer: B
Source: Gaokao 2015 via China Daily
In a letter to James Madison in March 1787, George Washington wrote: "That a thorough reform of the present system is indispensable, none who have capacities to judge will deny — and with hand and heart I hope the business will be essayed in a full Convention." What does the "thorough reform" refer to?
A. Eradicate defect of federal system.
B. Establish republic system with check and balance of three powers.
C. Abolish constitutional monarchy.
D. Change the loose federal system.
Answer: D.
Source: Gaokao 2013 via China Daily
Banks charge processing fees and interest when granting loans. They charge fees because of the services provided, such as account management. The reason for claiming interest is that:
A. Banks are a monopoly.
B. Bank credit is higher than commercial credit.
C. Capital offered by banks is a factor of production.
D. Banks are the hub of smooth production.
Answer: C.
Source: Gaokao, year unknown, via Bloomberg
To understand the academic performance of 1,000 students, the systematic sampling method is adopted to choose 40 samples. What should the sampling interval be?
A. 50
B. 40
C. 25
D. 20
Answer: C.
Source: Gaokao, year unknown, via Bloomberg
Write an essay on how Thomas Edison would react to the mobile phone if he visited the 21st century.
Source: Gaokao 2013 via People's Daily
In life, people are often eager to focus on their own needs, but also eager to be needed by others in order to realize their own self worth. The feeling of "being needed" is a common feeling, but what does it mean to you? Write an essay on this.
Source: Gaokao 2018 via China Central Television
Write an essay on the following subject: "New era, new youths — growing up with the motherland's development."
The "new era" is a catchphrase coined by Xi last year, which represents China's development in areas from technological advancement to foreign investment to environmental protection.
Source: Gaokao 2018 via China Central Television
Write a letter to the 18-year-olds of 2035.
Source: Gaokao 2018 via China Central Television
Who is your favorite disciple of Confucius? Please pick one, and say why in 150 to 200 words.
Source: Gaokao 2018 via China Central Television
Write an essay on this subject: "The picture of green mountains and clear water."
China has been actively pushing its environmental and climate change mitigation policies under Xi's leadership.
Source: Gaokao 2018 via China Central Television
The containers for milk are always square boxes, containers for mineral water are always round bottles, and round wine bottle are usually placed in square boxes. Write an essay on the subtle philosophy of the round and square.
Source: Gaokao 2013 via People's Daily