Short answers.

When exactly is the gaokao?

Every year on June 7-8. Some provinces add a June 9 and 10 for additional subjects under the new-gaokao format. The dates do not shift, even for weekends.

Is this site's practice content real gaokao questions?

No — the questions are original, written in the shape of real gaokao items but not copied from any actual past paper. Weighting, subject durations, and format all mirror the current national papers.

How is the exam scored?

The three core subjects (Chinese, math, English) are each worth 150 points. Elective subjects total around 300 points; the exact scheme depends on your province. Total is typically 750.

How many people take the gaokao each year?

Around 13-14 million candidates in recent years. This is more than any single-day examination anywhere else in the world.

Can international students take the gaokao?

In principle, no. The gaokao is administered to holders of Chinese household registration (户籍). International students apply to Chinese universities through separate channels — HSK, university-specific exams, or the JW-201 visa process.

What's the difference between 一本 and 二本?

Historically these were the first and second admission batches — 一本 admitted first, meaning higher cutoffs and (usually) more selective universities. New-gaokao provinces are merging them into a single 本科批 (undergraduate batch).

Can I re-take the gaokao?

Yes. Taking a 复读 (resit) year is common; students enroll in dedicated resit classes or return to their old school. There is no cap on the number of times you can sit the exam.

How is the essay graded?

By trained teachers under a double-blind system. Two graders independently score the same essay; if they diverge by more than a threshold, a third grader (and if needed a review committee) resolves it.

What happens if I'm sick on June 7?

You sit the exam anyway if at all possible. Test centers accommodate medical needs (dedicated rooms, extended time in specific cases) but non-attendance means waiting a full year — there is no deferred sitting.

How long do results take?

Provincial results are typically released 3-4 weeks after the exam — around June 23-27 in most provinces. Preference-submission (志愿填报) opens within days of the release.

Do universities look at anything besides the gaokao score?

For the vast majority of students, the gaokao score plus subject-track eligibility is the decision. Certain elite programs (强基计划, 综合评价) add interviews and additional exams.

Can I appeal my score?

You can request a score recount — an administrative check that all questions were tallied and transcribed correctly. Substantive re-grading of subjective answers is not offered.

What is 强基计划?

The Strong Foundation Plan is a 2020 program at top universities admitting students in fundamental disciplines (math, physics, chemistry, biology, philosophy, classics) through combined gaokao score, university exam, and interview.

Is the exam different in different provinces?

Yes and no. Papers have converged around a small number of national paper sets (全国甲卷, 全国乙卷, 新高考 I, 新高考 II) but some provinces still write their own. Cutoffs and quotas are always province-specific.

How much does a year of gaokao prep cost?

For the exam itself, essentially zero — public schools cover it. Tutoring, additional resources, and any 复读 year run families anywhere from a few hundred to tens of thousands of RMB. Recent regulation has curbed the largest tutoring providers.

Do I need a calculator?

No. Calculators are not permitted in the exam room. All arithmetic must be done by hand — this is factored into paper design.

What kind of pens should I bring?

Two 2B pencils for the multiple-choice bubbles, and two black-ink ballpoint pens for the free-response sections. Blue ink and gel pens are typically not permitted.