Each year in the beginning of June, millions of students take the gaokao, China’s National College Entrance Examination. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed the gaokao back one month. This week, more than 10 million will take the exam across China.

The lone criterion for admission into Chinese universities, the gaokao is a high-stakes exam on which students’ entire future depends.

Scored on a scale of 750 points with questions varying from province to province, the gaokao generally includes tests of Chinese literature, mathematics and a foreign language (in most cases English).

READ MORE: Could You Pass the Gaokao?

I am writing to share with you a math problem from the Korean SAT, the CSAT (College Scholastic Ability Test). This problem is from the math section of the 1997 CSAT, a test known to have harder questions than other years. I am curious to know how you would solve it. Thank you in advance for your time. J.) Here is the problem. The way in which test-takers choose the sections to take is slightly complicated, and this is how: - CSAT is made up of five periods, going from 8:40 a.m. All students take Korean, Math and English in the first three periods. College admission tests in South Korea are extremely important in their society, in such a way that one day every year, the country comes to a complete stop. Test takers are usually given two types of essays – “big” (700-800 words) and “micro” (150 words). Answers are then graded by an evaluator. Recent essays have come under fire for “perplexing” prompts. Students taking the gaokao in Hunan in 2013 were baffled by the following topic: “It flies upward, and a voice asks if it is.

The gaokao is China's version of American SAT and British A-level exams, and takes place every June. It's known as one of the world's hardest exams.

Lasting 10 hours over two or three days of grueling multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank and essay questions, the exam is something students spend 12 years studying for in hopes of getting admission to their university of choice.

Image via 飞鸟蜀黍/weibo

Just how difficult are the essays and fill-in-the-blank questions? We’ve compiled some real questions that have appeared on previous tests.

(Click here to try out some multiple choice questions featured on recent exams).

Essays

Test takers are usually given two types of essays – “big” (700-800 words) and “micro” (150 words). Answers are then graded by an evaluator.

Recent essays have come under fire for “perplexing” prompts. Students taking the gaokao in Hunan in 2013 were baffled by the following topic: “It flies upward, and a voice asks if it is tired. It says ‘No’.”

Another prompt on the same test said: “A father is cutting articles out of a newspaper while his child embraces him and says, ‘I’m willing to accompany you just like this.’”

“This is insane,” a netizen wrote of the bizarre questions. “Can somebody please tell me what these two topics are supposed to mean?”

Those aren’t the only incredibly complex essay questions. Here are a few from recent years..

1. Relationships

During your time in high school, there must be something you cannot forget, be it a heated argument with your classmates or the inspiration from others.

Some agency has carried out a research on the relationships between classmates in schools. The result shows that 60% of the students find the relationships consent, while 36% of them consider it OK, and 4% thinks the relationship is unsatisfied. The reason of the intense relationship can be over self-awareness, personality clashes or competition.

Another 72% of the students are quite confident about creating a harmonious atmosphere.

Choose your own angle and style to write an article with the given material. Do not digress from the material.

– 2013 National Gaokao

2. “How Would Thomas Edison react to the mobile phone?”

Material composition. The conversation between two scientists. How would Thomas Alva Edison react to the mobile phone if he came to the 21st century? No less than 800 words, choose your own title.

– 2013 Beijing Gaokao

3. Donation

Write a composition on “donation”.

A person became a billionaire from scratch. He was generous and has devoted himself to charity. He then knew that there were three poor families that lived very hard lives. He felt sympathy for the families and decided to donate for them. One family was very grateful and accepted his donation. Another family hesitated but accepted at last and declared that they would pay him back. The last family thanked him for his generosity but declined it as they thought it was an alm.

– 2013 Guangdong Gaokao

Image via 信息时报/Weibo

4. George Bernard Shaw

Some men see things as they are and say why? I dream things that never were and say “Why not?”– George Bernard Shaw. Write an essay on how you think of the words of Bernard Shaw.

The essay should be within 800 words.

– 2013 Anhui Gaokao

5. “The more important thing”

The more important thing.

People are always busy doing things that they think are important, but it seems there is always something more important in the world. Write an essay on your opinion on the topic.

– 2013 Shanghai Gaokao

6. “Live a balanced life”

Choose a topic on “Live a balanced life”.

– 2013 Sichuan Gaokao

7. Sand and pearl

Sand and pearl.

A young man was depressed as his career stagnated. He met an old man by the seashore. The old man grabbed a handful of sands and threw them on the seashore, then asked him, “Can you find them?” The young men said no. Then the old man threw a pearl on seashore, and asked him the same question again. The young man said yes. Then he had an epiphany: one should be something different before he got recognition.

– 2013 Liaoning Gaokao

8. “The subtle philosophy of the round and square”

The containers for milk are always square boxes; containers for mineral water are always round bottles; round wine bottle are usually placed in square boxes. Write a composition on the subtle philosophy of the round and square.

– 2013 Hubei GaokaoImage via zwk是你呀/Weibo

9. Micro Essays

Choose one question to answer in 150 words or less:

a) Review a Chinese classic

b) Write a poem on “circle”

c) Comment on uncivilized behavior in Beijing

– Beijing Gaokao, year unknown

10. Heroes and passion

Write an essay on either of the topics in no fewer than 700 words:

a) There are numerous heroes in Chinese history who set examples. Please write an essay with the title “If I were given a chance to spend a day with my hero.” Select a hero and imagine spending a day with him/her.

b) For what object you have a “passion deep in the soul?” You can choose a plant, an animal or a utensil to write about.

– Beijing Gaokao, year unknown

11. Glamor

Please write an essay on the following:

Who do you think is the most glamorous person? A biotechnologist who led his company in international research, an ordinary welder who gained international fame through his work, or a photographer complimented widely for a series of photos?

– National Gaokao, year unknown

12. Social outcry

After a girl failed to dissuade her father from making phone calls while driving on a highway, she called the police. The police came and educated her father. A huge social outcry followed. Please write a letter based on the given information to the daughter, the father or the police officer, in no fewer than 800 words.

– National Gaokao, year unknown

Image via 万花瞳视频/Weibo

13. Balancing toughness and softness

Everybody has tough and soft spots in his/her heart. Whether you can reach an inner harmony depends on how you balance the toughness and softness. Please choose an angle and write an essay on this topic in 800 words or more.

– Shanghai Gaokao, year unknown

14. Wisdom vs. Honesty

An honest person may not be smart, yet a smart person may not have

Suneung Test Pdf