Gaokao Format & Structure

The Gaokao is China’s national college entrance examination and one of the highest-stakes exams in the world. It combines compulsory core subjects with regional electives.

Format

Paper-based national exam: three compulsory subjects plus regional electives.

Sections

Chinese (Yuwen)

Reading comprehension and language-use questions.

Mathematics

Multiple choice, fill-in, and worked problem questions.

Foreign language

Usually English — reading comprehension and grammar (multiple choice).

Electives

Science or humanities combinations that vary by province.

Signature question types

Multiple choice
Fill-in & short answer
Worked math problems

New to these formats? See the question-type glossary for how each one works.

Is it adaptive?

The Gaokao is paper-based, fixed and linear.

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Frequently asked questions

Is the Gaokao the same across all of China? ▼

The three compulsory subjects are shared, but elective subjects and some papers vary by province, so the exact format depends on the region.

Related exams

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