Despite a slight decline in candidates, China's rigorous 'gaokao' college entrance exam remains a critical determinant of university admission and significantly influences societal and familial expectations regarding educational attainment.

In the second and final instalment of a two-part series on China’s pivotal national college entrance examination, or gaokao, the SCMP explores the evolution of the country’s contemporary examination system and its ongoing influence on societal and familial expectations. This year, China’s gaokao saw 12.9 million candidates, representing the second consecutive year of decline. Despite this trend, the gaokao remains critical – a demanding competition that profoundly impacts students’ university...