Every year in early June, something very important happens in this country. Cities become quiet, emergency services get ready, construction stops, and everyone focuses on one thing — an exam that every student aspiring to pursue higher education takes in this country. It is also labelled the toughest exam in the world...
The World’s Toughest Exam is not JEE
Gaokao, or the National College Entrance Examination, is not just any test. It is one of the hardest and most competitive exams in the world. In 2025, more than 13.35 million students registered to take this exam. That is 10 times of JEE Main test takers and 5 times of NEET test takers. GAOKAO affects not only the students, but also their families, schools, communities, and even universities in other countries.
Gaokao started in 1952 and is now the main way students in China get into college. In many other countries, universities look at many things like school grades, sports, hobbies, or interviews. But in China, the Gaokao score is often the only thing that decides which university a student can go to.
If a student gets a high score, they can get into top universities like Tsinghua University or Peking University, which are some of the best schools in China. But getting into these schools is very hard — less than 1 out of 1,000 students are accepted.
For many students, doing well on the Gaokao means they can have a good job and a better life. Not doing well can make things much harder. That’s why this exam is very stressful, and students prepare for many years to do their best.
The Gaokao doesn’t just affect students — it also puts pressure on families, schools, and even whole communities who support the students during this time.
Gaokao Participation Over the Years: From 5 Million to 13 Million
The Gaokao has seen a dramatic increase in participation over the decades, reflecting both China's growing population and the heightened emphasis on higher education. From just 5.7 million candidates in 1977, the number of test takers has more than doubled, reaching a historic high of 13.35 million in 2025.
This surge not only underscores the exam’s importance but also illustrates the intense competition students face each year. Key milestones in participation include:
Year
Participation (in Millions)
1977
5.7M
2006
9.5M
2017
9.4M
2018
9.75M
2023
13M
2025
13.35M
As the number of aspirants continues to grow, so does the national infrastructure supporting the Gaokao — from stricter security to broader international recognition — making it not just China’s premier academic challenge, but a global benchmark in educational endurance.
National Mobilization: A Country That Bends for the Exam
There are strict community guidelines that are followed voluntarily during these exams. Every one comes together to ensure that students have an easy time, and reduce disturbance and noise pollution. During the exams, they have:
Construction Bans: Noisy activities like roadwork or building repairs are halted near exam centers.
Traffic Restrictions: No-horn zones and traffic diversions keep noise levels down.
Community Solidarity: Local residents delay celebrations and maintain quiet to support students.
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Oxygen Stations: Especially in high-altitude areas, schools provide oxygen to help with fatigue.
Rest Zones: Quiet rooms with refreshments help students reset between study or exam sessions.
Air Quality Measures: In polluted cities, factories are temporarily shut to ensure cleaner air.
Cooling Facilities: Air conditioners are installed or upgraded in test centers during summer heat.
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The Gaokao is not just a student’s test — it’s a family affair. Parents and students work for the success of the exam.
Hotels Near Exam Centers: Many families book rooms near centers to avoid delays or commutes.
Volunteers Help Families: Locals often offer water, snacks, and umbrellas to parents waiting outside.
Pre-Exam Rallies: Schools energize students with pep rallies, motivational music, and even meditation or yoga sessions to ease nerves.
Unprecedented Security Measures
Given the stakes, security is taken seriously.
Advanced Monitoring: Facial recognition, metal detectors, drones, and signal jammers are used in exam halls.
Paper Escort by SWAT Teams: Exam papers are transported under armed guard to avoid leaks.
Zero Tolerance for Cheating: Caught cheating? You could face up to 7 years in prison under Chinese law.
Exam Pattern, Subjects:
Students choose between two tracks: Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) or Arts (Geography, History, Politics), along with compulsory tests in Chinese, Mathematics, and a foreign language. The exam spans 2 to 4 days, totaling around 9 hours of testing.
Preparation Timeline
Most students begin preparing 2–5 years in advance, often sacrificing personal time, hobbies, and even sleep. This extended preparation has fueled a multi-billion dollar industry of tutoring centers, mock tests, and educational resources. However, the Chinese Government restrict corporates from opening coaching centers and making it a business.
How It Compares: Gaokao vs JEE vs SAT
Here’s how Gaokao stands alongside India’s Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) and the SAT used for U.S. college admissions:
Metric
Gaokao (China)
JEE (India)
SAT (Global)
Test Takers
13.35 million (2025)
1.3 million
2.3+ million
Duration
2–4 days, ~9 hours
3 hours
3 hours
Subjects
Chinese, Math, Foreign Lang. + Science/Arts
Physics, Chemistry, Math
Reading, Writing, Math (optional Essay)
Frequency
Once a year (June)
Twice a year (Jan, Apr)
Multiple times annually
Acceptance Rates
~0.1% at top universities
~1% at IITs
5–50% depending on the school
Preparation Time
2–5 years
2–4 years
A few months to a year
Core Focus
Conceptual depth, memory + problem-solving
Application-heavy
Critical thinking, reasoning
The Gaokao is more than just a test — it is a symbol of national discipline, academic ambition, and societal unity. It highlights not only the rigorous demands of China’s education system but also the incredible determination of students and the widespread community effort that supports them.
While there are ongoing discussions about the pressure and mental toll it brings, one cannot ignore the scale, structure, and seriousness of this extraordinary event. From months of preparation to national-level coordination, Gaokao reflects China’s deep-rooted belief in merit, opportunity, and hard work.
Whether seen as a gateway to success or a demanding trial, the Gaokao continues to be a defining moment in the lives of millions — a rite of passage into adulthood, higher education, and future possibilities.
Actually there is no JEE Mains cutoff for the M.Sc. Mathematics program at TIET as admission is based on academic record they take 40% based on your Class 12 marks and 60% from your ug marks where Mathematics is compulsary.you need overall aggregate of 60% in your graduation and no backlogs from the first two years to apply there.
If you need alternative you can consider institute like IITs, IISc, and NITs through the IIT JAM exam, or other reputable universities like GFTIs ,DTU and BITMesra where jee main closing rank for the General category was around 25,764.
JEE ke liye Hindi medium mein bhi bahut achhi books available hain.
Physics ke liye HC Verma aur DC Pandey (Hindi version) bahut madadgar hain.
Chemistry ke liye NCERT (Hindi), O.P. Tandon aur Modern’s ABC achhi hain.
Maths ke liye RD Sharma aur Cengage (Hindi edition) useful hoti hain.
In books se concepts easily samajh aate hain aur JEE ki strong tayari ho sakti hai.
Yes, you can still try. LMNIT follows MCM (Merit-cum-Means) scholarships and also considers Central Govt. schemes for low-income + OBC students. If you couldn’t crack JEE, you won’t get B.Tech there, but you can try for admission in other programs (like Integrated/Applied Sciences, etc.) and then apply for scholarships. For B.Tech, the waiver is only applicable if you qualify JEE and get admission through JoSAA/CSAB. You can still apply for State Govt. Post-Matric Scholarship (OBC) and other schemes that fully cover fees if income is below 1L.
For JEE the total questions at 75 the subject are physics chemistry maths heat subject questions will have 25 questions will be there total marks for the each subject is 100 so fully it's 300 each subject will have 20 MCQ questions 5 + mark for numerical based questions
If you are preparing for a JEE mains based on your school you should make your study list and completely focus on high weightage subject focus completely on practicing all the questions day by day attend a time based MCQ practice more than reading theory concentrate more on conceptual studies and beyond this you should have good sleep and you have to learn everything from a basic to advance
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