Strict measures in place ahead of national exam

The Ministry of Education has stipulated several measures to ensure fairness and order in the upcoming National College Entrance Examination. This year's exam will be held from June 7-8, the ministry announced on Wednesday.

The National College Entrance Examination, or gaokao, is a crucial test for Chinese students, serving as the primary gateway to higher education and a major determinant of their future. The high-stakes exam is key to university admissions, significantly impacting career prospects, social standing and overall life trajectory.

According to a recent notice from the ministry, authorities will take strict measures to prevent and crack down on cheating.

The notice stipulates that intelligent security gates be fully deployed and wireless signals effectively shielded at examination sites, with real-time intelligent patrols and inspections conducted at testing locations.

To promote fairness, the document calls for strict measures against "exam migrants", or students who register to take the test in a different province to improve their chances of admission to top universities. High schools are responsible for strictly regulating student records and investigating "ghost enrollments", where students enroll in one school while being registered at another, the notice said.

This phenomenon is driven by disparities in gaokao difficulty and university admission quotas across different provinces and regions, with some areas seen as having easier exams or higher chances of admission to prestigious universities.

The notice also calls for improved oversight in selecting top-tier innovative talent at universities. A comprehensive system for identifying, cultivating and evaluating such students will be established, along with pilot programs, such as youth talent initiatives.

To maintain a positive exam environment, the notice strictly prohibits promotions or publicity about "top scorers" or high school "enrollment rates". Teachers and students should not be rewarded based on exam scores, and admission rates should not be linked to teacher evaluations, awards or promotions, according to the document.