高考

• Pinyin: gāo kǎo
• Hanzi breakdown: 高 = high (referring to higher education); 考 = 老 (old) + 丂, originally meaning to test or examine

Meaning

Gaokao; the National College Entrance Examination. China's crucial university admission test.

Short for 普通高等学校招生全国统一考试. Held in early June, it's the most important exam in Chinese students' lives, determining university admission. Involves intense preparation (备战高考), enormous pressure, and affects entire families. Terms: 高考状元 (top scorer), 高考移民 (relocating for easier exams), 高考作文 (Gaokao essay).

Examples

1. 高考成绩公布的那天，他紧张得一夜没睡。 On the day the Gaokao results were released, he was so nervous he didn't sleep all night.
2. 为了备战高考，她整个高三几乎没有周末。 To prepare for the Gaokao, she had almost no weekends throughout her senior year.
3. 高考制度改革一直是教育界讨论的热点话题。 Reform of the Gaokao system has always been a hot topic in educational circles.

Usage Guide

Context: education, society, news

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 他今年参加高考。(He's taking the Gaokao this year.)
• 高考加油！(Good luck on the Gaokao!)

Don't Say

• 在高考期间开玩笑 (Don't make light of 高考 to students or families — it's an extremely stressful and important event)

Origin & History

Abbreviation of 高等学校入学考试 (higher education entrance examination). 高 (higher) + 考 (exam) is the common shortened form.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal