It's the day for Gaokao on June 7 this year in China, which is the college entrance exam. The exam is held by provincial governments under directions from the Ministry of Education and is required for undergraduate admissions to all higher education institutions in the country. Gaokao is taken by high school seniors at the end of their final year. The college entrance exam is only offered once a year in China, usually in early June, which means all high school seniors throughout China take 高考(gāokǎo) on these days. It's very important for all high school students and their parents. So let's learn some Chinese words about it.

First, the name Gaokao, 高(gāo) means high or tall. It comes from the word 高等学校(gāoděngxuéxiào) which refers to 大学(dàxué) colleges and universities. 考(kǎo) comes from考试(kǎoshì), exams.

High school seniors take 高考(gāokǎo) at the end of their final year. High school in Chinese is 高中(gāozhōng). In China, we have 6 years premeral school 小学(xiǎoxué), 3 years of middle school 初中(chūzhōng), and 3 years of high school 高中(gāozhōng). So the 3 years in 高中(gāozhōng) high school we call them 高一(gāoyī)，高二(gāo'èr)，高三(gāosān). High school student will take 高考(gāokǎo) at the end of their third year. 高三(gāosān)学生(xuéshēng)要(yào)参加(cānjiā)高考(gāokǎo). 

Back to my days, 高考(gāokǎo) was in July not in June as right now, which was very hot and humid in Beijing. 

高考(gāokǎo) lasts approximately nine hours for a period of two or three days. Students must take exams on Chinese language & literature语文(yǔwén), mathematics 数学(shùxué) and a foreign language外语(wàiyǔ). They can choose from English 英语(yīngyǔ), French 法语(fǎyǔ), Japanese 日语(rìyǔ), Russian 俄语(éyǔ), German 德语(déyǔ), or Spanish 西班牙语(xībānyáyǔ). 最(zuì)常见(chángjiàn)的(de)选择(xuǎnzé)是(shì)英语(yīngyǔ). The most common foreign language is English. This is because 英语(yīngyǔ) is generally a required course in high school. However, some high schools have programs in other languages as well, and as far as I know, Japanese and Russian are considered popular choices. Because of the proximity of Russia俄罗斯(éluósī) and Japan日本(rìběn) to China, many trade-related jobs require the use of Russian and Japanese. Especially in some cities near the border, parents choose to have their children learn languages they may need for future jobs.

In addition to Chinese, math and foreign language, there are three other exams that need to be taken. In most provinces of China, high school students have to choose whether to study arts or science in their second year. Students who choose arts receive testing in History, Political Science, and Geography , while those who choose science are tested in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.

Apparently I'm a liberal arts student. Liberal arts in Chinese is 文科(wénkē); science in Chinese is 理科(lǐkē). So I can say 我(wǒ)是(shì)文科生(wénkēshēng). I'm a liberal arts student. 我(wǒ)的(de)物理(wùlǐ)非常(fēicháng)不好(bùhǎo)! My physics is very bad. 但是(dànshì)我(wǒ)的(de)历史(lìshǐ)和(hé)地理(dìlǐ)很(hěn)好(hǎo)。I am good at history and geography.

Let's learn the Chinese name of the subjects again.

语文(yǔwén) Chinese Language and literature

数学(shùxué) mathematics

外语(wàiyǔ) foreign language

历史(lìshǐ) history

政治(zhèngzhì) political science

地理(dìlǐ) geography

物理(wùlǐ) physics

化学(huàxué) chemistry

生物(shēngwù) biology

What about you? Are you a science student or arts? Which subject you are good at? Leave a message and let us know!

The most important test for Chinese learners is not the Gaokao, but HSK. starting this year, all students taking the HSK exam will be required to take the HSKK Speaking Test. How to prepare for the speaking test? Next Saturday, we have an online open class to introduce the tips to prepare for the HSK speaking test. Click this link or scan the QR code to register for a seat now! See you next Saturday!