Record 12 mln sit for China’s annual college entrance exam

After taking pictures with his family at the gate of Dacheng Middle School in Beijing, Wang Junkun had his temperature taken, showed his exam admission ticket, and walked into the school at 8:10 a.m. to take the annual college entrance exam in China.
Senior high candidates like Wang have spent most of the past three years studying at school while adapting to the impact of COVID-19, such as switching to online classes amid virus resurgences.
According to the Ministry of Education, a record 11.93 million people have applied for this year’s exam, known as the “gaokao,” an increase of 1.15 million from 2021. Except for a postponement in Shanghai due to COVID-19, the exam kicked off Tuesday nationwide.
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Authorities across China have arranged more than one million proctors and other personnel in 330,000 ordinary exam rooms, the ministry said. Despite the waning epidemic situations in Shanghai, Beijing and other regions, such a massive-scale exam is still a test for organizers to ensure everyone’s safety and health, as well as the smooth operation of the exam.
“About 54,000 students in Beijing will take the 2022 national college entrance exam. To ensure the safety of all participants, a list of COVID-19 prevention and control measures has been put in place. Exam rooms are also available for those in closed-off management areas,” said Li Yi, a spokesperson for the Beijing Municipal Education Commission.
“The exam candidates I’m in charge of from a closed-off management area will take their exam in a hotel, with each student in a respective room,” said Qin Lianzhi, a staff member at Beijing Ritan High School.
Qin noted that authorities have put in place schools desks familiar to students at the hotel to help the examinees relax. – Xinhua