Gaokao Exam PDF 2026: Free Chinese College Entrance Exam Practice Questions
Prepare for the Gaokao certification. Practice questions with answer explanations covering all exam domains. π
What Is the Gaokao?
About 12 million students in China sit the Gaokao every June. Two days. That's it. Two days to determine where β or whether β you go to university.
The Gaokao, short for ZhΕngguΓ³ GΔokΗo (ε ¨ε½ι«ηε¦ζ ‘ζηη»δΈθθ―), is China's National what is the gaokaoination. Every spot at a Chinese university flows through this single set of scores. There's no portfolio, no personal statement that saves you, no legacy admissions track. Your score is your application.
If you're preparing for the English section, researching Chinese higher education, or teaching students who will face this exam, this page gives you a free Gaokao exam PDF to download and study offline. Below you'll find everything you need to understand the structure, the scoring, and exactly what the English section tests.
Subjects Tested on the Gaokao
The Gaokao splits into two categories: mandatory subjects everyone takes, and electives that depend on which academic track the student chose in high school.
Mandatory (all students):
Chinese Language β the most heavily weighted section, testing reading, classical literature, composition, and argumentative writing. Mathematics β pure math, no calculator. Foreign Language β almost always English, though students can choose Japanese, French, Russian, German, or Spanish.
Elective subjects (choose 3 from):
Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Geography, and Politics. The combination you choose is determined by your high school track β typically STEM or humanities. Some provinces run a "3+1+2" model where Physics or History is required as the anchor elective, plus two more from the remaining options.
That said, the structure varies slightly by province. Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangdong have modified versions. The national standard is what most students take.
Why Scoring 750 Is Almost Impossible
The Gaokao's 750-point ceiling sounds achievable on paper. In practice, near-perfect scores are rare enough to make national news. The Chinese Language section alone β 150 points β includes essays graded by human readers using rubrics that reward sophisticated argumentation and classical allusion. The gap between 135 and 148 on that section can mean the difference between Tsinghua University and your fourth-choice school.
Mathematics is notorious for its final few problems. The exam is designed so that every student can answer roughly 80% of it. The last 20% is essentially a tiebreaker for elite-school admissions β problems that require not just calculus knowledge but creative problem-solving under extreme time pressure.
The Foreign Language section is the exception. English on the Gaokao is structured β reading comprehension, cloze tests (fill-in-the-blank passages), and a writing component. For non-Chinese readers and international researchers, this section is the most accessible part of the exam to study and understand.
The English Section β What It Actually Tests
The English section runs 150 points over 120 minutes. It's divided into several components.
Reading Comprehension (40 pts): Four to five passages across different text types β news articles, academic excerpts, narratives, advertisements. Questions test main idea, supporting detail, inference, and vocabulary in context. The passages aren't especially long, but the vocabulary can be demanding β B2 to low C1 on the CEFR scale.
Cloze Test (30 pts): A 200-250 word passage with 15 blanks. You choose from four options for each blank. This tests collocations, connectives, and contextual vocabulary β not just individual word meanings. Students who memorize word lists without understanding usage tend to struggle here.
Language Use / Grammar (15 pts): Short passages testing specific grammatical structures. Focuses on verb tenses, conditionals, relative clauses, and prepositions. More rule-based than the reading or cloze sections.
Writing (25 pts): Two tasks β typically a short note or email (first task, 10 pts) and a longer essay (second task, 15 pts). Prompts are functional: write a letter declining an invitation, write an essay arguing a position on environmental behavior, describe a cultural exchange experience.
The listening component (30 pts) was removed from the national exam in many provinces and replaced with additional reading and writing. Check which version applies to your situation β provincial variations exist.
- βRead the questions before the passage β know what you're looking for before you read
- βFor cloze tests, read the full passage once without filling in any blanks β context across the whole text matters
- βEliminate obviously wrong answers in reading questions first, then compare the final two
- βWatch for contrast signals in cloze tests: "however", "although", "despite" β these narrow the correct choice dramatically
- βWriting section: use a clear 3-part structure (intro, body, conclusion) β Chinese Gaokao markers reward organization
- βFor the email/note task, open with a clear purpose statement and close with a specific action or request
- βReview collocations, not just vocabulary β "make a decision" not "do a decision", "take responsibility" not "bear responsibility"
- βPractice reading academic-style passages under timed conditions β speed matters as much as accuracy
Why International Students and Researchers Use Gaokao Materials
You don't have to be a Chinese high school student to find the Gaokao useful.
International students applying to Chinese universities often need to demonstrate academic Chinese or English proficiency. Some programs use Gaokao-style English questions as diagnostic placement tools. If you're applying to a Chinese university through an international track and want to benchmark your English against the national standard, working through Gaokao English practice materials is a direct way to do that.
ESL teachers in China use Gaokao English sample questions constantly β it's the benchmark their students are training toward. Understanding the exam format tells you exactly which grammar structures and vocabulary domains matter most in Chinese secondary English education.
Researchers studying comparative education, language policy, or East Asian higher education systems regularly need access to Gaokao materials in their original format. The PDF on this page gives you that without requiring access to Chinese-language sources.
And for students who attended Chinese high school and are now studying abroad β especially in graduate programs β revisiting Gaokao English materials can be a surprisingly effective way to rebuild academic English skills systematically. The exam was designed to assess real academic English competence, not test-taking tricks.
How the Gaokao Compares to Other High-Stakes Exams
The Gaokao gets compared to the SAT regularly. They aren't really comparable. The SAT is one input among dozens in US university admissions. The Gaokao is the only input. There's no equivalent pressure in the Western university system β even the most competitive SAT/ACT scenarios involve multiple application rounds, waitlists, and alternative paths.
A better comparison is the South Korean CSAT (Suneung) or the Japanese NCAT β similar high-stakes national exams where a single score determines university access. All three reflect educational systems that funnel enormous national ambition through a standardized test administered on a single date.
The 2026 Gaokao takes place June 7β10 nationally, though some provinces extend to June 8 or 9 depending on elective subject scheduling. Around 12.9 million students registered in 2025 β a record that will likely be matched or exceeded in 2026.
For English section practice specifically, use the Gaokao practice tests on this site alongside the downloadable PDF. The online tests let you check answers immediately with explanations. The PDF is better for timed offline sessions that simulate real test conditions. Use both.
For a fuller set of questions on this topic, see our gaokao score range resource.
Gaokao: Pros and Cons
- +A single set of scores determines university admission nationally β no separate essays or interviews to prepare
- +Decades of past papers and practice materials are freely available for every subject, including English
- +The English section follows a consistent, well-documented format (reading, cloze, grammar, writing)
- +Strong Gaokao English preparation builds real academic English skills, not just test tricks
- +Score reports and admission cut-off lines are published transparently by each province
- βThe Gaokao is offered only once a year (June) β a bad day means waiting a full year to retake it
- βProvincial variations in format and difficulty make direct score comparisons across regions unreliable
- βExtremely high stakes: a single national exam date decides university access for ~13 million students
- βForeign nationals are not eligible to sit the standard Gaokao
- βCompetitive scores (especially top-tier) typically require years of preparation, not weeks
π When is the Gaokao held each year?
The Gaokao starts on June 7 every year and runs for at least two days nationwide. Many provinces using the reformed elective model extend testing to June 9 or June 10 for the elective subjects.
START GAOKAO PRACTICE TESTπ₯ How many students take the Gaokao?
China's Ministry of Education reported about 13.42 million registered candidates in 2024 and about 13.35 million in 2025. That makes it the largest single academic exam in the world.
START GAOKAO PRACTICE TESTπ― What is the Gaokao total score out of?
Most provinces score the Gaokao out of 750 points. Chinese, Mathematics and a Foreign Language are worth 150 points each, and three elective subjects make up the remaining 300 points. Shanghai (660) and Hainan (900) use different totals.
START GAOKAO PRACTICE TESTπ What subjects are on the Gaokao?
Every candidate takes Chinese, Mathematics and a Foreign Language. Under the common 3+1+2 model, students add Physics or History, plus two of Chemistry, Biology, Politics and Geography.
START GAOKAO PRACTICE TESTπ What is the 3+1+2 Gaokao model?
It is the reformed subject-selection format used by most provinces. The "3" is Chinese, Math and Foreign Language; the "1" is a choice between Physics and History; the "2" is any two of Chemistry, Biology, Politics and Geography.
START GAOKAO PRACTICE TESTπ Which foreign languages can you take on the Gaokao?
Candidates can choose English, Japanese, Russian, French, German or Spanish for the Foreign Language paper. English is by far the most common choice, and the paper is worth 150 points.
START GAOKAO PRACTICE TESTβοΈ How long is the Gaokao Chinese essay?
The essay (δ½ζ) in the Chinese Language paper is typically worth 60 of the paper's 150 points. Candidates are usually required to write at least 800 Chinese characters on a set prompt or theme.
START GAOKAO PRACTICE TESTποΈ When did the Gaokao start?
The modern Gaokao began in 1952, was suspended in 1966 during the Cultural Revolution, and was restored in 1977. About 5.7 million people sat the first restored exam in December 1977.
START GAOKAO PRACTICE TESTπ Is there a passing score on the Gaokao?
No. The Gaokao has no fixed pass mark. Each province publishes cut-off lines (εζ°ηΊΏ) for each tier of universities after scores are released in late June, and students then submit their university preferences.
START GAOKAO PRACTICE TESTβοΈ Is cheating on the Gaokao a crime?
Yes. Since November 2015, organized cheating in national exams such as the Gaokao has been a criminal offense in China, punishable by up to seven years in prison. Test centers also use ID checks, signal jammers and video monitoring.
START GAOKAO PRACTICE TESTOfficial Resources
- Ministry of Education of the Peopleβs Republic of China β the national authority that sets Gaokao policy, enrollment rules, and the annual examination calendar.
- National Education Examinations Authority (NEEA) β the agency under the Ministry of Education responsible for administering Chinaβs national examinations, including the Gaokao.
- Ministry of Education Government Portal (Chinese) β publishes official Gaokao notices, provincial admission scores, and policy documents in the original language.