Anxious parents await gaokao students

The National College Entrance Exam, or the gaokao –– considered a make-or-break opportunity for Chinese students –– started on June 7.

Across the country 9.75 million children have registered for this year’s exam.

Many parents consider the exam so important that they will wait outside the exam locations for their children to finish.

Parents of students taking this year’s gaokao wait outside a Shenyang exam site on June 7. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

A Shenyang student leaves an exam site after taking the National College Entrance Exam, June 7. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

Shenyang students leave an exam site after completing the gaokao, June 7. [Photo/Chinanews.com]