Amid NEET Scrutiny, China Highlights Smooth Conduct Of Gaokao For Over 1.3 Crore Students | Education and Career News
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The 1.3 crore Gaokao candidates underscore the scale gap with India, where NEET draws over 20 lakh and JEE Main around 15 lakh aspirants each year.
Introduced in 1952, the Gaokao remains China’s main gateway to higher education. (AI Image)
China on Wednesday highlighted the smooth conduct of its nationwide university entrance examination, the Gaokao. One of the toughest exams in the world, the National College Entrance Examination in China saw nearly 1.3 crore students sit for the two-day test. In a post on X, the Chinese Embassy in India appeared to take an indirect dig at India over recurring controversies surrounding competitive exams such as NEET.
Stressing the scale and coordination involved, the embassy noted that factories temporarily halted operations, roads were cleared, and nationwide efforts were made to ensure an interruption-free exam. The post on X underscored the organisation and efficiency of the process, drawing a comparison with India’s JEE and NEET examinations.
“China’s Gaokao, the world’s largest exam and India’s equivalent of JEE and NEET combined, was conducted smoothly for 1.3 crore students in just two days,” Chinese Embassy spokesperson Yu Jing stated.
“Factories paused. Roads quieted. The entire nation rallied for its students,” Yu Jing added.
China’s Gaokao — the world’s largest exam & India’s equivalent of JEE/NEET rolled into one — was conducted smoothly for 1.3 crore students in just 2 days 🎓Factories paused. Roads quieted. The entire nation rallied for its students.
चीन की गाओकाओ — दुनिया की सबसे बड़ी परीक्षा,… pic.twitter.com/aSbpL05suN
— Yu Jing (@ChinaSpox_India) June 10, 2026
The remarks come amid ongoing scrutiny of India’s examination system following the NEET-UG paper leak on May 3, with a re-examination scheduled for June 21. Over 22 lakh students appeared for the exam this time. After the exam, a guess paper containing 120 of the 180 questions asked in NEET was found to be similar.
The 1.3 crore students appearing for the Gaokao highlight the scale difference between the two countries. NEET typically sees over 20 lakh candidates annually, while JEE Main attracts around 15 lakh aspirants — significantly fewer than the Gaokao’s candidate pool.
ALSO READ | ‘Yahan Joke Banakar Rakha Hai’: Viral Post Comparing India’s NEET With China’s Gaokao Sparks Debate Online
What Is Gaokao?
Introduced in 1952, the Gaokao remains China’s main gateway to higher education, with admissions relying almost entirely on exam scores rather than a holistic review. For elite institutions like Tsinghua and Peking universities, where acceptance rates are below 0.1%, strong performance can be life-changing.
Held once a year in June over 2–3 days, the exam includes compulsory papers in Chinese, Mathematics and a foreign language, along with elective Science or Arts subjects.
Its conduct is treated as a major national exercise, with strict security, CCTV surveillance, identity checks, traffic curbs around centres, and dedicated medical and psychological support to ensure a smooth and fair process.
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