Overview
- The multi-day gaokao was held June 7–8 with about 12.9 million registered candidates and scores scheduled for release later in June.
- Official data show roughly 450,000 fewer candidates than last year, a decline linked to China’s smaller college‑age cohort and changing student preferences.
- China added new state‑aligned majors for 2026 such as embodied intelligence, rare‑earth science and low‑altitude economy to steer graduates toward strategic sectors.
- The rise of AI is reshaping admissions debates with some U.S. colleges reconsidering standardized tests because AI can generate essays while China relies on tightly proctored, synchronized exams and saw domestic chatbots limit features during past tests.
- Families and students report less willingness to trade health for scores and employers’ weak hiring of young people could push policy shifts in admissions and career planning.