context: 2024 marks the tenth year since the gaokao (national university entrance examination) reform in 2014. This year’s gaokao commenced with a record-breaking 13.42 million registrants on 7 June, an increase of 510,000 from 2023. The number is expected to continue rising before hitting an inflection then going into sharp decline.
The current number of registrants for the gaokao (national university entrance examination) includes not just those sitting for the exam, contends Chen Zhiwen 陈志文 National Education Examination Steering Committee expert group member
- the rise stems not from a growth in the student population or a huge increase in the number of repeat students but rather changes in how participants are counted
- this year’s counting method includes
- early admissions for vocational schools held in the spring, which allow students to bypass the main June exam if accepted
According MEE (Ministry of Education), in 2023, China's total enrolment in regular and vocational undergraduate and associate degree programs was 10.422 million, a 2.73 percent increase from 2022
- regular undergraduate programs enrolled 4.7816 million students
- up 2.19 percent
- vocational undergraduate programs enrolled 89,900 students
- up 17.82 percent
- higher vocational (associate degree) programs enrolled 5.5507 million students
- up 2.99 percent
The university admission rate through the gaokao has steadily increased over time
- the national admission rate grew from 33.86 percent in 1998 to 81.13 percent in 2018
- stabilising around 90 percent in recent years
- regional disparities persist
- Shandong’s gaokao undergraduate admission rate was around 33 percent in 2023 while Beijing's rate was around 77 percent.
Although the number of applicants for gaokao has continued to rise in recent years, the admission rate for different groups has steadily increased. Tougher undergraduate assessment is needed to ensure educational quality, argues Xiong Bingqi 熊丙奇 21st Century Education Research Institute director. He attributed the significant rise in gaokao registrations to policy changes that support vocational education.
Since 2019, China has
- greatly expanded vocational education enrolment
- removed restrictions on further studies for vocational graduates, encouraging them to pursue advanced vocational or professional undergraduate courses
As of 2024, 29 provinces across China have initiated comprehensive gaokao reforms. Jilin, Heilongjiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Guizhou and Gansu are among the seven provinces implementing these reforms in the fourth batch. The final fifth batch, consisting of eight provinces and regions, will implement the new gaokao format in 2025.