Gaokao Exam University Admission 2 — Questions and Answers

Question 1: In China's Gaokao system, '平行志愿' (parallel preferences/parallel volunteers) means:

Students can list multiple universities at the same preference level, and admission proceeds by score order checking each in sequence until one accepts (Correct answer)
All listed universities are considered equal and the student has an equal chance at each
Students must rank universities in strict priority order with only one first choice
Students can only apply to one university

Correct answer: Students can list multiple universities at the same preference level, and admission proceeds by score order checking each in sequence until one accepts

'平行志愿' allows students to list A, B, C, D universities at the same preference tier. Admission computers check A first; if unqualified, proceed to B, then C, then D — in order of the student's list.

China's university admission system evolved from '顺序志愿' (sequential preferences, where a low score meant losing the first-choice chance entirely) to '平行志愿' (parallel preferences, adopted by most provinces by 2008). Under 平行志愿, students list 3-6 universities at the same tier (e.g., first batch). The computer checks each in the listed order: if the student's score meets University A's minimum for the desired major → admitted. If not, check B, then C, etc. Once admitted to any university, the process stops. This greatly reduces the risk of 'wasted scores' (高分落榜) while retaining the competition mechanism.

Question 2: The '985 Project' (985工程) and '211 Project' (211工程) in Chinese higher education refer to:

Elite university designation programs where selected universities receive special funding and resources to develop into world-class research institutions (Correct answer)
Programs for vocational and technical colleges
Regional branch campus expansion projects
Annual rankings that change based on performance

Correct answer: Elite university designation programs where selected universities receive special funding and resources to develop into world-class research institutions

985 Project (launched 1998): top 39 universities receiving major funding for world-class development. 211 Project (1995): 116 key universities receiving significant national investment. Both were superseded by the '双一流' (Double First-class) initiative in 2017.

The '211 Project' (launched 1995, referring to '21st century' + '100 universities') designated 116 key universities for national investment. The '985 Project' (launched 1998, for May 9, '98, Peking University's centenary) selected 39 elite universities (including Peking University, Tsinghua, Fudan, Zhejiang University) for major funding to develop world-class research. In 2017, both were replaced by the '双一流' (Double First-class Universities and Disciplines) initiative with more dynamic evaluation. Being listed on 211 or 985 significantly affects recruitment, funding, and student desirability.

Question 3: The '高考移民' (Gaokao migration) phenomenon refers to:

Students registering in provinces with lower Gaokao admission thresholds to improve their chances of entering elite universities (Correct answer)
International students taking the Gaokao
Rural students moving to cities for better schools
CPC members transferred to different provinces

Correct answer: Students registering in provinces with lower Gaokao admission thresholds to improve their chances of entering elite universities

'Gaokao migration' involves students registering their exam residency (户籍) in provinces with relatively more lenient admission scores (e.g., Inner Mongolia, Tibet, Xinjiang) to gain admission advantage to top universities.

'高考移民' (Gaokao migration) exploits the regional variation in university admission scores. Elite universities like Peking University and Tsinghua historically accepted students from Beijing at significantly lower scores than from provinces like Henan or Shandong (which have large populations and fewer quota spots). Some families move their household registration (户籍) to provinces with relative advantages — historically Inner Mongolia, Tibetan regions, or Hainan — giving their children lower effective admission thresholds. Authorities have implemented stricter residency verification to combat this practice.

Question 4: In the reformed Gaokao system (新高考, implemented in most provinces from 2021), students in '3+1+2' provinces choose their elective subjects as:

3 required subjects (Chinese, Math, English) + 1 required choice (Physics or History) + 2 electives from remaining 4 subjects (Correct answer)
3 required + 1 foreign language + 2 science subjects
All 9 subjects with no choice
3 required + 3 freely chosen from all subjects

Correct answer: 3 required subjects (Chinese, Math, English) + 1 required choice (Physics or History) + 2 electives from remaining 4 subjects

'3+1+2' means: 3 required (语数英) + 1 mandatory choice (Physics or History, graded on absolute score) + 2 freely chosen from Chemistry, Biology, Geography, Politics (graded on rank-conversion score).

The New Gaokao Reform ('新高考改革') began with Zhejiang and Shanghai (2014) and has expanded. The '3+1+2' model (adopted by most provinces): '3' = Chinese, Mathematics, English (required, ~450 points total); '1' = mandatory choice of either Physics or History (100 points, raw score); '2' = two freely chosen from Chemistry, Biology, Geography, Politics (100 points each, converted to rank-based scores). This creates 12 possible subject combinations. The requirement to choose Physics or History addresses concerns that free choice led students to avoid difficult subjects, improving coverage of fundamental disciplines.

Question 5: What is the '专项计划' (special quota program) in Chinese university admissions designed for?

Providing additional quota spots for rural students from underdeveloped areas to attend elite universities (Correct answer)
Overseas Chinese students returning to study
Athletes and arts students
Students from provincial capitals

Correct answer: Providing additional quota spots for rural students from underdeveloped areas to attend elite universities

'专项计划' (special quota programs) include 农村专项 (rural special quotas) and 地方专项 (regional special quotas) to improve access to top universities for students from rural and underdeveloped areas.

China's university admission system includes multiple '专项计划' (special quota programs) to improve educational equity: (1) '国家专项计划' (National Special Program): top universities reserve spots specifically for rural students from designated underdeveloped counties. (2) '地方专项计划' (Regional Special Program): provincial universities reserve spots for rural students within their province. (3) '高校专项计划' ('Specialized Plus' Program): elite 985 universities' own rural talent programs, admitting students with outstanding ability from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. These programs have significantly increased rural student enrollment at elite universities.

Question 6: The phrase '一本' (yī běn, First Tier) in Chinese university admissions refers to:

The first batch of universities in the traditional admission system, generally including key national universities with higher admission score cutoffs (Correct answer)
The top-ranked single university in China
First-year university students
The first subject on the Gaokao exam

Correct answer: The first batch of universities in the traditional admission system, generally including key national universities with higher admission score cutoffs

'一本' refers to the first admission batch (第一批次) in the traditional system, which included key national universities (211/985) with higher score thresholds. 二本 was the second batch with lower thresholds.

China's traditional university admission system organized universities into multiple batches (批次): 本科第一批 ('一本') included key national universities (primarily 211/985 schools) with the highest score cutoffs; 本科第二批 ('二本') included regular 4-year universities; 本科第三批 ('三本') included independent colleges. Under the New Gaokao reform, many provinces have merged 一本 and 二本 into a single '本科批' (undergraduate batch), phasing out the formal distinction. However, '一本线' (first-tier cutoff) remains culturally significant as a benchmark for prestigious university admission.

Gaokao Exam University Admission 2

In China's Gaokao system, '平行志愿' (parallel preferences/parallel volunteers) means: