Many millions of Chinese students write the notoriously difficult gaokao exam on Friday to get into higher education in China.
According to the Ministry of Education, approximately 13.42 million have registered for the gaokao exam, which is often described as life-changing for young Chinese people.
Aspiring students who have passed the equivalent of high school are tested in several subjects, including Chinese, English, math, natural sciences, and humanities. The exam results are decisive for admission to university.
In recent decades, gaokao has grown in tandem with economic growth, and also parental expectations of their children's careers.
The authorities have high alert every year before the exam, as attempted cheating attempts have been exposed in recent years.
