10 Days to Gaokao: Key Changes for China’s 2026 Exam

With just 10 days remaining until the 2026 Gaokao, China’s national college entrance examination, authorities have unveiled a series of significant reforms aimed at making the exam fairer, more transparent, and better aligned with 21st-century educational goals. The changes span exam content, university enrollment practices, security measures, and the regulation of AI tools during the test period.

A New Era for Exam Content

Earlier this year, the Ministry of Education issued the “Notice on Doing a Good Job of General College Enrollment in 2026,” calling for further deepening of the examination and enrollment system reform. The notice emphasizes a shift away from rote memorization toward assessing critical thinking and practical problem-solving skills.

According to China News Network, the Ministry is requiring that exam questions “integrate cutting-edge technological developments, infuse humanities education elements, and strengthen project-based and inquiry-based real-world scenario problem design.” This marks a deliberate move to assess students’ key abilities, subject literacy, and thinking quality rather than mere recall of information.

Major Category Enrollment Faces Strict Limits

One of the most consequential reforms targets “major category enrollment” (大类招生), a practice where universities group related majors together for admission purposes. Critics have long argued that this system allowed institutions to bundle popular majors with less desirable ones, forcing students into unwanted programs.

The new regulations require universities to strictly control the number and scale of major category enrollment, essentially conducting enrollment by specific majors. In provinces using the “institution + major group” model, professional groups must be further optimized with closely related majors grouped together. As CCTV News reports, commentators note that this means “candidates can more accurately choose their preferred majors, with correspondingly lower adjustment risk.”

The New Gaokao Model Expands

The ongoing “New Gaokao” reform, which began in 2014, continues to expand. As of 2025, the fifth batch of eight provinces implemented the new model, bringing the total to 29 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities that have adopted the flexible subject selection system. This reform moves away from the traditional science/liberal arts divide, allowing students to choose from various subject combinations based on their interests and career goals.

Provincial-Level Adjustments

Several provinces have announced specific changes for 2026. In Shandong, students registered for both the Spring Gaokao and Summer Gaokao can no longer be admitted by both simultaneously, and the special type batch for the Summer Gaokao general category has been eliminated. Jiangxi has strengthened provincial unified exams for arts enrollment while reducing school-organized exams, with cultural course scores now required to account for no less than 50% of the total.

Demographic Trends Emerge

Registration numbers released by multiple provinces reveal shifting demographic patterns. Gansu Province reported 218,700 candidates, down from 232,400 in 2025, while Yunnan recorded 377,900 candidates, a decrease from 382,400. However, some areas are bucking the trend — Jining City in Shandong reported over 67,000 candidates, an increase from last year, and Zhuzhou City in Hunan saw a modest rise of 717 candidates to 36,181.

Security Measures Intensify

Authorities are leaving no stone unturned in their pursuit of a “Safe Gaokao.” The Ministry of Education has called on all regions and schools to “go all out to achieve the goal of a ‘Safe Gaokao.’” Multiple regions are upgrading “smart security gates” and implementing strict measures against high-tech cheating, including “silent entry” policies that prevent unauthorized electronic devices from entering exam halls.

Henan Province has mandated that all exam sites be equipped with upgraded smart security gates, while Guangdong is strengthening registration qualification reviews and cracking down on “Gaokao immigration” — the illegal practice of moving students’ household registrations to regions with lower admission thresholds.

AI Tools Restricted During Exam Period

In a reflection of the digital age’s challenges, major AI platforms including Doubao and Tencent Yuanbao will disable photo-based question-answering and similar functions during the Gaokao period. Doubao customer service has confirmed that while the app can be used normally, features that could assist with exam questions will be suspended. This dual approach — incorporating technology into exam content while restricting AI tools during the test — highlights China’s nuanced strategy toward technology in education.

What to Watch For

As the June 7 start date approaches, the 2026 Gaokao represents a pivotal moment in China’s ongoing education reform journey. The shift toward quality over quantity in enrollment, the emphasis on real-world problem-solving, and the integration of technology regulation all point to a system in transformation. With declining candidate numbers in many provinces reflecting broader demographic challenges, the competition for spots at China’s top universities remains as intense as ever.

For the millions of students preparing to sit for the exam, these changes promise a fairer, more transparent process — and a system increasingly designed to reward genuine ability over test-taking技巧.