China Issues 2026 Gaokao Warnings to Combat Exam Fraud
With just five days remaining before the 2026 National College Entrance Examination (Gaokao), China’s Ministry of Education has issued a comprehensive set of early warnings aimed at helping students and parents identify and avoid exam-related fraud, rumors, and cheating schemes. The warnings, released on June 2, detail five major categories of risk and come as part of a broader multi-agency “2026 Gaokao Escort Action” designed to safeguard the integrity of one of the world’s most consequential academic examinations.
The Five Major Warning Categories
According to Xinhua News, the Ministry of Education has identified and detailed five distinct categories of fraud and risk that students and families should be vigilant against as the exam approaches.
Organized Cheating: The Ministry highlighted a 2020 case in which an individual named Chen organized a cheating ring with an accomplice, Xie, who recruited university students to relay answers. The group was caught red-handed answering exam questions in a hotel room. Under Chinese criminal law, organizing cheating in state-level examinations carries penalties including imprisonment and fines.
Exam Impersonation: In a 2024 case, two individuals named Cao and Wang posted paid impersonation services online and faced severe legal punishment. The Ministry warned that both the impersonator and the person hiring one face criminal consequences, with new technological tools increasingly deployed to prevent such fraud.
Carrying Prohibited Items: A 2022 case saw a student smuggle a phone into an exam hall, photograph the test paper, and post it to a QQ group before being apprehended. The Ministry stressed that even carrying a phone, smartwatch, or smart glasses without using them constitutes cheating, with many exam sites now employing “smart security gates plus manual checks.”
Fake Exam Prediction Materials: Fraudsters posing as “proposition team members” or using AI-generated hype are selling fake “top-secret” prediction papers. The Ministry warned that Gaokao reform emphasizes anti-prediction and anti-rote-learning approaches, making such schemes unreliable.
Fake Early Score Checking: A victim named Li lost over 20,000 yuan after clicking a fraudulent SMS link promising early score access. The Ministry emphasized that scores are released only through official provincial channels and that claims of “hacker score changes” are scams.
The 2026 Gaokao Escort Action
The Ministry of Education has coordinated with the Cyberspace Administration of China and public security departments to launch the “2026 Gaokao Escort Action,” as reported by China News Service. This multi-agency effort targets mobile phone cheating, online exam-related environments, sales of cheating equipment, impersonation, and exam site surroundings. Post-exam support will include optimized volunteer application guidance services and “Sunshine Volunteer” assistance for underdeveloped regions.
Broader Context
The Gaokao, scheduled to begin on June 7, 2026, is the annual standardized undergraduate admission exam in mainland China. It is one of the most consequential exams globally, determining university admissions and profoundly shaping students’ life trajectories. As of 2026, 29 provinces and regions have adopted the “New Gaokao” reform model, which offers greater subject flexibility.
China’s exam security measures are among the most stringent worldwide, with international media reporting on metal detector screenings, signal jammers, and strict ID verification. The inclusion of AI-related fraud warnings in this year’s alert reflects adaptation to emerging technological threats.
Analysis and Implications
The coordinated timing of the warnings — just days before the exam — serves both as a public service announcement and a deterrent. The emphasis on “anti-prediction, anti-rote” messaging reflects a broader educational reform direction away from China’s traditional test-prep culture. With approximately 13 million students expected to sit for the 2026 Gaokao, the government’s heightened attention to exam integrity signals the continuing outsized role this single examination plays in Chinese society.
As the final sprint to exam day continues, the Ministry’s message is clear: students should focus on genuine preparation, remain vigilant against fraud, and remember that the consequences of cheating extend far beyond the exam hall.