Sébastien Le Belzic (Beijing correspondent), editing by Gauthier Delomez / Photo credits: Long Lei / XINHUA / Xinhua via AFP 06:08, June 08, 2023

In China too, the month of June is synonymous with the baccalaureate (called "Gaokao") for young high school students. This week, a record 13 million students are working in Mandarin, math, history and geography. This examination, very selective, conditions access to a good university. The pressure is therefore maximum...

It's barely 7 a.m., and there's already a crowd outside a facility in northern Beijing. Tien, a young student, has to take his Mandarin test. "Passing the Gaokao is a defining moment in our lives. Without this exam, we cannot continue our studies," he explains, slightly stressed, at the microphone of Europe 1. His mother also has a lump in her stomach: "We are probably more stressed than our child right now, we woke up at 5 a.m."

>> READ ALSO – Bac 2018: how is it in other countries?

One of the most selective exams in the world

In reality, Gaokao is the Chinese version of the baccalaureate with tests in Mandarin, math, history and geography. This is considered one of the most selective exams in the world and conditions university entry. Only 7% of baccalaureate holders will get the training of their dreams, a tiny part of the 13 million high school students - a record - who are working this week.

To avoid cheating, exceptional measures are put in place such as the body scanner. "It is especially useful for preventing cheating with mobile phones, this equipment can find the devices even hidden in a shoe," said Yang Meiling, principal of the high school.

>> Find Europe Matin in replay and podcast here

Note that among this year's candidates is Liang Shi, a 56-year-old millionaire who is trying his luck for the... 27th time.