Confident and composed, Chinese students embrace national college entrance exam

On June 7, 2025, the national college entrance examination began across China. With determination in their steps and hope in their hearts, 13.35 million students took part in this pivotal life moment. Whether entering the exam hall with focus or stepping out with smiles, these young candidates embodied the spirit of courage and aspiration.

Photo taken on June 7, 2025, shows a student waving from a car window before entering the exam site at Yunyang Vocational School in Shiyan City, central China's Hubei Province. (Cao Zhonghong / Guangming Picture)

Photo taken on June 7, 2025, shows students walking confidently through a gate decorated with good-luck symbols at the Changxing Vocational Education Center exam site in Huzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province. A total of 781 exam rooms were set up at three testing locations across Changxing County this year. (Tan Yunfeng / Guangming Picture)

Photo taken on June 7, 2025, shows students heading into the exam site at Neijiang No. 6 Middle School in southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Lan Zitai / Guangming Picture)

Photo taken on June 7, 2025, shows students walking out after the first test at Qingjiang Middle School in Huai'an City, east China's Jiangsu Province. (He Jinghua / Guangming Picture)

Photo taken on June 7, 2025, shows students running out of the exam center with smiles after completing their first test at Xiajiang Middle School in Ji'an City, east China's Jiangxi Province. (Chen Fuping / Guangming Picture)

Photo taken on the morning of June 7, 2025, shows students leaving the exam site after completing the Chinese language test—the first subject of the national college entrance exam—at Huaibei No. 2 High School in east China's Anhui Province. (Wan Shanchao / Guangming Picture)

Photo taken on June 7, 2025, shows students stepping out of the exam site at Jiahe No. 1 Middle School in Chenzhou City, central China's Hunan Province, smiling and relaxed after the first subject. (Huang Chuntao / Guangming Picture)

Photo taken on June 7, 2025, shows students leaving Hangzhou High School in east China's Zhejiang Province after finishing the Chinese test, welcomed by a large crowd of parents. (Long Wei / Guangming Picture)

Photo taken on June 7, 2025, shows students embracing and taking photos with family members outside Luoyang No. 1 Senior High School in central China's Henan Province after the first exam. (Li Weichao / Guangming Picture)

Photo taken on June 7, 2025, shows students walking out of the exam site at Daoxian No. 1 Middle School in Yongzhou City, central China's Hunan Province, looking cheerful and confident. (Jiang Keqing / Guangming Picture)

Photo taken on June 7, 2025, shows students receiving heartfelt wishes from family members outside Donghai Senior High School in Lianyungang City, east China's Jiangsu Province, after finishing the first test. (Shao Guangming / Guangming Picture)