“一考定终身”？05后考生：高考无法全面定义一个人

For a generation of students born after 2005, grounded in effort yet open to diverse opportunities, this year's national college entrance exam — or gaokao — is not a single, life-defining event. Instead, they view it as one significant step within a longer, more open journey.

The exam has 13.35 million participants this year, according to the Ministry of Education. Slightly lower than last year's 13.42 million, the enrolment is the first drop in seven years. 

The fundamental shift in perspective emerges when speaking with both high school seniors and teachers. The students see the exam as a stepping stone to an ideal university, not the last word on their future. 

"I don't believe the gaokao determines your whole life," said Bian Yunkai, 17, a high school senior in Changsha, Hunan province. He pointed to his parents’ success despite not attending elite universities as proof that future potential hinges on continuous ability and choices, not one exam.

"I've studied diligently for three years. Whatever happens, I know I did my best. I have no regrets," he said. For him, the gaokao's value lies in its ability to enable access to better platforms and encounters with more talented peers for future growth.

Like many seniors, Bian maintains an unrelenting schedule, getting up at 6:30 am and returning home from school after 11 pm. He said he often feels tired but still manages to persevere. "Whenever I feel low or under too much pressure, I engage in sports, listen to music or sleep," he said. "Sometimes I also talk to myself for self-encouragement."

Zhang Junzhe, 18, agrees. "Nothing can define a person's entire life," he argued, highlighting the exam's narrow focus on academic skills. "Viewing the gaokao as all-defining idealizes an exam-oriented education system and lacks a real-world perspective." 

He feels a mix of nervousness and anticipation, seeing the exam as an "upward channel" and an outlet to higher education. Targeting Hunan University, he has pragmatically accepted outcomes — 985, 211, or otherwise — without extensive mental preparation. The "985" and "211" projects are a part of the country's mission to build first-class higher learning institutions.

As Zhang suffered from pneumothorax during his senior year, needing to see doctors and rest at home, he could not devote his full attention to preparing for the exam. "However, whenever I was in better shape physically, I still wanted to force myself and test my limits," he said. As long as his body permits it, he too returns home from school after 11 pm.

Yin Guiling, a high school teacher in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, observes a clear generational contrast. "For us born in the 1990s, the gaokao seemed like the 'only' path," she recalled. 

This is especially true of students in first-tier cities, she said. Some of her students already have tangible "fallback options" and a few are already building income streams through skills like digital art, she said. 

Teacher Yin strongly emphasizes the enduring role as a critical gateway, especially for those aspiring to specialized careers or seeking wider future choices. "Failing to clear this hurdle significantly narrows future opportunities," she cautioned, urging students to respect it as their "first major challenge of self-transcendence".

Changsha high school teacher Lang Shiyuan also confirms this broader acceptance of the gaokao not determining his students' future.

Students hope for good results but generally accept that they have multiple paths to choose from if their scores fall short, he said. "People excel at many things beyond studying," Lang noted.

He advocates a balanced approach: "Do your best, then let nature take its course," and applies this philosophy to the gaokao and life's broader challenges.