Gaokao Mathematics exam-day guide
Gaokao Mathematics · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission ticket (准考证)
Print at least two copies and keep one with your ID. Follow your school's or local authority's printing instructions. Confirm format and printing requirements with the provider.
Valid ID document
Bring the same valid ID used for registration, such as a resident ID card, and check that it has not expired. Confirm with the provider whether temporary or alternative ID documents are accepted.
Black ballpoint or gel pens
Bring 2–3 black pens plus spare refills, and test them beforehand. Avoid erasable or colored ink unless the provider explicitly allows it.
2B pencils and eraser
Bring 2–3 pre-sharpened 2B pencils and a clean eraser for machine-read answer sheets. Confirm whether a pencil sharpener is permitted in your exam room.
Geometry tools
A straightedge, compass, and protractor may be useful for mathematics. Needs review: confirm with the provider which geometry tools are allowed in your province.
Transparent pencil case or bag
Use a clear bag so invigilators can inspect stationery quickly. Needs review: confirm with the provider whether a transparent case is required or merely recommended.
Simple analog watch
A non-smart analog watch can help you pace yourself if the room clock is hard to see. Needs review: confirm with the provider whether watches are allowed; smart watches and watches with alarms are almost certainly prohibited.
Clear water bottle
Bring a transparent, label-free bottle if water is allowed at your seat. Needs review: confirm with the provider whether water bottles may be placed on the desk.
Exam center route and timing
Check the exact address, travel time, and reporting time in advance, and plan a backup route. Arrive early; do not rely on last-minute transport.
Leave prohibited electronics behind
Do not bring phones, smart watches, earbuds, or other electronic devices into the exam room. If you must carry a phone, confirm the provider's designated storage procedure before exam day.
Sleep and breakfast plan
Set a realistic bedtime for the night before, prepare a light familiar breakfast, and avoid trying new food or caffeine amounts on exam morning.
Plan the day
Confirm the exam center, reporting time, and local stationery rules. Print the admission ticket, check your ID's validity, and buy or assemble backup pens, pencils, and an eraser.
Review only high-yield formulas, common error patterns, and your own past mistakes. Do not start new topics or attempt an exhausting full mock exam; keep sessions short and stop early enough to sleep well.
Pack the clear bag with admission ticket, ID, pens, pencils, eraser, and approved tools. Lay out clothes, check weather and transport, and confirm how you will store any phone you carry.
Do a light formula recall from memory and skim a short error log. Avoid intensive practice, social media speculation about the paper, and late-night cramming.
Eat a normal breakfast, use the restroom before leaving, and arrive at the exam center well before the reporting time. Keep your admission ticket and ID accessible for check-in.
After entering the room, place only approved items on the desk, listen carefully to invigilator instructions, and fill in identifying information exactly as directed.
Spend the first few minutes scanning the whole paper and noting question difficulty. Start with questions you can solve confidently, and do not let one hard item consume a disproportionate share of the time.
In the standard Gaokao mathematics paper, total score is 150 and time is 120 minutes; confirm your province's format. Pace yourself, show necessary steps, and transfer answers to the designated areas as you go.
Reserve the final 10–15 minutes to check that answers are in the correct places, units and domains are reasonable, and no easy marks were left blank. If time is short, prioritize checking rather than starting a long new solution.
Rules to check
Bring your admission ticket and the valid ID accepted for your registration. Confirm with the provider what alternative ID, if any, is accepted if your main document is lost or expired.
Do not bring phones, smart watches, earbuds, or other electronic devices into the exam room. Follow the provider's instructions for leaving or surrendering prohibited items before entry.
Follow all invigilator instructions, keep your eyes on your own paper, and do not communicate with other candidates during the test. Any suspected misconduct may lead to cancellation of results.
Arrive before the reporting time. Late candidates may be denied entry, and candidates may not be allowed to leave early; confirm the exact late-arrival and early-leaving rules with the provider.
Write answers in the designated areas. Work outside the designated areas may not be scored; confirm the scoring and answer-sheet rules with the provider.
Calculators are generally not permitted in Gaokao mathematics. Confirm with the provider whether any exception exists in your province before bringing one.
If you need to use the restroom during the test, raise your hand and wait for instructions. Extra time is generally not granted; confirm the provider's break and restroom policy.
Scoring and paper format can vary by province and year. Confirm the total score, time limit, and question format with your school or the official provider.