Gaokao Glossary — Key Terms and Definitions

Gaokao (高考): The National College Entrance Examination of China, the most important examination for university admissions.

National College Entrance Examination: The formal English name for the Gaokao.

Province: Each Chinese province administers its own Gaokao with slightly different formats and score thresholds.

Liberal Arts Track (文科): Focuses on Politics, History, and Geography alongside Chinese, Mathematics, and English.

Science Track (理科): Focuses on Physics, Chemistry, and Biology alongside Chinese, Mathematics, and English.

New Reform (新高考): The reformed Gaokao system allowing student choice of subjects, adopted by provinces like Shanghai and Zhejiang.

3+3 Model: Three compulsory subjects (Chinese, Mathematics, English) plus three chosen subjects.

3+1+2 Model: Three compulsory subjects, one required from Physics/Biology, and two chosen from remaining subjects.

985 University: The top 39 elite universities in China, analogous to Ivy League institutions.

211 University: A broader group of approximately 100 universities designated as “Project 211” for development.

Double First-Class: China’s current initiative to develop world-class universities and disciplines.

Total Score: 750 in most provinces (660 in Shanghai).

Chinese (语文): 150 points, 150 minutes.

Mathematics (数学): 150 points, 120 minutes.

English (英语): 150 points, 120 minutes.

Comprehensive Liberal Arts: 300 points, 150 minutes — covering Politics, History, Geography.

Comprehensive Science: 300 points, 150 minutes — covering Physics, Chemistry, Biology.

Multiple-Choice Questions: Select one correct answer from four options, typically 5 points each.

Fill-in-the-Blank Questions: Provide a specific answer, typically 5 points each.

Free-Response Questions: Require showing complete working and logical reasoning, typically 10–15 points each.

Essay (作文): 60 points in Chinese, requiring 800+ characters on a given prompt.

Provincial Score Thresholds: Minimum scores for university entry vary by province, university, and year.

Sets and Logic: Set operations, logical connectives, and quantifiers.

Functions: Domain, range, monotonicity, parity, and composition.

Exponential and Logarithmic Functions: Properties, equations, and inequalities.

Trigonometric Functions: Identities, graphs, and applications.

Sequences and Series: Arithmetic and geometric sequences, summation formulas.

Inequalities: AM-GM inequality, Cauchy-Schwarz inequality, and methods for solving.

Plane Analytic Geometry: Lines, circles, ellipses, hyperbolas, and parabolas.

Solid Geometry: Volumes, surface areas, and spatial relationships.

Probability and Statistics: Classical probability, conditional probability, and statistical measures.

Derivatives and Applications: Differentiation rules, optimization, and curve sketching.

Kinematics: Motion in one and two dimensions, projectile motion, relative motion.

Newton’s Laws: Force analysis, friction, connected systems.

Work, Energy, and Power: Kinetic energy theorem, potential energy, conservation of energy.

Momentum: Impulse, conservation of momentum, collisions.

Circular Motion and Gravitation: Centripetal force, satellite motion, Kepler’s laws.

Oscillations and Waves: Simple harmonic motion, wave properties, superposition.

Electrostatics: Coulomb’s law, electric fields, electric potential.

Circuits: Ohm’s law, Kirchhoff’s laws, AC circuits.

Magnetism: Magnetic fields, Lorentz force, electromagnetic induction.

Modern Physics: Photoelectric effect, atomic models, nuclear physics.

Stoichiometry: Mole concept, limiting reagents, yield calculations.

Chemical Equilibrium: Le Chatelier’s principle, equilibrium constants, reaction quotients.

Acids and Bases: pH calculations, buffer solutions, titration.

Thermochemistry: Enthalpy, Hess’s law, bond energies.

Electrochemistry: Galvanic cells, electrolysis, Nernst equation.

Inorganic Chemistry: Periodic trends, coordination compounds, qualitative analysis.

Organic Chemistry: Functional groups, reaction mechanisms, nomenclature.

Chemical Experiments: Laboratory procedures, apparatus, and safety.

Ionic Equations: Equations showing only the species that participate in a reaction.

Redox Reactions: Oxidation-reduction reactions involving electron transfer.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding passages and answering inference, detail, and vocabulary questions.

Cloze (完形填空): Choosing correct words/phrases to complete a passage based on context.

Grammar and Usage: Tenses, voice, subject-verb agreement, pronoun reference, sentence structure.

Writing (书面表达): Composing letters, essays, or notices based on prompts.

Listening Comprehension: Understanding spoken English in some provinces.

Vocabulary: The Gaokao tests approximately 3,500+ English words.

Translation: Converting Chinese text to English or vice versa.

Modern Reading Comprehension (现代文阅读): Understanding and analysing literary and non-fiction texts.

Classical Chinese (文言文阅读): Translating and comprehending classical Chinese passages.

Poetry Appreciation (古代诗歌鉴赏): Analysing classical Chinese poetry for meaning, technique, and emotion.

Language Use (语言文字运用): Idioms, sentence correction, compression, and rhetoric.

Writing (写作): Composing argumentative or narrative essays (typically 800+ characters).

Classical Chinese: Literary Chinese used in ancient texts, distinct from modern Mandarin.

Idioms (成语): Fixed four-character expressions with specific meanings.

Rhetoric (修辞): Literary devices and persuasive techniques.

Past Papers: Previous Gaokao examinations, the most important preparation resource.

Mock Exam (模考): Practice exams simulating real Gaokao conditions.

Timed Practice: Completing questions under real time constraints.

Formula Sheet: Compilation of key formulas for quick reference.

Revision Notes: Concise summaries of key concepts.

Flashcards: Study cards for memorizing facts and formulas.

Study Plan: Structured schedule covering all subjects systematically.

Pomodoro Technique: 25-minute focused work sessions with 5-minute breaks.

Weak Area Targeting: Focusing extra time on subjects/topics with lowest scores.

9-8-7 Rule: A study strategy — 9 hours sleep, 8 hours study, 7 meals (regular eating).

• See University Mathematics Glossary for deeper mathematics
• See University Physics Glossary for deeper physics
• See University Chemistry Glossary for deeper chemistry
• See University Admissions Glossary for international university applications
• See SAT Glossary for comparison with US admissions testing