(Yicai Global) June 7 -- A record 12.9 million students have registered this year to take China’s national college entrance examination, known as the gaokao, 980,000 more than last year, according to the education ministry.

The gaokao started today with the Chinese language test. The composition topics went viral on social media immediately after the exam.

Since 2003, the standardized college entrance test has been held between June 7 and 8, with some provincial-level regions extending that until June 9. In 2020, it was held in July because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Many provincial-level regions introduced new measures to ensure a smooth process, with various government departments cracking down on the sale of devices for cheating and surrogate exam-sitters.

Three candidates pose for a photo in front of a middle school gate in Beijing before taking the gaokao.

Students put their hands together to cheer themselves on before taking the first test in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province.

Test-sitters walk into a gaokao venue in Hefei, Anhui province.

A student takes a selfie with his father before entering a test center in Chongqing.

Relatives wait anxiously outside a test center in Nanjing.

Editor: Futura Costaglione