Inside the mind of a gaokao student in China before facing his result

China’s national university entrance exam, also known as gaokao, is one of the hardest and most competitive exams in the world. After finishing their tests, students must wait about two weeks for their results. While it is a time to finally relax after years of gruelling studies, there is lingering pressure about the future until their scores are revealed. Wu Yupu, a senior high school student in Shenzhen, aimed for a “second-tier” university in this year’s gaokao. As he waited for his results, Wu reflected on his feelings about self-worth as well as China’s education system.