Foreign students navigate challenges of yanggaokao

Over 200 foreign students from Tongji University's International School in Shanghai sat a rigorous final exam over the weekend, a crucial step on the path to receiving a Chinese government scholarship.

The exam, nicknamed yanggaokao or "foreigner college entrance exam", assesses the students' progress after a year of preparatory coursework at the school. Passing is a prerequisite for continuing their studies in China on the scholarship program established by the Ministry of Education.

The exam format mirrors China's national college entrance exams, or gaokao. Students tackled subjects such as Chinese language, mathematics, physics and chemistry, all delivered in Mandarin on computer. A listening test further evaluated their language proficiency.