AI helps keep candidates safe, honest

As the 2025 gaokao, China's national college entrance exam, got underway on Saturday morning, a volunteer in Shenyang, Liaoning province, helped wheelchair-bound student Wang Zhenyu reach the test room safely by coordinating with police to open a green channel — a small gesture reflecting nationwide efforts to support examinees.

While students concentrate on doing their best, authorities have made every effort to ensure that the test is conducted safely and is fair for its 13.35 million test takers nationwide. In many places, artificial intelligence technology is introduced for this purpose.

In Benxi, Liaoning, every gaokao exam room is monitored by a real-time intelligent surveillance system that automatically flags irregular behavior — from whispers and frequent glances between students to inattentive proctors — to reinforce discipline and fairness.