China’s National College Entrance Examination (Gaokao) Reveals Essay Prompts: Beijing Leads with 5

CNBC AI News – As the first day of China’s highly anticipated 2025 National College Entrance Examination (Gaokao) wraps up, the nation turns its collective attention to the ever-important subject: the essay portion of the Chinese language exam.

Notably, reports indicate that Beijing, the nation’s capital, presented its students with the most diverse selection of essay prompts, totaling five different options, accounting for a significant 60 points of the overall exam score.

The essay prompts are as follows:

21. Mini-Essays (10 points)

Choose one of the following three prompts and respond as required. The word limit is 150 characters. Do not disclose your district, school, or personal information.

(1) Your school’s traditional Chinese studies club is inviting a scholar to give a lecture titled “Ancient Philosophers on Self-Cultivation.” Write a promotional blurb for the club’s public WeChat account to encourage more students to attend.

Requirements: Use appropriate language and be persuasive.

(2) As Teacher’s Day approaches, your class is planning a gathering to award the teachers. Design an award. What award would you choose and why?

Requirements: State the award’s name and rationale clearly and logically.

(3) Write a short poem or a passage of emotive prose on the theme of “Lightness” (轻).

Requirements: Express genuine emotion in vivid and engaging language.

22. Essay (50 points)

Choose one of the following two prompts and respond as required. The word limit is at least 700 characters. Write the chosen title on your answer sheet. Do not disclose your district, school, or personal information.

(1) Distance runners often experience a “breaking point” during a race: difficulty breathing and weakened limbs. However, by adjusting pace and rekindling their determination, they can overcome this point and their bodies will revitalize, entering a new phase of running. This phenomenon is known as “second wind.” Similar occurrences exist in many fields.

Please write an argumentative essay titled: “Reflections on ‘Second Wind’.”

Requirements: Clear arguments, strong evidence, and logical reasoning; fluent language and neat handwriting.

(2) Numbers are constantly displayed in modern life, such as on scoreboards, countdown clocks, electronic timetables at train stations, and smart home device screens. The flashing of numbers can represent exciting moments, witness achievements, or be part of everyday happiness…

Please write a narrative essay titled: “When Numbers Flash”

Requirements: Sound perspective; comprehensive, detailed content; fluent language and neat handwriting.