Grades and study results

Pupils must obtain a total of 144 credits in order to be able to leave high school:

• 116 credits for compulsory subjects;
• 28 credits for electives.

Each subject is comprised of modules requiring 36 hours of study, with each module being worth 2 credits. The modules making up the art and physical education and health subjects are only worth 1 credit each.

One hundred points can be obtained for each compulsory subject. Fewer points may be awarded for electives; this differs from province to province. The points are then converted into letters: A, B, C or D. Any score between 0 and 59 points is assigned a D, with D being 'unsatisfactory'.

General ability test

In 2002, the Ministry of Education decided to reform the curriculum. One of the decisions that was made was to gradually replace the final exam, the huikao exam, with a new test, the 学业水平考试 xueye shuiping kaoshi, which is usually translated into English as general ability test. Although the final exam is still often referred to as huikao.

By 2010, the system involving the general ability test had been rolled out nationwide. Each province offers several different types of examinations, e.g. the general ability basic huikao (学业水平测试, the 学业基础会考 xueye shuipin ceshi xueye jichu huikao) and, in Beijing alone, the modular test (模块考核 mokuai kaohe).

Students can choose to sit exams in the following subjects: Chinese, mathematics, a foreign language, politics, history, geography, physics, chemistry, biology, art/music/fine arts, physical education and health, practical technology and computer sciences.

In their current form, final exams are held twice annually. Students who excel can sit the exams early, in the 2nd year of senior middle school, except for the 3 compulsory subjects: Chinese, mathematics and a foreign language. Exams in these subjects can only be sat in the 3rd year of senior middle school. The results of the final exam are expressed as 'pass' (合格 hege) or 'fail' (不合格 buhege), or as a letter: A, B, C, D or E. D is the lowest possible score with which a student can successfully pass a subject, with E being 'unsatisfactory'.

The final exam administered in Jiangsu is the exception

The education reform was implemented in the province of Jiangsu starting from autumn 2005, but without the following:

• the 3 compulsory subjects (Chinese, mathematics and a foreign language);
• art/music/fine arts, physical education and health and practical activities.

Students sit the exams for the 3 compulsory subjects during the gaokao exam (高考), the national entrance examination for higher education. Students' performance in art/music/fine arts, physical education and health and practical activities is assessed separately in the comprehensive quality assessment (综合素质评价 zonghe suzhi pingjia).

Gaokao scores

In most provinces, the maximum overall score that can be obtained in the gaokao is 750 points. However, 2 provinces have lower maximum scores:

• Jiangsu (480 points);
• Shanghai (660 points).

Admission to bachelor's degree programmes

Higher-ranking universities require students to obtain 550 points or more in their gaokao exam in order to be admitted to a bachelor's degree programme. Admission score requirements may differ from year to year. Admission scores for zhuanke degree programmes are lower than the scores required for admission to bachelor's degree programmes. See also the overview of minimum gaokao score requirements for admission to higher education (2017-2020).

After completing a senior middle school programme, pupils obtain the documents below in Chinese, accompanied by an official translation.

• Senior middle school diploma (普通高中毕业证书 putong gaozhong biye zhengshu);
• the official results of the provincial examination (huikao/general ability test) issued by the Provincial Education Bureau;
• the grade list (3 years of senior middle school).

Please note: the layout of these documents varies from province to province.

Verification report

Students can also request a verification report (in Chinese or English) from the Center for Student Services and Development (CSSD) China Credential Verification. They can get a verification report for the Senior middle school graduation certificate verification report and/or the provincial exams verification report. The report will state all details verified by CSSD. These verification reports in PDF format can be checked for authenticity on the CSSD website, see: Check Your Report.

Higher education institutions use a 100-point system. China has no national credit system, meaning that the number of credits required for the completion of a bachelor’s programme can vary greatly between institutions, from around 130 to 240.

After completing a higher education programme, students obtain the documents below in Chinese, accompanied by an official translation.

Non degree programmes

After a zhuanke programme students obtain:

• a graduation certificate (毕业证书);
• a grade list;
• official translations.

Please note: until 2000, the layout of all higher education certificates was the same. The Ministry of Education supplied a fixed format. Since 2000, institutions are also allowed to use their own format, which is mainly done by the more prominent universities.

Degree programmes

After a bachelor's, master's or PhD programme students obtain:

• a graduation certificate (毕业证书);
• a degree certificate (学位证书);
• a grade list;
• official translations.

Please note: until 2000, the layout of all higher education certificates was the same. The Ministry of Education supplied a fixed format. Since 2000, institutions are also allowed to use their own format, which is mainly done by the more prominent universities.

Notarial deed

When checking documents from secondary and higher education, we often see notarial deeds instead of original documents.

In China, civil-law notary firms make copies of the original documents and attach a declaration from the firm (in Chinese and English) stating that the attached document is a true copy of the original, and including information on the general content of the original document.

Please note: this notarial deed does not replace the original document, and should be regarded as a certified copy.