The University of Cambridge on Monday confirmed that China's gaokao, or the National College Entrance Examination, is regarded as a suitable preparation for Cambridge, in response to inquiries on whether it recognizes gaokao scores in a post on its official Sina Weibo account.
The inquiries poured in after reports said that the University of Cambridge announced it has started to accept China's gaokao scores for Chinese students wishing to apply for undergraduate study at the prestigious British university.
The university, however, said this is not something new, but a policy Cambridge has implemented for years.
According to application information on the university's website, successful applicants from China will usually have scores in the top 0.1 percent of those taking the gaokao in their province. Applicants' individual subject scores and scores in the huikao, or the Senior High School Examinations, will also be taken into account.
The reports have generated a lot of buzz online over the weekend. Netizens have broadly welcomed the move, saying this is a blessing for Chinese students who want to enter the university, though the bar is set high. It gives top Chinese students more choices and also shows that the gaokao is gaining more international acceptance.
The move makes Cambridge the 7th British university that recognizes China's college entrance examination, following the University of Birmingham, University of Leicester, University of Kent, University of Dundee, Queen's University Belfast and Cardiff University.
