Students who are disappointed with their gaokao result, or who did not get into the university or major they wanted, can sit the exam again the following year. Spending a year preparing for a second attempt is called 复读, and the students are known as 复读生.
Most students who repeat attend a dedicated repeat-year school or class. National policy has for years barred public senior high schools from enrolling repeat students, so many of these classes are run by private schools. Some students instead study independently at home.
The decision is harder than it looks. A second attempt does not guarantee a higher score: papers change, cohorts change, and the pressure of a second try is its own burden. Under the reformed gaokao, elective scores in many provinces are converted by ranking against the current year's candidates, so a candidate's result depends partly on who else is sitting the exam.
Practical changes can also catch repeat students out. Provinces adjust exam formats, and textbooks and syllabuses are revised from time to time. Repeat students should check that their elective subjects and registration details still fit the current rules, and register on time in the right place.
A good way to decide is to ask three honest questions. Was the disappointing result caused by something specific and fixable — illness on the day, a weak subject that can be rebuilt, poor time management — or does it reflect your current level? Is the gap between where you are and where you want to be realistic to close in a year? And do you have the support and emotional reserves for another year like the last?
If the answer is no, a good choice from the current results, followed by hard work at university, transfer options or later postgraduate exams, can lead to similar destinations. If the answer is yes, a repeat year can be a genuine second chance. Either way, the decision deserves a calm conversation with family and teachers once the first shock of the results has passed.