(Yicai Global) June 7 -- Three days of exams for university and college admissions in China, known as ‘gaokao,’ kicked off today. Some 11.93 million candidates registered, an increase of 1.15 million over last year, according to education ministry data.

A teacher high-fives a student outside an examination center in Beijing.

A student sporting a red mask with the slogan ‘I’ll Win in Gaokao,’ gives a ‘V’ for victory sign in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province.

A mother in Chinese dress looks on as her child enters an exam hall in the northern port city of Tianjin.

A student does some last minute cramming before taking the test in Xining, Qinghai province.

Parents take photos as their children head off to the national exam in Xiangyang, Hubei province.

Editors: Dou Shicong, Peter Thomas