China's Gaokao: Smart Glasses Banned to Fight Cheating

Chinese authorities are implementing enhanced security measures for the national university entrance examinations, known as the Gaokao, scheduled to begin on June 7, 2026. This year's exam will be taken by approximately 13 million students nationwide, all vying for limited university spots.

To combat cheating, particularly with advanced technology, education officials across multiple provinces have announced stricter protocols. Candidates wearing glasses will face additional screening before entering examination halls. These measures specifically target the use of smart glasses that may contain cameras, communication functions, or artificial intelligence tools.

Provinces like Guangdong and Shanghai are requiring students to remove their glasses for inspection. In the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, students who normally wear smart glasses must use ordinary prescription eyewear. These tightened checks reflect growing concerns over the increasing availability of wearable technology and its potential misuse in academic settings.

China has progressively reinforced its exam security systems, employing both electronic detection and manual inspections. Under current regulations, bringing any device capable of transmitting or receiving information into an exam venue is considered cheating, resulting in the cancellation of all test results for violators. The Ministry of Education has issued advisories reminding students of these rules, referencing past incidents of cheating involving mobile phones.