Portraits of gaokao champions

Xing Qian. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Xing Qian, male, top scorer of Science in Anqing city of East China's Anhui province

Total: 690 points

Chinese: 124;

Maths: 143;

English: 140;

Physics, Chemistry and Biology: 283

Scoring 690 out of a total 750, Xing Qian, 18, owes his success to a considerate teacher and the accompaniment of his parents.

"I didn't estimate my points after the national college entrance examination or gaokao, because I thought I didn't do well in the tests, where some questions I have never met before," the 18-year-old boy said.

With Yang Zhenning, Nobel prize winner in physics, as his idol, Xing Qian has showed a great interest in physics since he began junior high school. "My physics is always my best subject in my senior high school," Xing said.

The top scorer feels thankful to his teacher's trust in him. After he did poorly during a test before the college entrance examination, he asked teacher Wang Shijie for help. Seeing the boy cry, Wang Shijie wiped the boy's tears and told him: "It is normal for you to get points not that ideal in the examinations sometimes. And you will certainly get your desired points as soon as you find why you failed to solve those questions."

The teacher's confidence in him made Xing feel being encouraged to try his best in solving every problem in every examination.

"A strong and systematic basic knowledge should be highlighted in our daily study, since I failed to solve some questions in relation to basic knowledge at the gaokao," Xing said.

Though born into an ordinary family, Xing felt he was very indebted to his parents, who studied English very hard and tried their best to talk with their son in English as often as possible, though once they were poor in English. "I have to thank my parents, since their endeavor made my English speaking ability improve," said the top scorer.

During gaokao, the annual national college entrance exam in China, most students are tested in four subjects, which are Chinese, English, Maths and liberal arts / science. The first three subjects each have a total score of 150 points and the fourth subject has a total score of 300 points. Students are given the liberty to choose to take the test of liberal arts or science.

As for the upcoming University life, Xing has his plans as well as worries. "I plan to take part in more club activities after class to develop my social ability and seek for opportunities to study abroad. At the same time, I am worried whether I can arrange my learning properly in the University," said Xing.

Like the other freshmen-would-be, Xing also chooses a travel with family members to spend the summer holiday. "I plan to travel with my mother, who spent almost all the time taking care of me during my three-year senior high school life," said the 18-year-old.