Gaokao Exam Essay Writing Prompts and Analysis 2

Question 1

In the Gaokao Chinese essay (作文), what does '立意' (lìyì) refer to?

Accepted Answer

Determining and establishing the central thesis or argument of the essay

Answer

'立意' means 'establishing the essay's central meaning/thesis' — it is the process of determining what core idea, argument, or value the essay will express. It is considered the most important aspect of Gaokao essay writing.

Question 2

The 2023 Gaokao National Paper I essay prompt involved 'good with technology' (技术好的人). What type of essay prompt structure is this?

Accepted Answer

Material-based argumentative essay (材料作文)

Answer

Modern Gaokao essay prompts are almost exclusively '材料作文' (material-based): the student is given a text/scenario and must write an argumentative essay based on it, rather than freely chosen topics.

Question 3

In Gaokao essay scoring, which criterion is weighted most heavily?

Accepted Answer

Content (内容) including the depth and clarity of the central argument

Answer

Gaokao essay grading prioritizes content (内容) — the quality, depth, and clarity of the central argument — as the most heavily weighted criterion. Language and structure are also important but secondary to having a strong, clear thesis.

Question 4

What is the recommended minimum word count for the Gaokao Chinese essay?

Accepted Answer

800 characters (字)

Answer

The Gaokao Chinese essay requires a minimum of 800 Chinese characters (字). Essays significantly below this threshold are penalized.

Question 5

Which structural pattern is most commonly recommended for Gaokao argumentative essays?

Accepted Answer

Introduction (引论) → Body with multiple argument points (本论) → Conclusion (结论)

Answer

Chinese argumentative essays (议论文) follow a three-part structure: 引论 (introduction/establishing the thesis), 本论 (body with supporting arguments and evidence), and 结论 (conclusion/restatement). This mirrors Western essay structure but with Chinese-specific conventions.

Gaokao Exam Practice Test

Gaokao Exam Practice Test

Gaokao Exam Essay Writing Prompts and Analysis 2