In the summer of 2024, Liu declined an offer from Fudan University in Shanghai to pursue her dream of attending Tsinghua University. However, she didn't achieve the required score for admission to the Beijing institution.
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Liu Xiajun won gold and silver medals at the 2023 Asian U20 Athletics Championships. Photo: QQ.com |
Liu Xiajun won gold and silver medals at the 2023 Asian U20 Athletics Championships. Photo: QQ.com
Liu, from Ziyang City, Sichuan Province, retook the national college entrance exam (gaokao) earlier this month. The 19-year-old scored 462 points, qualifying her for top universities in China.
"I was so surprised when I received the result and asked the teacher if there was a mistake," Liu said. "I believe the most important factor in achieving this result is perseverance. Even though the pressure of retaking the exam was immense, you can't think about giving up. I'm very grateful to my teachers, family, and friends who have always supported me throughout this journey, but above all, I'm grateful for my own resilience."
Liu also excels outside academics. She won a gold medal in the women's 4x100m relay at the 2023 Asian U20 Athletics Championships in South Korea and a silver medal in an individual event. Her best 100m time in 2025 is 11.55 seconds, achieved at a local competition in April.
According to the South China Morning Post, Liu was still training the day before the gaokao began.
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Liu Xiajun trained the day before the Chinese university entrance exam. Photo: CCTV |
Liu Xiajun trained the day before the Chinese university entrance exam. Photo: CCTV
The gaokao, held from 7/6 to 10/6 this year, is considered the most important exam for Chinese students. This challenging exam can determine their future, as the scores largely decide whether they can attend university, which university they can attend, and what field of study they can pursue.
In China, high-level athletes need an average score of only 158 to be admitted to university. In most provinces, the maximum gaokao score is 750, a score achieved by a student named He Biyu in 2000 at the age of 14. She later attended Tsinghua University. The admission score for Tsinghua University varies between 650 and 676 depending on the program.
Hong Duy (South China Morning Post)
