Chinese students step on balloons to vent stress during an activity before the annual National College Entrance Exam at a senior high school in Yangzhou, East China's Jiangsu province on May 28, 2010.[Photo/IC]
Next week, millions of China's high school seniors will take the National College Entrance Exam - also known as gaokao. The exam, which will have profound implications for a student's future career, is known to be extraordinarily difficult as each student has to compete with millions of his or her peers.
Under tremendous pressure from family and school to stand out in the test, many students have turned to unorthodox methods to relieve their stress.
Students throw confetti to vent stress during an activity before the annual National College Entrance Exam at a senior high school in Yangzhou, East China's Jiangsu province on May 28, 2010. [Photo/IC]
High school seniors throw water balloons ahead of gaokao in Taizhou, East China's Zhejiang province on May 20, 2010.[Photo/IC]
Student punches a sandbag doll to relieve stress at high school in Hefei, East China's Anhui province on May 27, 2016. [Photo/IC]
Students toss and throw paper to relieve pressure at a high school in Yangzhou, East China's Jiangsu province on May 23, 2011. [Photo/IC]
A boy practices boxing at a school in Ganyu, East China's Jiangsu province to boost his confidence ahead of the exam on May 30, 2014. [Photo/IC]
High school seniors play a "water splashing" game ahead of gaokao in Taizhou, East China's Zhejiang province on May 20, 2010. [Photo/IC]