The Gaokao is no ordinary test, and some may say it's a life-defining test for many young people.

So, we've spoken with a couple of gaokao scorers in Jilin province who did very well on the test this year, in hopes of discovering their secret to success.

Ma Cheng - Jilin's excellent gaokao scorer in arts

Ma is a graduate of the high school affiliated with Jilin University and got a 660 in gaokao, with 147 in math, 118 in Chinese, 145 in English 145, 250 in arts (politics, history and geology).

Preferred school: Peking University

Secret of success: Ma studies efficiently and finishes all her homework superbly and has made an effort to improve in her weak courses, always maintaining a positive attitude. Interests: Fiction such as Liu Cixin's “The Three-Body Problem", a sci-fi trilogy, and popular youth stories, and TV shows.

Mother and father: They offer opinions on certain things but leave Ma enough space to make her own decisions, and also teach her to be independent in life.

Her teacher: She's a happy girl, independent and mature, with a strong sense and ability in learning by herself. And she knows herself very well, meaning, she understands her strengths and weaknesses