In Shenzhen, the Gaokao, or National College Entrance Examination, is a critical milestone for high school students aiming to secure admission to universities. The Gaokao consists of multiple-choice questions and essay responses, and students are awarded points based on their performance. A score of 400 points in Shenzhen's Gaokao is considered relatively low. According to data from the Shenzhen Education Bureau, the average Gaokao score in 2020 was around 580 points, with the highest score being 750. This indicates that a score of 400 is significantly below the average and would likely place a student in the lower percentile of candidates. The difficulty of the exam and the level of competition can vary each year, but historically, a score of 400 would not be sufficient to gain admission to most universities in Shenzhen.