Universities in more than 20 countries and regions now accepted Gaokao scores, and many of those schools are actively recruiting Chinese students. [File photo]

Stanley Nel, vice president of the University of San Francisco, says Gaokao provides them with an efficient way to evaluate students' capabilities.

"We think gaokao has many advantages. First, we look into mostly students who have achieved a score that's good enough to get into a tier one university. Second, obviously they've worked very hard because even if you're very smart, you're not going to get a good gaokao score without doing a lot of work."

Nel says Chinese students can now apply for admission with their Gaokao records, without taking the TOEFL or SAT exams.

"For the students who are applying through the Gaokao method, we look only at the Gaokao, and we test their English through an interview. They don't have to give us their high school records, or anything like that. They don't need to write letters or essays."

Six U.S. universities and at least 26 Australian universities now accept Chinese students' applications with their Gaokao scores.

High school graduates with outstanding Gaokao scores are also welcome among top universities in South Korea and Singapore.

Chinese applicants' Gaokao scores are a prerequisite for applying to some European universities too.