Chinese police and education authorities have warned that any illegal activity related to the 2026 national college entrance examination, or gaokao, will be severely punished as authorities step up efforts to ensure exam security.

The Ministry of Public Security said on Friday that public security organs and education departments nationwide will maintain a zero-tolerance stance toward exam-related crimes and violations, in line with the arrangements of the inter-ministerial joint conference on national education examinations.

Authorities will strengthen coordination and tighten security measures for the 2026 gaokao, which will begin on Sunday, with a focus on cracking down on crimes such as organized cheating, examination impersonation, the sale or use of wireless cheating devices, and the spread of exam-related rumors, the ministry said.

Police and education authorities urged candidates to strictly follow exam rules, take the exam honestly and abide by the law. Any attempt to commit illegal acts related to the gaokao will be punished in accordance with laws and regulations, they said.

Under the rules on handling violations in national education examinations, candidates caught cheating may face penalties, including the cancellation of exam scores or suspension from future examinations. Under China's Criminal Law, those who organize cheating in the gaokao may face up to three years in prison or criminal detention, along with fines. In serious cases, they may face prison terms of three to seven years and fines.

Acts such as taking the examination on behalf of others, selling or using wireless cheating equipment, illegally producing or selling eavesdropping or secret filming devices, engaging in illegal business operations, and disrupting radio communications may also result in criminal liability.

Police have also intensified online patrols ahead of the exam. In a recent case in Yichun, Jiangxi province, police discovered videos claiming to show "leaked questions and answers" for the 2026 gaokao.

An investigation found that a man surnamed Kuang registered a short-video account in May and posted videos using images of so-called exam paper bags to create a false impression that he had access to real test papers. He allegedly attempted to sell each set for 2,000 yuan ($295). Local police have taken legal measures against Kuang and shut down his account.

Police said such scams often begin with false claims on shortvideo platforms, online forums or WeChat groups, offering "real questions" or "inside access" to attract anxious candidates and parents. Fraudsters then ask victims to transfer money privately, demand additional fees under various pretexts and typically block the victims after the exam.

Candidates and parents have been urged not to believe online claims about the sale of exam questions or answers and to report suspected illegal activities to public security authorities.

The Ministry of Education had earlier warned that some offenders may spread false gaokao-related information, create anxiety, carry out scams or lure candidates into cheating as the 2026 exam approaches. The ministry urged candidates and parents to remain vigilant, identify false information, take the exam honestly and guard against fraud.