Preparing for the Gaokao: Ma Li

Throughout the past year the BBC has been given access to one Shanghai school to see what it is really like preparing for China's big test - the Gaokao, the country's difficult college exam.

Zhabei Number 8 High School has almost 500 students, spread over three grades.

Ma Li, 18, fits the profile of a beleaguered final-year student toiling on the exam treadmill.

Hard working and bright, she regularly puts in an extra six hours at home at the end of a 10-hour school day.