Liang Shi, who is taking the gaokao for the 20th time, is busy preparing for it at a high school in Mianyang city, Sichuan province, June 4, 2016. [Photo/IC]

Famous test-taker, 49, has taken it 20 times

A familiar face appeared once more for this year's gaokao and this will be the 20th time for him to take this national exam.

He is Liang Shi, a native of Renshou county in Southwest China's Sichuan province, who began taking the annual gaokao exam in 1983 when he was 16.

He failed to be admitted by any colleges in the first attempt, but he has been trying his luck ever since. This year he sat alongside some 9.4 million other test-takers.

Liang said his dream course of study was with the mathematics department of Sichuan University. But this will be his last attempt.

"If I fail again, I will stop taking the exam," said Liang.