Naran took tutoring classes in Hohhot for half a year, when she got up at 5 am and studied until about midnight every day. She tried not to waste any time.

After the epidemic broke out this year, Naran prepared for the gaokao with her son at home for months and walked into the exam room in July.

Naran was too stressed to check her own score when the results were released. "I was afraid I messed up the exam," she said. Luckily, her efforts didn't fail her.

"When I learned I got a score of 404, I couldn't help jumping with joy," Naran recalled. "I've been texting and calling relatives and friends all night."

On Aug 17, she was admitted as a tourism management major at the Inner Mongolia University of Finance and Economics.

"My mom was incredibly hardworking. Her diligence motivated me to become the top scorer in science (courses in Mongolian) in Ulaanqab. My mother and I will study at different universities in the same city. I'm very proud of her," Tulga said.

Tulga scored 520 in the gaokao and will study physics at Inner Mongolia University.

Some people voiced doubt about whether Naran would really attend the university after being admitted. She said the answer is definitely a yes.

"Sitting gaokao and going to university has always been my dream," Naran said. "If possible, I'm planning to earn a doctorate," she added.