The national college entrance exam, or gaokao, got underway on Sunday with millions of Chinese students appearing for it, while their parents gathered outside examination venues in quiet support.

Rather than being fretful and anxious, most parents were the very picture of calm — a sure sign that the long-held belief that the gaokao alone determines a child's future is becoming history.

A total of 12.9 million candidates are taking this year's exam, which can stretch over two to four days, depending on the region. According to the Ministry of Education, authorities have put candidates first by strengthening comprehensive support in transportation, accommodation, food safety, noise control and psychological counseling, to ensure a safe and orderly exam process.

On Sunday, many parents arrived at the examination centers well ahead of time. Fu Jing, a Beijing mother of an art student, showed up an hour before the exam began.

Fu noted that she had made no special changes to her daughter's diet or daily routines in the run-up to the exam to keep things as normal as possible. She planned to leave the venue once the exam started and return at noon, rather than wait for the entire duration of the test.

Liu Jinqiao, another Beijing mother, admitted feeling a bit nervous but remained composed.

She said that she has set no specific targets for her son as far as scores or universities were concerned. She felt that such decisions could wait till the exams were over. For her, the gaokao is a milestone in every child's life, but it is not a decisive turning point.

Not all parents, however, were keen to downplay the exam's significance. Lu Qiang, the father of a Beijing sports student, said the gaokao still carries great weight. He said that his son hoped to get into a good sports college, which also emphasized solid academic performance.

Lu noted that competition remained fierce, and doing well in the exam could help young people better chart their future path.

Lin Hong, a Beijing mother, recalled her own gaokao in 1997, when her father traveled a long distance to bring her homemade food. Now as a parent herself, she feels that showing care is more about following her daughter's lead. So the family skipped exaggerated exam rituals and maintained a relaxed atmosphere instead.

She is proud of how brave and self-aware her daughter has become.

"I've watched her strive relentlessly for her goal over the past three years," Lin said. "She has learned to recognize her strengths and weaknesses, set goals and make plans, and push forward through hardships. That kind of growth means far more than any exam score," Lin added.

Cheng Lu, a teacher in Qingdao, Shandong province, said that the gaokao marks a culmination of years of study and a true test of perseverance and self-discipline, but it can never define one's life. She values her son's curiosity, independent learning ability and upbeat personality far more than high scores.

"I want my son to know that no matter how important a day is, the sun rises and sets as usual," she said. "Life is a long journey — feel it, experience it and live it to the fullest."