Braille gaokao papers fail to pass the test for blind man

The performance of the only blind candidate to take China's national college entrance examinations over the weekend has brought controversy to the annual battle of the brains.

Li Jinsheng, 46, a masseur, took the exam in Braille, in Queshan county in Henan province.

The exam, known as the gaokao, attracted nearly 9.4 million participants chasing 6.98 million places in universities and colleges this year.

Unlike most, Li handed in two blank papers and completed only a very small portion of two other exams even though his time was extended by up to 40 minutes.

He did not have the time to answer even one question during the Chinese and math exams as he spent almost all the time reading the exam rules.

Li's chance did not come easy.

Exam authorities spent nearly six months preparing test papers for blind candidates, said Jiang Gang, director of the exam center of the Ministry of Education.

"We need to provide disabled candidates with equal access to higher education," said Jiang.

Despite the blank papers, many still see the event as some kind of success. Li was the first blind person ever to take the college entrance exams.

Li asked for e-papers so that he would be able to take the exam questions on a computer, but was declined on the basis that technology was not allowed.

It was a disgrace to hand in blank papers, but it was a glory to help win the right for the blind, said Li.