To help students tackle China’s all-important gaokao exams, McDonald’s is launching two key campaigns this June: an all-day breakfast event and a free breakfast program designed to fuel both body and mind—plus a warm wish for full marks with every McMuffin.
During the exam period, over 7,000 McDonald’s locations across China will serve the Sausage and Egg McMuffin and hash browns all day, breaking the usual breakfast-time limits. This popular combo, long favored by students, takes on extra meaning this year. The Chinese name for McMuffin, Mai Man Fen, sounds like “full marks,” turning it into a symbol of good luck. The McMuffin also gets a limited-edition wrapper themed around the “admission letter,” reinforcing the hope that students will get into their dream schools. It’s more than a meal—it’s a meaningful ritual before the big test.
From June 7 to 9, before 8:30 a.m., test takers from Guangdong, Hunan, and Fujian provinces can visit designated McDonald’s restaurants to get a free “Wish You Full Marks—Double Fries” set. Restaurants near exam sites will offer fast-track lanes where students can skip the line by showing their admission ticket—helping them grab food quickly and stay focused. McDonald’s is also providing free black tea and quiet resting spaces for students and parents. In some locations, an interactive “McSound Mailbox” lets customers record encouraging messages to send warm wishes to test-takers nationwide.
Beyond that, McDonald’s has turned campus locations at 12 top universities—including Tsinghua and Shanghai Jiao Tong—into “Gaokao Support Hubs.” These spots feature photo walls and “Top Scorer Gates,” where current students write personal messages to cheer on younger classmates, passing along a “full-score mindset.” By stepping into the gaokao season, McDonald’s shows it’s more than a quick stop—it’s a partner in students’ growth, blending energy boosts with real encouragement.