How does Gaokao differ from European or Indian exams?

When Gaokao is brought up, I often see it in contrast to American way of admission to universities. But I never see it brought up in contrast to European/Indian exams, and I felt that they're quite similar - you are supposed to study for it through your entire high school, and the scores determine what uni - if any - can you go to. It feels it's very exoticized in USA, while for me a Pole it "just" looks like harder equivalent of our high school exams.

I didn't know where I could ask this, and HN felt like best place.