The three-day post-graduate examination, which recently ended, attracted a record number of applications – 1.4 million – all of whom have now completed the examination.
Experts said the popularity of the exam this year reflects a sluggish job market which in turn reflects the global economic downturn.
Ge Xiaoling, professor of mechanics at East China University of Science and Technology in Shanghai put it colorfully: "When the economy is down, people hide in schools and wait till the world is warmer."
China.com said the candidates are competing for 465,000 seats, which means only one in three examinees would succeed.