Four high school headmasters will be able to recommend graduates to Peking University without the need for entrance exams, the Beijing Times reported yesterday.

The four schools are the Renmin University of China High School, Peking University High School, Beijing Normal University High School, and Beijing No 4 High School.

Previously, all students must pass college entrance exams to get into university.

Nominations from high school headmasters are hoped to encourage comprehensive qualities rather than just scores. More than 400 high schools in the country applied for the right but only 39 were approved, including four in Beijing.