Applications for China's postgraduate studies exam down 7.6%

The number of applicants for China's postgraduate studies entrance exam has fallen by 7.6 percent, the first drop in nine years, figures from the Ministry of Education show.

In a circular highlighting security measures taken ahead of the exam, which will be held from Dec 23 to 25, it said 4.38 million applicants had registered. The number last year was 4.74 million.

The number of applicants for the exam had been increasing steadily since 2016, with an average growth rate of 15.8 percent a year from 2015 to 2022.