Wang Xia, a retired physician, got around one-fifth of the total 750 marks in the three-day exam on July 7-9, according to the scores published yesterday by the provincial education committee.
Wang got low scores in mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology, but did well in Chinese and English.
The senior citizen can still recite the sonnets of Shakespeare and lines from Hamlet, which he learnt half a century ago.
The Internal Medicine Department of Nanjing Medical University, which Wang is applying for, said the 72-year-old could be admitted as an exception this year.
Wang is today doing mathematical exercises despite Nanjing's heat wave, where indoor temperatures are as high as 38 C.
"I study five hours everyday and feel confident I will succeed next year," said Wang.
Wang is among 10 candidates aged over 60 sitting this year's national exam, since the Education Ministry of China relaxed its age restrictions on candidates this April.
Previously candidates had to be unmarried and under the age of 25, according to regulations effective to 2000.
Wang secretly registered for the exam on May 15, escaping the notice of his family, but was caught by dozens of journalists waiting for the results at the registration office.
Wang has passed the entrance exam three times, in 1954, 1955 and 1956. Unfortunately, he never realized his dream of going to university because his employers refused to release him for higher education.
"I hope one day to offer free medical services to my community after graduation," said Wang.
(China Daily 07/27/2001)
