A record 55,772 people - representing 93 percent of the total registered test-takers - have taken part in the national civil service examination of China since December.

The Ministry of Personnel (MOP) said many candidates already held bachelor degrees or higher.

One of the key aspects arising from the examinations is that "the higher diplomas the examinees have, the better marks they have in their exams," ministry officials said.

Those having doctorates or master's degrees usually obtained higher marks in the exams than those holding only bachelor degrees. And the average marks of women test-takers are higher than those of men.

Officials said 20 percent more participants took the exam this year than in the previous year, indicating increasing numbers of young people were vying to serve in the government after university.

The ministry hopes to fill this year's 4,800 low-ranking government positions through the examination.

Of those successful in the exams, 1,700 are expected to be civil servants in Beijing-based State organs, while the rest will work for agencies of the ministries or State organs outside Beijing.

Altogether, 103 departments will benefit from the record intake.

The majority of examinees, 82 to 93 percent of the total, are college graduates under the age of 35 with a college degree or better.

(China Daily January 15, 2002)