A total of 3.43 million candidates have signed up for China's 2026 national postgraduate entrance exams, which are scheduled for Dec 20 and 21 of this year, the Ministry of Education said on Monday.

Relevant authorities have been mobilized to ensure the integrity of the exams and the welfare of participants, the ministry said.

A video conference on exam security was recently held by the ministry and units of the inter-ministerial joint conference for national education exams, at which it was concluded that national postgraduate entrance exams are a significant element of the country's education system, and that all relevant bodies must take on board their responsibilities and potential challenges.

The meeting outlined key tasks, including ensuring the confidentiality and quality of exam papers through comprehensive risk checks and monitoring.

Additional measures involve cracking down on cheating and creating a positive test environment. The meeting also highlighted the importance of clear policy communication and providing services which take into consideration the needs of candidates.