A student goes over exam materials at the last minutes before the national college entrance exam in Beijing, June 7, 2007. Starting Thursday, a record 10 million Chinese youngsters will sit for the two-day annual exam this year, vying for about half that number of university places. [Xinhua]

A mother prays behind a school gate as her child takes the national college entrance exams in Shanghai June 7, 2007. Starting Thursday, a record 10 million Chinese youngsters will sit for the two-day National College Entrance Exam this year, vying for about half that number of university places. [Reuters]

Parents wait for their children outside a school gate as students take the national college entrance exams in Beijing June 7, 2007. This year, a record 10 million Chinese youngsters will sit the two-day National College Entrance Exam, starting on Thursday, vying for about half that number of university places. [Reuters]

A student talks to her parents before she takes the National College Entrance Exam in northern China's Tianjin municipality June 7, 2007. This year, a record 10 million Chinese youngsters will sit the two-day National College Entrance Exam, starting on Thursday, vying for about half that number of university places. [Reuters]

Students step out of the test room after an exam of the national college entrance examination in Ning'er, Southwest China's Yunnan Province, which on Sunday morning was struck by an earthquake, June 7, 2007. All the 679 exam-taker in the quake-hit area took the exam Thursday. [Xinhua]

A taxi driver puts up a sign onto the car as he prepares to offer free drive for students to test spots of the national college entrance exam in Loudi, South China's Hunan Province, June 6, 2007. Starting Thursday, a record 10 million Chinese youngsters will sit for the two-day annual exam this year, vying for about half that number of university places. [newsphoto]

Policemen puts up signs onto motorcycles as they prepare to serve exam-takers for emergency in Jinan, East China's Shandong Province, June 6, 2007. Starting Thursday, a record 10 million Chinese youngsters will sit for the two-day annual exam this year, vying for about half that number of university places. [newsphoto]

Studetns flash victory signs as they step to the test room for the national college entrance exam in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu Province, June 7, 2007. Starting Thursday, a record 10 million Chinese youngsters will sit for the two-day annual exam this year, vying for about half that number of university places. [Xinhua]

A student prays for her upcoming national college entrance examination at a temple in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu province June 6, 2007. This year, a record 10 million Chinese youngsters will sit for the two-day National College Entrance Exam, starting on Thursday, vying for about half that number of university places. [Reuters]