But a few years since, there were five thousand of the highest rank, and twenty-seven thousand of the second rank, who had not received employment.
The subjects upon which the candidates are examined, and the methods of these examinations, are thus described in the Shanghae Almanac (1852).[11] The examinations for the degree of Keujin (or licentiate) takes place at the principal city of each province once in three years.

The average number of bachelors in the large province of Keang-Nan (which contains seventy millions of inhabitants) is twenty thousand, out of whom only about two hundred succeed.

Sixty-five mandarins are deputed for this examination, besides subordinate officials.

The two chief examiners are sent from Pekin.

When the candidates enter the examination hall they are searched for books or manuscripts, which might assist them in writing their essays.