BEIJING, June 1 -- A record-high of 9.5 million students will be sitting in China's annual autumn college entrance exam next week, Xinhua news agency reported. About 70 percent of the candidates have just graduated from high school.

    The Ministry of Education enhanced its punishments yesterday for anyone who attempts to cheat on the exam or uses false information while registering, Beijing Times reported.

    The national college entrance exam board warned students that "answer books," which allegedly predict exam papers, are fraudulent and should not be used. Entrance exam papers are strictly confidential and any insider who divulges its contents is subject to a seven-year jail term, according to the Criminal Law, the board said.

    The board previously adopted a system that records all of the candidates' behaviors during the exam. It then forwards each candidate's outcome to relevant universities as a prerequisite for enrollment.

    Last year, nearly 1,700 candidates failed to enter college due to a breach of the examination rules. If these students register for the coming exam their bad record will be transferred onto this year's new records, the report said.

    The ministry will also provide new services to protect candidates' rights, by providing accessible information consulting centers to candidates living in small counties or villages, as well as an online consultation system. It will also solve enrollment disputes through arbitration.

    (Source: Shanghai Daily)