With a mixed feeling of hope, excitement and anxiety, over 9 million students across the country sit the national college entrance exams, orgaokao, on Wednesday. What makes this year's exams even more memorable is that it is the 40th anniversary since they were resumed after the end of the "cultural revolution" (1966-76).

Since 1977 when China’s national college entrance exams, orgaokao, resumed, it has become the most crucial test for parents and children. Here we share some of the interesting facts about one of the world’s toughest tests

I. Lowest admission rate

In 1977, only around 270,000 were admitted out of the 5.7 million candidates.

II. Largest number of candidates

In 2008, 10.50 million registered for the exam. The number in 2007 was 10.10 million and in 2009 was 10.20 million.

III. Oldest candidate:

Wang Xia from Jiangsu proivince satgaokaofor the 15th time in 2015 at the age of 86.

IV. Most appearances:

Liang Shi from Sichuan province will attemptgaokaofor 21st time this year.

V. Top regions preferred by parents:

Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Hubei and Sichuan are the top 5 regions parents want their children to go for higher education.

VI. Top foreign universities preferred by parents:

Harvard, Oxford and Cambridge.

VII. Top majors preferred by parents:

Business administration, foreign language, electronics and information technology, computer science, automation, mechanical engineering, finance and economics, education, law, fine arts.