October 24 marks the last day for registering for the 2025 National Public Service Examination, with the registration period spanning ten days. This time, a record number of 39,700 positions are available, setting a new historical high for recruitment. As the registration nears its conclusion, interest is surging, with some popular positions attracting over ten thousand applicants.
According to statistics, since registration began on October 15, more than 2.66 million candidates have registered by the evening of October 23, with over 2.1 million passing the qualification review.
Among the ten positions with the highest number of applicants, each has seen registrations exceeding 2,700, while the most sought-after position alone has surpassed 11,000 applications. Observers noted that as early as the third day of registration, a “thousand applicants for one position” phenomenon was already evident. Now, on the verge of closure, certain positions are drawing tens of thousands of applicants.
For instance, the position of “Primary Staff Member at the Liaison Department of the China Vocational Education Society,” which has only one vacancy, has already seen 7,787 applicants pass the review, while an additional 4,102 are still under review—resulting in a staggering ratio of 11,889 applicants for a single position. This role attracts a wide range of candidates, requiring qualifications across nine disciplines including philosophy, economics, law, education, literature, history, natural sciences, engineering, and management, with a minimum educational requirement of a bachelor’s degree.
In previous years, similar positions have also attracted overwhelming competition. Last year, the most sought-after position had an applicant-to-position ratio exceeding 3,500:1. The 2023 exam saw this ratio near 6,000:1 just half an hour before registration closed, and in 2022, there was a position with nearly 20,000 applicants vying for a single spot.
Liu Youzhen, an expert from Huatu Education Research Institute, explained that these highly competitive positions typically have fewer restrictions and lower barriers to entry. “The more flexible the application criteria, the more applicants there are. Some candidates also approach this with a ‘give it a try’ mentality, simply hoping to qualify and take the exam,” Liu remarked. Each year, popular positions seem to emerge haphazardly, but they often share traits like minimal application restrictions. Candidates are encouraged to assess their own qualifications carefully and seize the opportunity to apply.
Interestingly, while many positions are experiencing a surge in applications, there are still numerous positions that remain relatively ignored. As of October 23, almost 300 positions still had no applicants at all.
For those interested, the online registration closes at 6 PM on October 24, with qualification reviews continuing until 6 PM on October 26. Before this deadline, candidates can check their review results on the official website. Once qualified, applicants are not permitted to apply for additional positions. However, those who have not yet been reviewed or who did not pass the review can change their applications until the deadline.
Qualified candidates will be able to confirm their registration and pay fees online from November 1 at midnight until November 6 at midnight. Successful registrants can print their examination admission tickets between November 25 and December 1.
The public service examination will be conducted on December 1, with the Administrative Ability Test taking place from 9 AM to 11 AM, followed by the Essay Test in the afternoon from 2 PM to 5 PM. For eight specialized language positions, language proficiency tests are scheduled for November 30 from 2 PM to 4 PM. Positions within the Financial Regulatory Bureau and its branches, as well as the China Securities Regulatory Commission and local police positions, will also have their specialized testing on November 30 from 2 PM to 4 PM.
