BEIJING - The 2012 national entrance examinations for postgraduate studies began on Saturday, with an estimated 1,656,000 people participating in the annual event, up 9.6 percent year-on-year.

Students check the testing room information at Shanghai Normal University on Jan 7, 2012. This year, the grad school admission examination sees a record number of 1.65 million students, 9.6 percent higher than the previous year. [Photo/Xinhua]

The examinations will last through Monday.

Ahead of the exams, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the State Administration for Industry and Commerce issued a joint circular demanding a crackdown on fraudulent activities and ensuring a safe environment for the examinations.

Stricter measures will be adopted to prevent high-tech-based fraud by those taking the test, while recruiters will have their credits recorded, according to the authorities.