BEIJING -- A total of 2.38 million Chinese will sit the entrance exam for postgraduate studies from Dec 23 to 25, an increase of 370,000 people from the previous year's number, the Ministry of Education said Friday.

A national survey showed growing pressure in the job market was the major reason motivating more college graduates to pursue postgraduate studies.

A record 8.2 million college students are expected to graduate next year, facing greater challenges in job seeking.

The survey conducted by eol.cn found 53 percent of applicants to postgraduate studies paid greater attention to whether candidate majors could give them a competitive edge in finding jobs.