Among the 1.49 million candidates qualified to take the 2017 Chinese National Civil Service Examination (NCSE), only 86.58% of them actually took it.

That means over half a million decided against taking the examination, according to statistics released by the State Administration for the Civil Service on Monday.

As a result, it's estimated that the possibility of passing the exam has increased, with one in 36 expected to land a civil service job, compared to the original figure of 1 in 55.

This is not the first time qualified candidates have given up on the exam. In 2013, more than 380,000 qualified candidates did it. And according to Chinanews.com, the number is growing year on year.

"Although the number of candidates giving up on the exam this year is huge, it is not abnormal", explains Wei Huagang, a civil service training exam expert with the Huatu Hongyang Corp.,Ltd.

Some test-takers this year said they found some aspects of it challenging, with the appearance of hot contemporary words such as Spacecraft, Artificial Intelligence and Yutu Lunar Rover in the Administrative Aptitude Test, part of NCSE.

In 2017, over 120 central state organs and affiliated departments will open for enrollment, with more than 27,000 job positions provided.

The scores for the recent NCSE examination round, simultaneously held at over 900 testing sites nationwide last weekend, will be released in mid-January. Cut off scores and interviewees lists will also be released.

Those who pass the exam, interview, health checkup and examination of their life and personality will be able to go to their institutions for registration in May or June of 2017.