Beijing will introduce a "3+X"pattern for entrance examinations in the next spring session for college student recruits, announced the Beijing Education and Testing Institute Monday.

Eighteen Chinese provinces and cities have begun to implement the "3+X" examination plan, with the "3" standing for three main subjects including Chinese, mathematics and a foreign language (students can choose English, Russian or Japanese).

In addition to the three main subjects, students who apply for arts in college will take a comprehensive arts test, which will combine history, geography and politics; Those who apply for sciences will take a comprehensive science test which will includequestions on physics, chemistry and biology.

Universities in Beijing just started the spring admisssion of student recruits last year, bringing in more students recruits from outside Beijing. Twelve universities in Beijing will enroll about 3,000 students in 36 subjects in February next year.

(People's Daily December 11, 2001)