BEIJING -- China has adopted a series of measures to better prepare for the annual college entrance exam and boost the employment of graduates amid the coronavirus epidemic, according to the Ministry of Education (MOE) Tuesday.

Preparations are being carried out in an orderly manner for the national college entrance exam scheduled for July 7 and 8, including epidemic control, said Wang Hui, an official with the MOE.

A total of 10.71 million people have applied to sit the exam this year, Wang said, adding that high school senior students have resumed classes across the country.

Given the impact of the coronavirus epidemic on the economy, various measures have been taken by authorities to facilitate the employment of college graduates, whose number will reach a record high of 8.74 million this year, according to Wang.

The MOE has planned to expand the enrollment of postgraduate and degree top-up programs and create more jobs in education, research, primary-level healthcare and social service sectors.

In collaboration with several job-hunting websites, the MOE has also put up job opportunities online to further facilitate employment.