Jia Wen, a soon-to-be graduate of the Capital University of Economics and Business, has been worried a lot recently -- not about job prospects, but about graduation.

Part of the sheet listing the grades of the "clearing exams". [Beijing Times]

He is one of 200 graduate students who failed the college's final "clearing exams", which was intended as the "last hope" for the students who have failed courses before graduation, reported Beijing Times Friday.

According to the university rules, any student failing one of the "clearing exams" has to pay 5,000 yuan to extend their academic records and stay behind for at a least a year before retaking the exam, regardless of the fact that one has an agreement with an employer or has enrolled as a post-graduate.

"In previous years, the so-called 'clearing exams' are a way for this particular school to save failing students. If you answer all the questions on the exam, the professors will let you pass," said Jia.

He brushed up on the course he failed - calculus - and wrote answers for every question, but still failed the course.

Many of these students complained they were victims to the university's unexpected tough attitude, claiming the institution turned blind eye to them over the past four years.

"We didn't know the school is getting so serious," said Jia, adding that most of the 200 students have landed a job, and some have even passed the post-graduate examinations.

He himself has landed a position in a government department, but now the start of his career is uncertain. "It took me enormous efforts to get the job, and I even signed a contract with them."

On Wednesday, Jia and other students appealed to school leaders for leniency, but with no results. "Most of us have given up," sighed Jia. "Those working in companies are seeking to pass with a fake certificate."

But Zhao Jialing, the university spokeswoman says the school is stepping up academic management, to be responsible for its students.

As the university has accepted more and more students, the quality of recruited ones kept falling over recent years, with some not paying any attention to discipline and study at all. The school's seriousness on 'clearing exams' is aimed to improve the teaching quality, Zhao explained.

"The teachers are not making things difficult for students. Those failing the exams should figure out the reason themselves, but the school will not change its policy on them," Zhao stressed.

Wang Xuming, spokesman for the Ministry of Education, said the ministry will not intervene since China runs an independent system for running post-secondary institutions.

"These institutions make their own decisions in academic management, examination arrangement, and graduation," he said.