 As in earlier periods , the focus of the examination was classical Confucian texts , while the bulk of test material centered on the Four Books outlined by Zhu Xi in the 12th century . Ming era examinations were perhaps more difficult to pass since the 1487 requirement of completing the " eight @-@ legged essay " , a departure from basing essays off progressing literary trends . The exams increased in difficulty as the student progressed from the local level , and appropriate titles were accordingly awarded successful applicants . Officials were classified in nine hierarchic grades , each grade divided into two degrees , with ranging salaries ( nominally paid in <unk> of rice ) according to their rank . While provincial graduates who were appointed to office were immediately assigned to low @-@ ranking posts like the county graduates , those who passed the palace examination were awarded a jinshi ( ' presented scholar ' ) degree and assured a high @-@ level position . In 276 years of Ming rule and ninety palace examinations , the number of doctoral degrees granted by passing the palace examinations was 24 @,@ 874 . Ebrey states that " there were only two to four thousand of these jinshi at any given time , on the order of one out of 10 @,@ 000 adult males . " This was in comparison to the 100 @,@ 000 <unk> ( ' government students ' ) , the lowest tier of graduates , by the 16th century . 
