The number of people signing up for the national postgraduate entrance exam next year is likely to reach a record high of more than 5.2 million, according to a new report released over the weekend.

According to the Ministry of Education, 4.57 million people signed up for the exam this year, up by 21 percent from last year.

The report, released by Beijing-based education company New Oriental Education and Technology Group, said the increase is mainly driven by the employment pressures and the difficulty and decreased willingness among students to pursue postgraduate studies at international universities.

Li Lin, a director of New Oriental's Learning and Development Center for College Students, said that the fact more people are willing to retake the exam repeatedly to improve employment prospects also pushes numbers up.

The continued increase in the number of applicants has driven up enrollment scores this year and is likely to lower the success rate for postgraduate studies next year, she said.

Based on a survey of the company's clients, Li said that while more than 70 percent of students prefer to study at more reputable universities for postgraduate studies, more are open to attend less famous universities if they gain admittance.