A total of 15,627 people have sat for the Chinese Proficiency Test (HSK) in Indonesia this year, reaching a record high, China News reported on Nov. 3.

The number of participants saw a sharp rise in recent years. In 2001, only 1,200 people sat for the exam, while the figure has exceeded 15,000 this year. Students that successfully pass the Chinese Proficiency Test Level-4 will be awarded a Confucius Institute Scholarship for study in China.

In order to meet Indonesian students’ growing demand for the exam, the country has set up 20 testing centers across the country and holds at least three exams each year.