Candidates wait outside the exam hall in Nanjing Forestry University, Jiangsu province, Nov 29. More than 1.39 million applicants signed up for 27,000 positions in national civil service exam this year. The vacancies hit record high while the average number of applicants vying for each position is the lowest in the past five years. This year will witness the strictest exam in history as those caught cheating face up to seven years in prison. [Photo/IC]