During the Ming and Qing dynasties the metropolitan exam was held every three years in the capital.
Tips
history
会试 was the third of four exam levels: 童试 → 乡试 (provincial) → 会试 (metropolitan) → 殿试 (palace). Passing 会试 earned the title 贡士, after which the palace exam ranked candidates as 进士.
memory
会 means 'to assemble' — the exam where scholars from all provinces assembled in the capital.
