China's national college entrance examination has been postponed to July 7-8 due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Ministry of Education announced on Tuesday.

This is the first time in 17 years that China has adjusted the date of the college entrance examination.

According to the announcement, standard Chinese language and mathematics tests will be on July 7, which are mandatory exams for all students. 

On the morning of July 8, students would either take the test for social sciences (history, political science and geography) or natural sciences (physics, chemistry and biology), depending on their high-school subjects. Foreign language shall be the final subject.

Further arrangements will be announced to the public later.

The examination postponement could be regarded as an adjustment due to the coronavirus outbreak, said Li Jiasheng, a senior high school teacher at Beijing No.4 High School, the Paper reported. 

"It gives us more time to make up for the suspension of classes due to the outbreak."