After the completion of the English exam of China's national postgraduate admission test on Saturday afternoon, two words that featured – "rural" and "debate" – quickly trended on social media.

Hashtags "What is the meaning of 'debate' and 'rural'" and "The English section is so difficult" have received over three million views, with tens of thousands discussing the test.  

"As an invigilator this year, I felt so lucky when looking at the test since I graduated from the postgrad school and did not need to take such a test," wrote social media user @Falirenxinxianshier.

One sentence showing up in the writing section seems to have stumped many students. It said, "I am greatly pleased to receive your letter and I am writing to you to express my sincere hope that I can offer you some details about the project of Aiding Rural Primary School." 

"I thought 'rural' meant 'royal' in that sentence," one student confessed. "Thus I guessed it asked me to write a letter to volunteers on the behalf of a private school."

Another writing task also challenged students this year.

"Suppose Professor Smith asks you to plan a debate on the theme of city traffic, write an email to him. Suggest a topic with your reasons and arrangement," the task said.

"The word 'debt' and 'debate' always make me confused," @Wuyanyushangzhonglecibupi wrote on Weibo, "I thought it asked me to write a loan plan for urban transportation development!"

I spelt the word "persistence" as "presistence," @Jiayoua commented.  

One user counseled students not to despair. "It is too early to give up now. Trust me, the result will be so much better than you thought!", wrote @Xuaitibfdy who said he passed the exam last year.

The postgraduate admission test was held from December 22 to 24. The number of candidates sitting China's national postgraduate entrance exam this year reached a record 2.9 million, increasing by 520,000 over last year.