A total of 120 thousand high-school graduates in the quake regions of Sichuan and neighboring Gansu Province started their three day national college entrance exam on Thursday.

The exam, delayed about a month due to the May 12 earthquake, will decide their access to undergraduate study.

Local officials say their preparation and emergency plans have been well organized to ensure a secure and smooth examination.

Zhou Guangrong is head of Education Bureau of Chengdu, capital city of Sichuan.

"If a moderate aftershock comes, we would arrange students to continue the exam in safer houses. If the after shock is strong, we would ensure a secure evacuation of students as we have drilled."

Zhu Qi, an education official in Mianzhu city of Sichuan, said special measures have been prepared for the students injured in the quake.

"We have set a special examination room for three injured students who received treatment in hospital. We have also provided writing boards for them."

Lunch and retiring rooms are also provided for students to ensure that they have energy for the exam.

The National College Entrance Exam is normally scheduled in June each year. But the exam has been postponed in quake regions due to the May 12th earthquake in southwest China.