BEIJING - The Ministry of Education on Wednesday stressed the importance of creating a sound environment for the national college entrance exam, scheduled to start Friday.

Local authorities should take measures to curb noise pollution and minimize disturbance to test takers, and to prevent heatstroke and spread of epidemic diseases, the ministry said.

The ministry also required local departments to be fully prepared for emergencies, such as possible extreme weather or natural disasters, during the exam which will run from Friday to Saturday.

More than 10 million students nationwide have applied to take part in this year's exam, which will coincide with the Dragon Boat Festival holiday.

Local authorities were asked to strengthen traffic management and provide help for exam takers in case of traffic jams or accidents.

The exam, commonly known as the gaokao, is deemed the most important event for Chinese students. It is hailed as a fair system to select talent and change the fate of children from poor families.