Interim rank and candidate performance: evidence from graduate admissions in China

This study empirically investigates how interim rank from the first-stage examination affects subsequent performance in China’s graduate admissions process, which employs a two-stage evaluation to select candidates. We exploit a setting in which candidates with identical first-stage examination scores are assigned different interim ranks through a mechanical registration-ID tie-breaking rule. Our results show that, among candidates applying to the same university-major in the same year with identical first-stage examination scores, those assigned less favourable interim ranks perform systematically worse in the second-stage written exam, interview, and final admission outcome.