YICHUN, July 2  -- Two high school students who were injured while stopping a knife attack on a bus in May were allowed to take their exclusive college entrance exam on Wednesday in Yichun City of east China's Jiangxi Province.

They were unable to take the national exam, or gaokao, on June 7 and 8 as they were still recovering from their injuries.

Gaokao is the only way for most Chinese high school graduates to enter a university. It is the first time Jiangxi's educational authority has organized a separate test for candidates.

Liu Yanbing and Yi Zhengyong, both from No.3 Middle School in Yichun, disarmed an assailant who was stabbing passengers on a bus on May 31. The pair were seriously injured during the fight.

"Although it is a gaokao for only two students, the preparation is the same as in June," said Yu Zhaohui, an inspector of the municipal education bureau.

The two students underwent security checks and went through a metal detector before taking the exam. Digital cameras have been installed in the classroom and are recording the test.

"I am not nervous but looking forward to the exam," said Liu before the test. He suffered serious injuries to his back and head while trying to take away the knife from the assassin.

Yichun government has awarded "Good Samaritan" titles to both Liu and Yi.

More than 10 universities including the prestigious Tsinghua University said earlier that they would like to enroll the students with preferential policies.