42 people are investigated and punished for involvement in the fraud case of this year's national college entrance exam in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi. [Photo:cqcb.com]

42 people have reportedly been investigated and punished for involvement in the fraud case of the country's national college entrance exam in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province.

Among them, 7 substitute exam takers and their employers are prohibited from taking exams organized by state education institutions for three years.

22 officials involved have either been demoted or dismissed from public posts.

6 organizers and intermediary personnel are under investigation.

Media reports of the incident emerged just two hours after the start of the annual exam, which is known as the Gaokao.

The police apprehended one suspect in an exam room less than half an hour before the first test ended.

The man admitted to being a stand-in later.

A total of 9.42 million Chinese high school students took the national college entrance exam this year.

The test is often called a "battle to determine fate" as its result decides whether a student goes to college, goes back to school for another year or tries to find a job.