Following this, the examination gradually became superficial: it is said ("Godansho" (an ancient journal)) that OE no Masahira, who took the horyakushi exam in 979, had been informed what would be on the exam from his examiner, SUGAWARA no Fumitoki, while in the 11th century, even the jujo system (a system in which those who could not pass the exam after taking it a certain number of times would be granted special acceptance) was introduced.
そのために試験も次第に形式的なものとなり、天元(日本)2年（979年）に方略試を受けた大江匡衡は、事前に出題博士であった菅原文時から問題の出題箇所の通告を受けた（『江談抄』）とされ、更には11世紀に入ると十上制（一定回数試験を受けても合格できなかった者に対して特別に合格を認める制度）さえ導入されるようになっていった。