Although it was a general rule that students needed to study at least two books other than the two compulsory books "Rongo" and "Kokyo" and pass the Myogyoshi (the Myogyo examination - later revised into the "Myogyo Tokugyoshi") before being appointed and conferred a rank, there were many reported cases of students receiving their rank and appointment without taking the test.
そして必修である『論語』『孝経』の他に最低二経を学習した明経生は明経試（後に明経得業試に改められた）に受験・合格してから叙位・任官するのが原則だったが、明経試を経ないで叙位・任官するケースも多かったらしい。