Abstract: There were two methods for compiling the number of scholars who passed the provincial examination in Jinshenlu. One method followed from the middle period of Qianlong reign until 1858 used data from the Baomingtang which was published in 1764. This method utilized data for the provincial examination from each province between the years1750 to 1762. The second method used data compiled in the publication Ronglutang in the 1885 for provincial examinations in each province in 1882. This system was widely adopted in different editions of Jinshenlu available in the street stalls and it continued until abolition of the imperial examination system. Although there were many changes in number of degree holders in several provinces, the figures still did not reflect the real situation. There were acute fluctuations in the number of the provincial degrees after the Qing government implemented the policy of increasing the quota of provincial degrees available for sale. Therefore, the quota for degrees in each province not only had nothing to do with actual number of scholars in the provincial examinations, but also occasionally was arbitrary and untypical of reality. Researchers should be aware of the historical value and the limitations of various categories of information recorded in Jinshenlu.