Abstract: After the abolishment of the imperial examination in 1905,the Qing court retained some auxiliary examinations such as Youbagong as alternatives to deal with aftermath. Afterwards the Youbagong examination became a popular option and virtually replaced the traditional provincial and central levels imperial examinations.The new examinations attracted many candidates, especially those with backgrounds in modern education.Nevertheless,the social status brought?by the Youbagong degree was far inferior to the status of the traditional imperial examination degrees.Also,the prospects for the Youbagong candidates were not so bright, and most found it ifficult to achieve a position in the government. Undoubtedly, official arrogance aggravated the dilemma and the suffering of the Qing court, and was considered by many as the cause of the dynasty’s demise.