Students visit a college career center on campus to look for job opportunities in the United Kingdom.[Photo provided to China Daily]

These have been testing times for student Chen Yong as he prepared for a key exam in the wake of the novel coronavirus outbreak that took a grip on the country since late January.

The 18-year-old high school student from Central China's Hunan province signed up in November last year for an SAT in Singapore this March, but he had to reschedule when the country temporarily suspended visas to Chinese visitors on Feb 1.

"It caught me off guard and I wasted no time looking for slots in Australia and New Zealand," Chen says.

However, both countries soon became inaccessible for Chinese test candidates like Chen.

Other possible options, like India and Malaysia, were also closed doors.

Then, the College Board, a nonprofit organization that administers the SAT and Advanced Placement exams, announced on Feb 18 that it had canceled the upcoming March administration in China and the registrations of students who appear to be traveling from China to other countries to take the SAT.

"All I can do now is focus on my preparations, but I will take the test in May or June," Chen says, adding that it will help ease the pressure.