China's top universities have formed two leagues that will operate their own entrance examinations, bypassing the state-run exam, the Beijing Morning Post reports.

Peking University heads a league that includes Beijing University of Aerospace and Aeronautics, Beijing Normal University, Nankai University, Fudan University, Xiamen University and Hong Kong University, while Tsinghua University has set up a separate league of seven, including Renmin University of China, Nanjing University and Zhejiang University.

The aim of the top universities is to cream off the best students in advance of the state examination, but educational insiders say the top students usually opt for famous overseas universities.