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A record number of candidates signed up to take the Chartered Financial Analyst exams this weekend.

Almost 189,000 people are registered to sit for the three-level test on Saturday at locations in 91 countries, the Charlottesville, Virginia-based CFA Institute said Friday in an emailed statement. That’s a 9 percent increase from a year earlier.

The exam is popular among financiers seeking new jobs, higher salaries or a better understanding of the market. The first level is proctored in December and June, while the the final two parts of the exam are only administered in June. Almost half of those registered for Saturday hail from the Asia-Pacific region, according to the statement.

On average, candidates spend more than 300 hours studying for the test’s three levels, with more than 2,000 pages of curriculum for each. Passing all three phases typically takes four years with less than 1-in-5 candidates succeeding.

Read more: CFA Payoff Elusive for Legions Crowding Into Its Grueling Exams

The Institute said last month it would add questions on artificial intelligence, robo-advisory and methods for analyzing big data to its exams in 2019. The group hopes the additions will help it attract a larger audience, potentially luring applications from the financial-technology industry.