(Freshmen at Tsinghua University are preparing for their swimming tests)

New students at China’s prestigious Tsinghua University took the swimming test after a decision made earlier this year required all the students to learn how to swim before they graduate, according to Beijing Youth Daily.

Knowing how to swim is a 90-plus-year-old campus rule at Tsinghua. Earlier this year, the university decided to continue applying this rule starting this fall semester.

Over 400 freshmen took the swimming test, which requires them to swim at least 50 meters. About 91.5% percent of the test takers passed and earned a certificate and a Tsinghua-style medal as rewards. Those who failed or who did not know how to swim were told to take swimming courses.

Learning swimming is simple compared to academic courses, said a freshman. It is also a good thing to learn how to swim for free. However, a different new student expressed worry about past experiences of drowning.