辽代殿试成为常制始于重熙五年。辽圣宗效仿北宋科举制度，开始进行贡举改革。兴宗重熙五年殿试之后，科举殿试成为常制，皇帝对及第进士的恩赐仪式也开始制度化。从重熙五年开始，兴宗、道宗、天祚帝诸朝举行科举考试时，在正常的情况下，进士一科当都有殿试一级考试。辽人所谓的“殿试进士”，当指礼部中选、参加殿试而未中第者。辽代科举增设殿试后，及第进士通常直接释褐授官，像唐代那样比较严格的“守选”制度在辽代应没有形成。

A Textual Research of the Final Imperial Examination in the Liao Dynasty                            Wang Xin

  The final imperial examination became a regular system of the Liao Dynasty since A.D. 1036. Emperor Shengzong of Liao started reform of tributary examination in imitation of the imperial examination system of the Northern Song Dynasty. After the final imperial examination in 1036, the ceremony of the emperor bestowing the Metropolitan Graduates with Honors, i.e. the successful candidates also became institutionalized. From then on, the Metropolitan Graduates should all attend the final imperial examination normally in the imperial examination held in the reigns of emperors Xingzong, Daozong, and Tianzuo. The so-called “Metropolitan Graduates of the Final Imperial Examination” should refer to those who won the selection of the Ministry of Rites, yet failed in the final imperial examination. After the final examination was added in the imperial examination, the Metropolitan Graduates with Honors were usually appointed to government offices directly, and there should be no strict system of “awaiting appointment” in the Tang Dynasty.