Table 1 Distribution and sample sizes of STG master’s theses (2016 to 2022).

From: Pre-service geography teachers from normal universities in China: what do their master’s degree theses focus on and imply?

Subject assessment level

Number of universities

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

Total

A+

1

53

22

21

31

32

27

30

216

A

1

18

32

40

63

61

47

41

302

A-

1

25

21

37

30

18

18

24

173

B+

3

50

58

82

68

119

113

113

603

B

4

146

152

156

177

198

201

211

1241

B-

5

87

87

93

97

117

103

138

722

C+

4

71

57

58

65

68

75

27

421

C

3

37

38

50

50

71

82

66

394

C-

4

50

59

58

57

63

67

84

438

Total

26

537

526

595

638

747

733

734

4510