A Chinese university professor has sparked a heated online debate after giving his students an unusual assignment that required them to add 1,667 friends on WeChat, China’s most popular social network, in order to get an A+.

According to report, the assignment required students taking the Online and New Media course at the Henan University of Economics and Law to add at least 1,001 new friends on WeChat in order to earn a score of 60 out of 100. The more friends they would add above that threshold would increase their score, with those getting at least 1,667 new friends guaranteeing themselves an A+.

Some of the students – especially the most introverted ones – complained that the task was too difficult, the faculty at the university defended their colleague, explaining that the assignment prepares the youth for real life.

“It’s a difficult task. I only have about 100 friends on WeChat. Many of us feel frustrated and worried we can’t add so many friends,” one student told Pear Video.

Others complained that the professor didn’t offer any alternative assignments and that the score on this one constitutes 30 per cent of their final grade in this course, according to Nextshark.

It was gathered that the students have only two weeks to complete it.