In the Ming dynasty civil service examination system, the metropolitan examination (huishi 會試) admissions quota was determined according to northern and southern divisions. The basis and origin of this allocation scheme demands an explanation. Given that two provinces in southern China, Sichuan and Yunnan, belonged to the northern division in the original north-south quota plan, this paper argues that the north-south quota used in the metropolitan examinations was not invented casually, but based on that of the provincial examination (xiangshi 鄉試), as well as the regulations from the Song to the early Ming dynasty. Variations in the metropolitan examination quota in the mid-Ming dynasty also reflected variations in the provincial examination quota. Therefore, this paper argues, the territorial balance of the Ming metropolitan examination was largely achieved in the provincial examination.