First Monthly Exam

[2019-2020 Academic Year Grade 2 First Semester Final Exam Results]

[Xiao Yi: Chinese Language 101, Mathematics 135, English 115, Physics 78, Chemistry 72, Biology 79, Total 580, Year Rank 99.]

These results were from Xiao Yi's final exam at the end of the first semester of Grade 2, and as for them...

Well, how to put it, they were a bit unsatisfactory.

A total of 580 points, ranked in the top 100 of the year—this score was actually pretty decent relatively speaking, but the problem was, "pretty decent" was clearly far from enough to meet the entry requirements for the Gifted Class.

To get into the Gifted Class, "outstanding" was the baseline; at the very least, you should be among the top ranks of your peers, right?

Liu Bin found it a bit surprising. Xiao Yi could easily solve even the competition-level problems he'd set, so why weren't his exam results up to par?

He'd initially assumed Xiao Yi was a solid top student—if not an all-rounder, then at least someone who dominated in mathematics.

He asked, "Are you sure this Xiao Yi is the same Xiao Yi?"

Luo Penghua shook his head. "That can't be wrong. The results show it's Xiao Yi from our Class 3 of Science Stream, and there's no other student named Xiao Yi in Grade 2."

Liu Bin pressed further, "Then... is there a problem with your grading system?"

Qin Song waved his hand at this and said, "That definitely can't be the case. We've all double-checked these results; there's no issue."

Beside them, Chen Liang rubbed his chin and asked, "So this Xiao Yi's results... don't seem as impressive as expected."

He knew Class 3 wasn't a top-tier class, so he'd assumed Xiao Yi was the type who, despite not being in an elite class, could still match those students in performance, or maybe a severe math specialist.

But now... these results were a bit hard to understand.

However, Luo Penghua offered an explanation: "These results are from two months ago, and based on my observations, since the start of this semester, Xiao Yi has been studying with remarkable diligence and seriousness. So I think... we should view Xiao Yi with fresh eyes, as the saying goes—'part for three days, and one must look at each other with new eyes.'"

Qin Song also chimed in to defend Xiao Yi: "Right, 'part for three days, and one must look at each other with new eyes.' We can't judge the current Xiao Yi by results from two months ago."

At the very least, they didn't want Liu Bin to think Xiao Yi's past performance was weak and give up on recommending this Gifted Class prospect to USTC.

Liu Bin laughed at this point and said, "Don't worry, teachers. I'm not raising this issue because I think Xiao Yi isn't capable. Regardless, he did solve those math problems, and those questions basically have no answers online, so he definitely solved them on his own ability."

"When I get back, I'll still submit his name. With my recommendation, he's sure to pass the review, and then our school will issue him a College Entrance Exam Qualification Certificate to take this year's exam. As long as his scores meet the mark and he passes our Gifted Class test afterward, we'd have no reason to turn him away."

"That's good, that's good." Qin Song breathed a sigh of relief. That would work.

But just then, Luo Penghua thought for a moment and then said, "Professor Liu, or perhaps we could do this."

"Next week is our first monthly exam of this semester. Maybe we can take that chance to see how Xiao Yi performs this time."

"Who knows, he might surprise us?"

Luo Penghua's words made everyone present brighten up.

"Not bad, that's a good method." Qin Song voiced his support.

Chen Liang also nodded in agreement.

Liu Bin likewise inclined his head and said, "Alright, then let's do as Teacher Luo suggests and see how Xiao Yi performs in next week's monthly exam. I'll hold off on submitting Xiao Yi's materials for now and send them in together after these results come out!"

"Great!"

With the decision made, the teachers said no more. If Xiao Yi really was that kind of genius, next week's exam surely wouldn't disappoint them!

Xiao Yi had no idea that several teachers had decided to wait and see his results from next week's monthly exam.

Luo Penghua hadn't told him, to avoid affecting his mindset.

The next day, Xiao Yi received a call from home. His parents confirmed with him whether he really had been noticed by a professor from USTC.

If they hadn't checked with Xiao Yi, they would have suspected yesterday's call was a scam.

After getting Xiao Yi's affirmative answer, Father Xiao and Mother Xiao were both overjoyed.

For parents, nothing brings more happiness than their child's excellence.

And clearly, Xiao Yi being noticed by the Gifted Class had already made them feel proud of their child from the bottom of their hearts.

The direct benefit this brought Xiao Yi was that his weekly living expenses jumped from 200 yuan to 300 yuan, letting him eat better at school.

That one call lasted nearly half an hour before they hung up.

After finishing the call, Xiao Yi rushed straight back to the classroom to continue his studies.

Soon, a week passed.

The first monthly exam of the semester began.

Outside Exam Room 4.

The school arranged exam rooms based on the previous exam's rankings, with 30 people per room. So the students in Exam Room 4 were those ranked 91st to 120th from last time, and Xiao Yi, who had placed 99th, ended up here.

The exam hadn't started yet, and the test-takers were still waiting outside.

Xiao Yi's deskmate, Chen Wei, had ranked 109th last time, so they were in the same room. They stood together now, chatting idly.

"Hey, who do you think got into the Gifted Class? Shen Xing, or Wu Ziyu? Feels like those two are the most likely."

Chen Wei glanced toward Exam Room 1 and said to Xiao Yi.

The incident that happened in the Senior Year Department last week had, after all this time, naturally spread to Grade 1 and Grade 2 as well. But by now, the only thing basically certain was that the student was from Grade 2. As for which class or what name, there were all sorts of versions. On top of that, by the time the news passed from the Senior Year side down to Grade 2, it had already been filtered through who knows how many hands.

So in the end, no one really knew who this student was.

Xiao Yi shrugged. "Maybe it's none of them?"

"Then it must be someone from Exam Room 1, right?"

"Maybe."

Xiao Yi was noncommittal.

Exam Room 1...

Maybe next time he took the exam, he'd be in there?

"Now, begin entering the exam room."

The proctor walked out of the exam room and called out to the students outside.

Then, all the examinees began filing in orderly.