Kamio Tatsuya finished his student council duties and was about to leave when Nagumo called him over.
"Oh, right, Kamio, the final exam plan for the first-year students has been sent over. Do you want to take a look?"
"Can I see it?"
Kamio Tatsuya was a bit confused by Nagumo's words. Although the student council had the right to change special exams, the school's policies regarding students were supposed to be kept secret.
"I've already picked out what I can't tell you. The rest is what you can see."
With that, Nagumo handed him a stack of documents.
Kamio Tatsuya took it with a hint of skepticism.
It simply stated that the questions for the final exam would be created by the students themselves.
Taking Class C as an example, Class C would need to create a set of exam questions a week before the exam begins, and then use their own questions for any one of the other three classes, say Class A.
Then, Class A's final exam paper would be the questions created by Class C. This process is called "offense."
Of course, Class C's final exam paper would also become the questions created by other classes, such as Class B. This process is called "defense."
The final result would be a comparison of the total class scores. If Class C's total class score was not as high as Class A's, then it would be considered an offensive failure, and Class A would take 50 points from Class C.
Then, on the defensive side, if Class C's total class score was still not as high as Class B's, then Class B would also take 50 class points from Class C.
Simply put, this would be an absolute test of academic ability.
Offense relies on the top academic abilities within the class. If they create difficult questions, they can successfully suppress the defensive team's score.
Defense, on the other hand, relies on the collective academic ability to get as many points as possible from the exam papers created by the offense.
But... total class score.
Doesn't this mean that the more students a class has, the greater its advantage? This would give Class C, which currently has the largest number of students in the entire grade, an absolute advantage.
The saying "the more people, the greater the strength" has become a reality here.
"You noticed it too, didn't you?"
"President Nagumo, are you going to talk about the fact that the number of students in each first-year class is different?"
"That's right. Currently, Class A and Class B have forty students, Class C has forty-one, and Class D only has thirty-eight.
If we calculate the total class score, Class D is at a disadvantage from the start. So, for the sake of fairness, what do you think about changing the total class score to an average score?"
Sigh, President Nagumo, it hasn't even been a full day since Chairman Horikita Manabu left, and you're already so eager to target me.
"I don't think that's a good idea, but didn't the number of students start out the same?" Kamio Tatsuya looked speechless. "Since we started on equal footing at the beginning of the semester, not being able to maintain their strength is their own problem.
Why should we, the student council, pay for their foolishness? Besides, the sports festival's tug-of-war and pole-toppling events didn't offer them any compensation. Why should this exam compensate them?
If we're going to change the total class score to an average score this time, then we might as well reset all four classes' class points to a thousand points each. That would be fairer!"
Through the rules of this exam, Kamio Tatsuya also discovered a problem: this exam not only tested the academic abilities of each class but also conveyed an important message.
That is the issue of numbers. The school wants to tell students that in some exams, the difference in numbers is also an advantage.
This is equivalent to telling students that trying to protect your companions is not a futile effort.
This point was actually reflected in the sports festival, but at the time, Kamio Tatsuya's focus wasn't on this aspect, so he didn't think about it deeply.
Nagumo's idea, however, was to encourage classes to get rid of those who were less capable.
What about Kamio Tatsuya's idea? He didn't have any grand ideas; he simply chose what was advantageous to him.
It was more advantageous to calculate the total class score this time. Therefore, he would not choose the average score.
Besides, class competition is a long-term battle that lasts for three years. The advantage gained in the early stages should naturally have its time to be utilized.
After saying this, he expected Nagumo to be embarrassed, but to his surprise, Nagumo smiled with admiration.
"Don't be angry, Kamio. You truly are a man recognized by both Chairman Horikita Manabu and me. It seems you see things very clearly, and you haven't disappointed me."
Kamio Tatsuya was speechless. So why did you bother testing me?
As time passed, in late October, the students of Kouya welcomed their second semester's mid-term exams.
Although it was just a regular test, failing the exam would still lead to expulsion.
And just as he had guessed during the sports festival, the questions were indeed very difficult. Fortunately, Class C did not have anyone in the bottom ten from the sports festival, so there was no need to worry about point deductions.
However, to prepare for the exam, Ryuen immediately organized study groups with students like Kaneda, who had high academic ability, after the sports festival.
For written exams, Class C's situation was similar to Class D's. Both classes had a lot of struggling students, and the days when the written exam results were announced felt like the prelude to an execution.
"Everyone, you don't need to be so nervous. No one in Class C will fail this mid-term exam."
Unlike Chabashira's style, Okabe immediately announced the final results upon entering the classroom. Then, under the gaze of the relieved students, he posted the scores on the blackboard.
"The average passing line across all subjects is forty-five points. Those below forty-five points will be expelled.
Fortunately, even Ishizaki, who had the worst score, surpassed this mark after receiving the bonus points from the sports festival."
The average passing line is forty-five points, meaning the average score reached ninety?
Kamio Tatsuya was startled. Even with the bonus points from the sports festival, was Class C's academic ability this high?
Ishizaki, who was specifically mentioned, was greatly surprised; he didn't want to be expelled for failing an exam.
Then, Okabe looked at the students with a stern expression.
"I hope you all will not let your guard down regarding your studies. If you aim to move up a class, academic ability is a very important component."
See, he criticizes when he needs to criticize and reminds when he needs to remind. This is a teacher's duty.
Someone like Chabashira only mocks students after the exam and has no sense of responsibility.
"Alright, regardless of the outcome, this mid-term exam is over. Next, I will explain the final exam."
Here it comes?
Although he had seen some of the final exam materials at the student council, Kamio Tatsuya was still very curious about the remaining parts.
"To prepare for the second semester's final exam, we will have a small test covering eight subjects next week."
As soon as he said this, Class C became chaotic, much like Class D.
In fact, it wasn't just Class C and Class D. Classes A and B also had students with weak academic abilities and students who disliked exams.
"Ah, haven't we just finished our mid-term exams? Why another test?"
"The final exam isn't until December, right? There are still two months left. Is it necessary to rush like this?"
Sensei Okabe continued as if he hadn't seen the students' complaints.
"Regarding next week's small test, it will cover eight subjects, a total of one hundred questions, with a perfect score of one hundred points. The content will be at the junior high third-year level.
Furthermore, just like the small test in the first semester, the results will not have any impact on your grades. Even if you score zero, you will not be expelled."
"Really?"
Ishizaki immediately became excited.
However, Kamio Tatsuya, Ryuen, and the smarter students in Class C could not laugh at all.
Given this school's track record, it was hard to believe they would do something so pointless.
The small test last semester was to let students discover the existence of past exam questions and to understand the true nature of this school.
Therefore, this small test would certainly not be just a simple quiz; there must be some purpose behind it.
Moreover, Okabe's expression was far from relaxed when he said this.
This was already a big hint.
"Ishizaki, don't get too excited. Although the results of the small test won't get you expelled, it's not meaningless," Okabe said with a serious expression. "The school will use the results of this small test as a basis to pair up students in the class in groups of two, and then you will face the final exam as a pair."
Paired up?
The students in the class were momentarily confused.
"Simply put, students in the same pair will share a score, meaning their written exam scores will be added together.
For example, if you two, Kaneda and Ishizaki, are paired up, and Kaneda gets 80 points in physics, while Ishizaki scores 0, then your combined score will be eighty.
The passing line for this exam is set at sixty points. As long as the sum of both your scores exceeds sixty points, neither of you will be expelled, and you won't be expelled because one of you scored zero."
"However, if the sum of your scores does not exceed sixty, regardless of one person's score, both of you will be expelled."
I see, Kamio Tatsuya understood immediately.
It was not just the passing rules, but also the grouping rules.
Sensei Okabe was really afraid that the students wouldn't understand, so he even provided an example of such a combination.
Kaneda and Ishizaki, isn't that a combination of someone with high academic ability and someone with low academic ability?
And he just said that the grouping would be based on the small test results, which is almost equivalent to saying: the first-place finisher and the last-place finisher will be teamed up based on the results of this exam!
"What? Isn't that super easy?!" Ishizaki immediately became smug. "My lowest score was never below thirty points. If I team up with anyone, I can avoid failing."
Okabe glanced at the smug Ishizaki and immediately poured cold water on him.
"In addition to the single-subject score being below 60 points, which will result in expulsion, there will also be a passing line for the total score. However, this passing line is not fixed.
Based on past experience, it's around seven hundred and fifty points, but this can only be used as a reference. I hope you don't take it as an absolute standard."
A total score of 750 means each person needs to average around 380 points.
There are eight subjects in the final exam, meaning each subject requires approximately 47 points or more. Furthermore, the final exam does not have the sports festival bonus points.
And the questions will be set by other classes. To win, the other classes will undoubtedly make the questions incredibly difficult, so the difficulty will increase again.
For those with poor scores like Ishizaki, their future looks bleak.
"Whichever passing line it is, failing will result in expulsion, so I hope you will take it seriously.
This exam, called Paper Shffle, results in one or two pairs of students being expelled each year. I hope you will take it seriously."
Then, Okabe glanced at Kamio Tatsuya.
"Since our class has an odd number of students, the last person left alone will have their score multiplied by two when calculating the results."
"After the small test, I will inform you about the team formation methods."
Then, Okabe also explained the matter of classes attacking and defending each other.
"Okabe, if the final comparison is by total class score, will our class be counted as forty people or forty-one?"
Ryuen's focus, after learning this information, was exactly the same as Kamio Tatsuya's.
"Of course, it will be the current number of people. Correspondingly, Class D currently has only 38 people, so their class score will only be calculated for thirty-eight people."
Upon hearing this, the students of Class C all showed smiles. Meanwhile, in Class D, after Chabashira finished explaining, almost everyone wore a pained expression.
Class D currently has 38 people, while Classes A and B have 40 people, and Class C has 41 people.
Take Yamauchi, who performed the worst in the class, as an example. Class D's passing line this time is 43 points, and Yamauchi's average score is around 45.
There are eight subjects in total. 45 * 8 is 360.
One person is 360 points, two people are 720 points, and three people are 1080 points.
To defeat Class C, if this 1080 points are averaged per person, each person's total score needs to be 28 to 29 points higher.
And exam scores, when they are low, are relatively easier to improve. However, for those who already have very good scores, their usual scores are basically their limits.
It's already difficult to improve further. You can't surpass your own limits, can you?
Pain, so much pain.
Are we going to concede before the competition even starts?
"sensei, isn't this a bit unfair for us?" Hirata wanted to struggle one last time before his imminent doom.
"Never mind, Hirata," Horikita said before Chabashira could answer. "This is actually very fair.
Because the starting line for all four classes was the same: everyone had 1000 class points and 40 students.
In this protracted war, failing to hold onto points and companions is our own problem."
Class struggles are like a war where reinforcements cannot be replenished. Perhaps in some battles, the weaker students in the class will be a drag, but there will always be a time when they can play a role.
And Horikita understood at this moment why the cost of avoiding expulsion was so high. Because sometimes, having more people is an advantage, as in this exam.
Even at their worst, they can at least contribute a few hundred points.
Thinking of this, Horikita felt a wave of despair.
With a deficit of at least 700 points, how can we possibly win?
However, there was some good news: Class D's current class points are still 0. Even if they lose this exam, they won't have any class points deducted.
At the same time, Kamio Tatsuya also thought of this issue and raised his hand.
"Sensei Okabe, I have a question."
"Feel free to ask any questions you have."
Okabe adjusted his glasses, a flicker of a smile in his eyes.
"In the class points announced this month, Class D has 0 points, which means they have no class points left to lose.
If we choose to attack Class D at this point and successfully defeat them, can we still gain class points from Class D?"
Although Kamio Tatsuya wanted to strike down Class D, there was no benefit in doing so.
It would be better to use the advantage of having more people to target Class B or Class A.
Besides, Ryuen was probably impatient to increase his class points to over 300.
"You don't need to worry about that. Even if Class D can't afford to lose points, the school will compensate for that amount."
"I see," Kamio Tatsuya nodded. "So, will Class D's class points drop below 0 if they lose this exam?"
At this point, Okabe shook his head.
"There's no precedent for that."
Tsk, a shame.
It would be more reasonable to allow debt.
"Are there any other questions?"
"No, thank you."
After Kamio Tatsuya sat down, Okabe began to explain the final details.
"The final exam will consist of a total of four hundred questions across eight subjects. You must complete these eight hundred questions within a month.
Also, don't think about creating particularly difficult or obscure questions. We sensei will strictly and fairly check the exam questions to ensure that every question is within the ability range of a first-year high school student."
Within the first-year range?
Hehe, wouldn't that be too simple.
Even with the same knowledge applied, some questions can increase the difficulty several times over.
It might not be possible for liberal arts, but for science, Kamio Tatsuya is sure he can create questions that will make examinees suffer immensely.
"Finally, regarding punishments during the exam, as usual, cheating is strictly prohibited. Once discovered, not only the person who cheated will be expelled, but their partner will also be expelled along with them."
After explaining these key points, Sensei Okabe handed the remaining time over to the students.
"It seems you have something in mind?"
As soon as the announcement ended, Ryuen turned around and looked at Kamio Tatsuya with a smile. Several students from Class C also gathered around.
If it weren't for the ample space at the back of the classroom, they wouldn't be able to stand so many people.
Ever since Kamio Tatsuya joined Class C, Ryuen felt that he had become much more relaxed. Indeed, bringing this guy over was the right decision.
"That depends on how we want to do it."
Kamio Tatsuya shrugged.
If we simply want to win, then we can directly choose Class D as the offensive target. The difference of at least a thousand points between the three classes is not something that can be easily overcome.
However, if we want to prepare Class C to move up a class, then we need to make long-term plans.
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