718 Entrance Examination
Qiao Mei did not stand on ceremony with the principal and sat down on the bed. Her purpose for coming today was to find out how she could get her elementary school certificate and obtain a qualification.
“Principal, I’m not joking with you. I really want to study here,” Qiao Mei said sincerely.
The principal considered it again and again and finally felt that Qiao Mei did not seem to be joking. The academic system was very short during this time. It was five years in primary school, two years in junior high school and two years in high school. After that, one could go to university.
There were people of all ages in elementary school. As long as their family could afford to send them to school, they would be accepted no matter their age. However, whether they could graduate or not was a different matter.
The students needed to take a graduation examination in order to progress to the next year. Only those who passed the graduation examination would be able to get their certification. Therefore, in this era, the certification was very precious.
“Then you can learn with the first graders. We have five classes here, one class for each grade. You can go to the first class,” the principal said.
Qiao Mei shook her head. She only wanted the certificate. If she had to study here for five years, the policy would have long been reformed and she would not be able to take the first college entrance examination. By then, it would be meaningless.
“No, can I join the fifth grade?” Qiao Mei said.
The principal widened his eyes and looked at Qiao Mei. Fifth grade! Did she know what she was talking about?
For an uneducated person, going to the fifth grade at once was like reading a heavenly book. One would not be able to understand anything and would not be able to get one’s certificate after next year’s graduation examination.
“Have you been to school previously? The graduation examination is next year. If you haven’t studied before, it’s better to start from the first grade,” the principal said tactfully.
“I’ve never studied in school, but my grandfather has always taught me how to read and write at home. Why don’t you use the fifth-grade examination paper and test me? If I pass, can you let me go to the fifth grade?” Qiao Mei asked.
This was not impossible. He took out the graduation examination paper from last year. No one knew the answer to the questions. Every year, the students would leave after taking the paper and there were no explanations given to them. He could guarantee that Qiao Mei would not know the type of questions listed in this paper.
Qiao Mei sat quietly at the table and wrote down the answers. While the principal went next door to check on the students’ homework, she went on to complete taking the examination.
The subjects were only Chinese language and mathematics for now, so it was relatively simple. The students would only come into contact with the English language in high school, so there was no hurry.
Back in the past, her best subjects were mathematics and English language. She was one of the top students in school and no one had been able to surpass her for many years. She had always been a legend in her school.
“You’re done?” The principal stood at the door and looked at Qiao Mei in shock.
“Yes, please take a look.” Qiao Mei handed the examination paper to the principal and he gave it a cursory review. Qiao Mei scored more than 80 points in Chinese language and more than 90 points in mathematics.
Among the students here, the best graduates only managed to score more than 70 points. It seemed that Qiao Mei was not lying to him. She could indeed join the fifth-grade class.
“Your results are really good. Your grandfather taught you really well. You can go to the fifth grade now. With your stomach… What about next year’s exams?” the principal said worriedly.
There were two examinations every year. As the students’ progress was different, there were two examinations every year, in the spring and autumn. The purpose was to let more people have academic qualifications so that there were fewer illiterates.
Qiao Mei’s due date coincided with the spring examination and she was worried that she would not be able to take the examination.
“Professor, then can I take the autumn examination?” Qiao Mei asked.
“Yes, of course. If you’re still at this level in autumn, you can participate,” the principal said excitedly.
Qiao Mei even wanted to skip class. After all, she still had to go to the capital for a period of time. It was also very tiring to take the horse carriage to school every day.
“Then if I can maintain this grade, can I choose not to come to school? Look at my stomach, I really have no choice. These children will still come to school to study. Isn’t Zhang Wei also in the fifth grade? He can come back and teach me and also consolidate his knowledge,” Qiao Mei said with a smile.
The principal did not hesitate and simply agreed to Qiao Mei’s request. He was overjoyed that someone would pay school fees but chose not to come to school, and yet had such outstanding results!
If she graduated, she would become a walking advertisement for him. With Qiao Mei’s outstanding results, no one could say that he could not produce good students. Even if a student self-studied at home, she would still be considered a student from his school. When the time came, there would be even more people coming to study at his school.
