For Qiao Ze, life at Xilin University of Technology was actually quite pleasant.
Pleasant times often fly by quickly, and in almost no time at all, two weeks had hurriedly passed, bringing us to late June.
June is a special month for the vast majority of students in Huaxia.
Early June's college entrance examination can determine the fate of the candidates to a considerable extent. The final exams at the end of June, though not as critical as the college entrance exams, can at least decide the mood of the students for the following two months. This is especially true for students of top-tier universities.
Failing and having to retake the course isn't just a matter of embarrassment, but also involves the payment of a retake fee. The financial cost is one thing, but if one has to retake too many subjects and doesn't meet the grade point average requirement, a letter of academic warning is sent directly home, which is truly embarrassing.
The children who are admitted to top-tier universities have mostly been, from a young age, the "child of someone else's family" that everyone talks about.
As a result, their upbringing tends to focus more on saving face than that of most people.
Therefore, exams should not and cannot be taken lightly, and the students of the School of Mathematics naturally cannot escape this convention.
However, for the students in the basic mathematics classes, this was obviously an extraordinary exam season.
At first, neighboring majors such as Financial Mathematics, Statistics, Information and Computational Science, and Applied Mathematics were quite envious of the basic mathematics class students.
Because they had heard that this year, for the first time ever, the basic mathematics classes were piloting semi-open book exams, which had even been approved by the school.
The so-called semi-open book exams at the School of Mathematics meant the professor would compile a list of formulas and theorems likely needed for the exam and print them on an A4 sheet of paper. During the exam, students would be allowed to bring this A4 sheet into the exam hall to use.
Normally, this type of exam format was only used in mathematics labs.
But this year, all the specialized courses for the basic mathematics classes adopted the semi-open book exam format.
The benefits of this were self-evident.
It basically meant that the professor had outlined all of the content for the exam.
During the exam, you could simply rely on the formulas and theorems listed on the A4 sheet.
Just imagine how much trouble that would save?!
So, when the other mathematics majors heard the news, everyone except those in the basic mathematics classes was boiling with excitement.
It must be said, children of the new era are sensitive to injustice and never lack a rebellious spirit. Faced with such unfairness, few would choose to suffer in silence.
Thus, various protests began to spread throughout the School of Mathematics, including, but not limited to, soul-searching questions directed at the teachers in the classroom.
Why can the basic mathematics class have semi-open book exams while they have to take closed book exams?
However, the answer they received was uniform and somewhat thought-provoking.
"Oh, you also want a semi-open book exam like the basic mathematics class? Actually, it's not impossible. How about this, wait for the basic mathematics class to finish their exams, then go ask the students there what it felt like.
If after asking you still insist on a semi-open book exam, then for the next three years, for all subjects, whether compulsory or elective, we will arrange your final exams according to the basic mathematics class model."
Especially when the professor said these words in class with that long-lost flawless smile, it truly sent shivers down the spine of a bunch of students.
But without a doubt, this year's mathematics exams for the basic class had become the focal point of the entire School of Mathematics.
Many people went to the base class to inquire, and the news was that this year's difficulty level of the basic mathematics class exams might be a significant increase from previous years.
How much harder could it be? Could it not offset the advantage of a semi-open book exam?
With all the key points listed, how could you still do poorly?
After all, there are just so many kinds of problems, right?
In short, there were indeed many disgruntled students in the other mathematics majors, but the atmosphere within the basic class was equally gloomy.
What exactly was the school playing at?!
With a semi-open book exam already on the table, how difficult did the professors intend to make the questions?!
Everything began to be revealed on Thursday, June 22nd.
The long-awaited final exams finally formally began.
The first subject of the day was Mathematical Analysis (II).
For most students in the School of Mathematics, this is a relatively basic course. Its greatest challenge is the need to break through the basic mathematical impressions formed in high school and to begin formally engaging with true mathematical thought and problems.
Once you get to Mathematical Analysis (II), dealing with indefinite integrals and Riemann integrability also means that you have truly begun to encounter the aspects of abstract mathematical thinking.
At nine ten in the morning, the exam formally began.
The students of the basic mathematics class came with the A4 sheets specially prepared for them by Professor Zhu.
Printed on both sides and full of information, it gave everyone a bit of a sense of security.
But this sense of security only lasted until the moment the actual test papers were handed out.
"Ahem, let me remind you all once more. Take the test seriously, and I strongly advise you to skip questions you don't know so as not to affect your mood. First, quickly complete all the questions on the paper that you can do. Then start over from the beginning and review. Also, don't spend too much time on the last two major questions."
After the papers were distributed, Professor Zhu reiterated from the podium.
Yes, this time the exams were proctored by the instructors themselves, accompanied by a graduate student from the school.
The exam formally began soon after.
It didn't seem very strict.
The graduate student assisting with the proctoring walked around the classroom once, then took an extra exam paper and started reading it seriously by the window.