Students?from a class?of Chongqing University poses for a group photo in Chongqing, Nov 18, 2013.?Thirty out of 32 senior students in?the class at Chongqing University gained free-exam opportunities for graduate schools.?[Photo/icpress.cn]

Thirty out of 32 senior students in a class at Chongqing University gained free-exam opportunities for graduate schools. Netizens called them the “class of learning masters”, Chongqing Evening Post reported.

Feng Fei, deputy Party chief at the school of civil engineering of Chongqing University, said the average rate of exam-free opportunities for graduate studies per class is around 30 percent. “It is the first time that we have had such a high rate in one class.”

The model class is among 13 classes with a major in architectural engineering. Most of its students were selected by their performance at the beginning of the junior year.

According to Feng, putting outstanding students in the same class was a trial to encourage learning. It turned out that most of them were helping and competing with each other in academic studies. During the four years, they won many national level awards.

Ge Huabao, one student who will continue studies at Tongji University, said most of their time was spent in the classroom. They seldom played online games.

“After we had lunch, we continued studying,” said Ge. “If we were tired, we just took a snap at the classroom.”

Another “l(fā)earning master” is Shi Jibing. He got this nickname because he continued studying during sleep. He usually reviewed the things he studied before going to bed so that he could continue when he was asleep.

Shi joked that sometimes when he woke up he would think that he was still in the classroom.

Encouraged by Shi, his roommate Ge just got up and kept studying even until midnight.

Unlike other students who indulged in romance and travel, lovers in this model class chose to study together.

Guo Hongyin and his girlfriend Xia Jing will study in Tongji University. Guo recalled their relationship and said they only went to movies after finishing an exam.

“There were no sweet talks or popcorn,” Guo said. “We planned studying together and I helped her to carry books and reminded her to bring a jacket when it was too cold. I think it is a different romance.”