Classroom of the Elite Season 4, Episode 9 Review: The Special Exam Begins

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Please be aware that this article reveals key plot points from Classroom of the Elite Season 4, Episode 9, as well as earlier events in the season. Spoilers ahead!

The final arc of Classroom of the Elite Season 4: Second Year, First Term has arrived. While it might not be as popular as One Piece, this season has consistently offered strong animation and an engaging storyline. With students desperately trying to earn points, the pressure is really on now.

Ayanokoji is nearing the end of the semester-long bounty placed on his head, but a new challenge awaits him in the form of a special exam on a deserted island. At the same time, Horikita has been working hard to help Class 2-D succeed in the exam, aiming to gain points and prevent any students from being expelled.

Explaining the Rules of the Survival Test

Now that everyone’s on the ship headed to the remote island, the episode focuses on explaining the rules of the upcoming exam. Students will spend two weeks on the island, earning points by reaching checkpoints quickly or completing challenges at various locations. The five students with the lowest scores will be eliminated, and any team where all members drop out will fail completely.

Students will use digital wristbands to find out about rewards and challenges. These bands will also track their health and automatically alert the school if they need medical help.

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At the close of the briefing, the acting chairman, Tsukishiro, laid out the consequences for bad behavior – likely expulsion, and potentially even legal trouble. However, he also acknowledged the limitations of monitoring everyone on the island. He seemed willing to overlook some typical conflicts, like arguments or even fights, figuring students will be irritable due to hunger and thirst. Essentially, he was admitting that some rule-breaking was probably inevitable. This realization struck me as particularly concerning for Ayanokoji, because I know there are plenty of first-years who would jump at the chance to get him expelled, and this permissive attitude creates opportunities for them to try.

It’s Dangerous to Go Alone, But Groups Also Have Risks

The exams have only covered the first two days so far, which suggests this might be the last major event of the season. Currently, we’ve mainly seen Ayanokoji’s perspective, and he’s figured out that it’s best to prioritize earning points simply by reaching the designated locations, and then try to gain extra points through the challenges. He’s also trying to figure out how the other first-years might try to get him expelled.

He prefers working alone, even though having allies would offer support, because relying on others can be a hindrance. He’s currently content with this approach, but Tsubasa Nanase intends to travel with him. She won’t ask him to officially join her group, instead allowing him to compete for points by leading the way. Ayanokoji reluctantly agrees, sensing something isn’t quite right.

Will Ayanokoji Escape Expulsion?

Everyone expects Ayanokoji to avoid expulsion, and the most exciting part is watching his plan unfold. This episode reveals that Nanase’s efforts to help him stem from a personal tragedy – the suicide of someone she cared about. The story will probably explore this further in upcoming episodes.

I still remember the shock I felt then. The harsh reality that slammed into me without warning.

— Tsubasa Nanase

Ayanokoji has noticed Nanase seemingly ‘accidentally’ running into him repeatedly and suspects she’s up to something. He’s likely watching her closely to figure it out. Given that she’s with Hosen and Amasawa, they might be working together on a plan, which is making the situation increasingly intriguing.

What Will Happen in the Next Episode?

This episode mainly followed Nanase and Ayanokoji and their disagreements, but the story will likely shift to show how other students are handling the exam soon. We know Horikita is currently working solo, though she plans to team up with someone later. With everyone aiming for the top spot, there’s still a lot to uncover. The older students, especially Nagumo and his group, also seem very motivated to do well, and we’ll probably see what they’re planning as the season continues.

The tenth episode of Classroom of the Elite Season 4 is scheduled to be released on May 13, 2026. You’ll be able to watch it on Crunchyroll, and it may also be available on streaming services like Muse Asia and ABEMA in Japan, where the show is currently popular. Crunchyroll has already started adding English dubbing to the first few episodes.

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2026-05-06 22:05