Bad Genius

Lynn, a top secondary school student, learns that she has been accepted into a prestigious school. She earns this opportunity through a scholarship awarded for her outstanding academic performance, which is a significant achievement for her and her father, who is a modestly earning teacher.

At the new school, Lynn befriends Grace, who is friendly but academically struggling. This friendship sets the stage for Lynn's decision to start helping her peer navigate the pressures of their competitive academic environment.

While assisting Grace with her studies, Lynn discovers that their teacher has been leaking exam questions during private tutoring sessions. This revelation prompts Lynn to consider unethical ways to excel academically, challenging her morals.

Lynn is approached by Pat, Grace's wealthy boyfriend, who offers her money to help him and his friends cheat as well. Though hesitant, Lynn ultimately agrees when she learns about additional fees that the school had charged her father.

In order to facilitate the cheating, Lynn comes up with a system of hand signals based on piano pieces to communicate answers during exams. This innovative method enables her to assist a growing number of clients discreetly.

Lynn's cheating scheme is eventually discovered by Bank, another top student at the school. This incident leads to dire consequences for Lynn, including a reprimand from her father and suspension of her scholarship by the school.

Despite her earlier problems, Lynn returns to her unethical ways when Pat and Grace ask for her help with the STIC, an international standardized test that could make them rich. However, her initial misgivings return as she contemplates the implications.

Bank, initially opposed to cheating, finds himself in a difficult situation after being attacked by thugs ordered by Pat. This incident forces him to miss the scholarship exam, making him reconsider joining Lynn’s plan for the STIC test.

Lynn and Bank fly to Australia to take the STIC test and to send back answers for their clients. They prepare meticulously, but Lynn finds out that Pat's manipulative role in Bank's attack complicates their partnership.

In Sydney, the exam unfolds according to plan until Bank succumbs to anxiety and gets caught cheating. Lynn is left to rely on her memory to finish the last section, showcasing her desperation and resilience under pressure.

Lynn successfully feigns illness to escape the test center without being caught. She manages to evade the test administrator, but this act of deceit weighs heavily on her conscience as she realizes the implications of their actions.

After returning home, Lynn learns that their cheating scheme succeeded greatly, which exasperates her internal conflict. Disenchanted by the experience, she rejects her share of the money, seeking redemption for her actions.

Bank approaches Lynn with a new proposition to help with a larger-scale cheating scheme for the national GAT/PAT exams. This moment reveals the ongoing cycle of temptation and moral decay surrounding them.

Faced with the threat of exposure from Bank, Lynn makes a poignant choice to come clean about the cheating. Her confession is a defining moment of personal growth, as she seeks forgiveness from her father.

With her father's support, Lynn submits a formal confession to the STIC organization, marking her commitment to righteousness. This act of redemption signifies her attempt to make amends for the wrongs she committed.