MAN: How would you describe your mother's training regime?
The way she 'trains us' is very...
..VERY tiring
and a lot...
..of effort.
Because there's a lot of studying and not much relaxing.
MUM: Oh, get out of here! That's the completely wrong answer!
VERONICA GAY: It's the quarterfinals
in the quest to find Australia's Child Genius 2018.
Oh, my God, I can't believe it!
For more than a decade, Australia's education performance has been declining
on the world stage.
As a nation, we pride ourselves on our sporting excellence,
while academic achievements are often overlooked.
Now, we're into the quarterfinals
of the six-day, nationwide competition
to find our brightest child.
Maybe if he wins, even a couple questions,
that's him scoring a goal.
Out of the 19 children chosen to compete...
Oh, my God! You're doing it so fast!
..eight have been eliminated and just 11 remain.
Everyone that's left in this competition is really strong.
Each of these competitors and their parents
have their eyes firmly on the prize.
He is going for the finals and for the cup,
so he's definitely going for the win.
But first, they must face their greatest challenge.
It's the Instant Elimination History Round.
Robert Menzies. (BUZZER)
For the first time, someone is leaving after round one.
(BUZZER)
I'm so scared.
If you stuff up bad enough, then you're gone.
Now, the finals begin,
overseen by Australian Mensa and quizmaster Dr Susan Carland.
It's pressure. In just three days...
I will need to up my game.
..one of these exceptional children will be crowned Child Genius 2018.
You just have to...?
Hit the ball out of the park.
Hit the ball!
Today, it's the Child Genius quarterfinals.
So what do you think about making quarterfinals, guys?
That's pretty exciting! Yeah, it's pretty cool.
Eight children have already been eliminated.
And now only 11 competitors remain in this competition
to unearth the nation's brightest child.
I am one step closer to the grand final day
and, oh, it makes me feel excellent!
By the end of the day, three more will be going home.
Sweetheart, are you going to win today?
I hope so. No... (LAUGHS)
What does 'Muttaburrasaurus' mean?
This afternoon they'll take on a memory recall challenge
about dinosaurs.
Do you have to know the spelling of the dinosaurs? I think so.
But first, they face a demanding 20-question round
on Australian history since European arrival.
WOMAN: In which year the first direct wireless message
was delivered from England to Australia?
History isn't everybody's cup of tea. It can be difficult.
Yes, it's very interesting, but it's also very hard.
What are you expecting to get in this round?
Huh? Five, six, maybe even seven.
We'll be fine. We'll ace this!
Yeah, that's it. That's the spirit. We'll ace it!
Adding to the pressure,
today the stakes have been dramatically raised.
Today, for the first time, someone is leaving after round one.
In this first round, there are no second chances.
It is a make-or-break situation.
The person with the lowest score in the History Round will be instantly eliminated.
If you stuff up bad enough, then you're gone.
Got the star shoes on?
Up until now, you could make it up in the second round
and still be here for the next day.
Today, one bad round, one silly mistake
and it can and everything for you.
It's pressure!
So, you need to try and not be on the bottom.
I'm so scared.
Today's the 28th. 27th.
Welcome back, everyone.
Please welcome our remaining 11 competitors.
(APPLAUSE)
BOY: I have arrived!
I have with me to independent competition adjudicator Jane Allen
from the International Quizzing Association,
and author and historian Dr Kiera Lindsey.
Welcome, ladies. Thank you very much.
At the end of this morning's History Round,
we will be saying goodbye to our lowest-scoring competitor.
DR KIERA LINDSEY: This is a tough round.
Any competitor who has a natural curiosity
and passion for Australian history
is obviously going to have an advantage.
Let's have a very warm welcome for Nathan.
(APPLAUSE)
While most of the finalists are trying to win each round,
Queenslander Nathan has a more laid-back approach.
It is going to be difficult, but I know I can-dum.
(WOMAN LAUGHS)
An approach that is encouraged by mum Leanne.
WOMAN: My motivations in entering Nathan in the competition was for us to have a bit of fun...
..and for Nathan to meet some like-minded people.
We've actually never aimed to be top of the leaderboard.
The strategy has just been to be safe each time.
But Nathan's relaxed approach seems to be working for him
as he won the Spelling Round on Day 3.
DR CARLAND: Nathan, you shot to the lead with eight points.
Congratulations.
I beat Peter for the first time in a round,
so that was pretty cool.
I've surprised myself.
I had no clue that I would be able to pull myself together
in the tough times and get through the study
and then pass through the rounds way better than I thought.
Now that he's advanced the quarterfinals,
Nathan has a game plan.
When you're doing something that's quite long like this,
you need to set goals for yourself, pace yourself as you're going along,
so you don't get too far ahead of yourself
that you puff out at the end
and you don't fall too far behind that you can't catch up.
You have four minutes to answer up to 20 questions.
Are you ready? Yes.
OK, Nathan, your first question is -
on 3 December 1854,
six troopers and how many diggers were killed in fighting
at the Eureka stockade?
22. Correct.
Australia's worst ever rail disaster happened in which Sydney suburb in 1977?
Granville. Correct.
In 1885, the inventor Henry Sutton tested his Telephane
sending images of which sporting event from Melbourne...?
Melbourne Cup. Correct.
I think it's just a good idea to save that little bit of energy each time
so that at the end, you can really rise above the rest.
South Australia. Correct.
Wool. Correct.
Robert Menzies. (BUZZER) Billy Hughes.
LEANNE: I think he understands that what counts is just getting through the next round.
In a way, it's sort of energy conservation,
not pushing too hard to prove a point -
I really don't see the need for doing that.
In the early days of the motorcar,
Australia's car bodies were made by people who also made what?
Saddlery. (BUZZER)
Horse-drawn carriages.
(FINAL BUZZER)
Well done, Nathan. You scored 12 points.
Nice.
I got 12/20, so I'm happy with that.
At the moment, I'm in that just-right position.
Nathan may be happy with his score,
but his competition rival Peter thinks he could do better.
I think he could have won a higher score
if he'd been a bit faster.
I don't need that much of a high score to stay in.
At the moment, I'm just hanging down
so that I can surprise everyone at the end.
Peter strives for perfection in every round.
And on Day 3, he achieved just that,
recalling all 52 cards
in the card memory round.
Three of diamonds, and 10 of diamonds.
You did it! You scored 13 perfect points, Peter.
Well done.
I did get first place last round.
The consistency is still very good.
A very warm welcome for Peter.
I would definitely love it if I could win.
It would open up a lot more opportunities for me.
Are you coming in feeling very confident?
Yes, I hope I can replicate those results again.
Peter's drive to succeed comes from his dad, Henri,
a chemical engineer, originally from Indonesia.
We always tell our children - don't be happy where you are,
you need to think about what else you can do.
I just want you to focus and calm down
and believe in yourself.
You've done it before.
Are you ready? Yes.
Your time starts now.
Early in the 1900s, blocks of land irrigated by the melt waters
of the Snowy Mountains were opened up near which major river?
Murray River.
(BUZZER) The Murrumbidgee River.
HENRI: He has been preparing quite well, I would say.
So, I just hope that he will keep his calm, his composure, his focus.
The countries like Australia who sent forces to fight
against the communists in the Korean War
did so under a mandate from which international...
United Nations. Correct.
Billy Hughes. (BUZZER)
Joseph Cook. Joseph Cook.
With two answers incorrect,
this ambitious competitor is off to a rocky start.
Which cactus plant was brought to Australia on the First Fleet
to breed the cochineal insects that lived on it?
Prickly... pear.
Correct.
HENRI: Peter is a smart boy
and he's a very motivated and driven child
who always strives for the best.
The Australian Communist Party. Correct.
Winston Churchill. Correct.
Smith. Correct.
In which sport did Aboriginal sportswoman Nova Peris-Kneebone
win Olympic gold as a member of the...
Hockey. Correct.
(LAUGHS)
Well done, Peter. You are in the lead, again, with 16 points.
(APPLAUSE) (LAUGHS)
Peter's score puts him back at the top of the leaderboard.
But the next competitor sees this round as his golden opportunity.
History has been my favourite subject for about five years at school now.
So, I should be able to do pretty well in that,
so I'm pretty hyped up for that one.
Let's have a very warm welcome for Sumedh.
12-year-old Sumedh has been trailing the leaders for the past three days.
He was entered into the competition by his dad, Sudip.
SUDIP: He was interested
but the dates of the competition was clashing with his cricket.
He still said, "OK, I'll go,
"but you have to promise me that I don't miss my cricket game."
Luckily for him, he made his cricket competition,
they became the champions.
And he's put in all of his efforts and he is very committed
to win the competition.
When did ABC start its operation?
1932. Awesome.
Sumedh's sporting success is matched by an IQ of 143,
putting him in the top 2% of the population.
Did you finish all the exams? Yeah.
And it's no surprise to his parents
whose careers have taken them from Calcutta to Australia.
These genes are for my wife.
She, academically, was also very strong.
Are you going to have more?
The sports part, I will take the credit. (LAUGHS)
Aim for the top and you'll come through.
Don't let the pressure get to you. Yeah.
You just have to...?
Hit the ball out of the park. Hit the ball.
Feeling good? Do you have a strong passion for Australian history?
Yep. That's the way. Good to hear!
Because the first three rounds, they weren't necessarily my strong point,
I think I wasn't able to really do too well...
At Gallipoli in 1915,
what nickname was given to ANZAC troops
from the way they took cover...
Diggers. Correct.
..but as I go along, and I get to my better subjects,
I think I can make my mark and probably compete with the top.
Piloted by Aussies, what was the two-word name of the airplane
that completed the first-ever transpacific flight?
Southern Cross. Correct.
The Duke and Duchess of York. Correct.
December. Correct.
New South Wales. Correct.
SUDIP: He is certainly very competitive.
He is going for the finals and for the cup,
so he's definitely going for the win.
Sumedh is quickly catching up to frontrunner Peter.
The Army of which Asian country occupied its neighbour, Cambodia,
for 10 years in the last quarter of the 20th century?
Vietnam. Correct.
John Smith Murdoch. Correct.
Pedal wireless. Correct.
SUMEDH: Yes, I am a quiet achiever,
but if I like something, then I really want to do well in it,
and if it's a competition, then try and win it.
1,000. Correct.
China. Correct.
Port Arthur. Correct.
Sumedh is tied with Peter on 16 points.
Another correct answer will put him ahead for the first time
in the competition.
Where in Turkey is the Respect to Mehmetcik monument?
ANZAC Cove.
Just hold on that.
Yep, that's absolutely fine. Brilliant.
Yes, we had Gallipoli, but we will accept that.
More specific. More specific than what we had.
Caterpillar. Correct.
Hubert Opperman. Correct.
(APPLAUSE)
Sumedh, you scored 19 out of 20 points!
Got wrecked. Sumedh blitzed it.
That was really good!
WOMAN: I didn't expect that.
I don't know, I don't have words!
What happened just now on the podium,
everything Susan's saying, "Correct, correct, correct."
I think there is no better way of making your mark
in the competition than getting the top,
so I'm pretty happy with that.
So, very high scores definitely intimidate people.
Yeah! Bowl a rip-snorter. It's a very...
The leaderboard is filling up with big scores.
And in this sudden elimination round,
the remaining competitors are feeling the pressure.
GIRL: Everything's becoming more tense and more competitive.
MAN: Do you like that it's getting quite competitive now?
No. (LAUGHS)
'Cause than everyone else is working harder
and that means I have to work harder or I'll be eliminated.
It's the quarterfinals of Child Genius 2018.
And the remaining competitors are taking on
a demanding test of Australian history.
What was the first thing rationed in Australia
during World War II?
Petrol. Correct.
It's a high-stakes quiz
because the lowest scorer of this round
will be instantly eliminated.
Due to over-ordering, two truckloads of what got buried in a rubbish tip
after the grand opening of Canberra's Parliament House?
Sausage rolls and meat pies.
The answer was food, but I will accept that detail.
(LAUGHTER)
Adding to the pressure, Sumedh and Peter have set a high bar
with massive scores of 19 and 16 out of 20.
BOY: Everyone that's left gets constantly higher scores,
so if I'm going to have any chance of surviving this competition,
I will need to up my game.
The rest of the competitors are struggling
with this difficult subject.
Britain. (BUZZER) Europe.
World War II. (BUZZER) The Korean War.
Arielle, you scored eight points.
Adam, you scored seven points.
And one competitor is particularly worried.
Welcome back, Mahnoor. Thank you.
Feeling good for Day 4?
Uh... yeah... (LAUGHS)
History, it's not one of my strong subjects
and at I'm nervous about that.
And then the one with the red...
Education has always been important
to Mahnoor's Pakistani-born mum, Anmoila, and her late husband.
I come from a tribal background,
so education was not very necessary for girls.
It was only for boys.
..an Australian soldier riding a camel near Cairo, Egypt.
For my three girls, I would want equal opportunity for work,
for study, to... just go ahead in life.
Conquer the world.
"A living thing capable of a separate existence is called an organism."
Why do you want to become a doctor?
'Cause I'm a curious person
and I always want to find out answers
and I want to help people.
That's a very good thing.
And Anmoila knows she has the positive outlook
to see her through.
It's not that easy. It's not a piece of cake.
She has to work hard for it, but my 100% focus is on Mahnoor.
You have four minutes to answer up to 20 questions.
Let's begin.
In which Australian city can you visit the Ataturk Memorial
on ANZAC Parade?
Canberra? Correct.
Which party swept into power
in the 1949 Australian federal election?
The... Labor Party?
(BUZZER) The Liberal Party.
Now, you win or lose by a point, really.
'Cause the pressure really gets to you
and you can easily make a mistake, but...
..I hope I can pull this... pull this off.
The Pacific Ocean. (BUZZER)
The Bay of Bengal.
Pass.
Ruford Smith. (BUZZER)
Robert Reid.
Nearing the end of her round, Mahnoor is still only on four points.
How many stars were included in the design of the Eureka Stockade flag?
(FINAL BUZZER) Five.
That's correct.
Thanks, Mahnoor. You scored five points.
(APPLAUSE)
Mahnoor's score puts her in last place...
MAHNOOR: I didn't go too good. I got five.
..and with just two competitors to go,
in danger of instant elimination.
I don't think that will be enough to stay in the...
..in the round.
Her hopes lie with 12-year-old Amy,
who's also apprehensive about this subject.
Amy was entered into the competition by her mother,
alongside brother Maxwell.
History was something we always knew and thought
Maxwell would be better at.
In the weeks since Maxwell was eliminated,
mum Larnie has made it her mission to coach Amy
through her weakest subject.
WOMAN: Get the whiteboard ready and we'll do some lessons.
I'm very, very focused on Amy now.
And I know how she can learn.
Amy... start again. I can see big mistakes.
We've been doing a lot of study. MAN: It's full on.
It's just, you know, study, study, study.
I am a firm believer in nurture, I've decided.
We don't watch TV in this household. We just do this.
This is our game show of the night.
(LAUGHS) Beep! (SIGHS)
I sometimes think if someone gave me their child
and I brought that child up the way I brought my children up,
would they be of a higher level?
And I think they would.
MAN: How would you describe your mother's training regime?
The way she 'trains us' is very...
..VERY tiring
and a lot...
..of effort
because there's a lot of studying and not much relaxing.
LARNIE: Oh, get out of here! That's the completely wrong answer!
That's wrong! I'm not a mean mother!
I'm a nice...
..relaxed mother and I manage the time.
I don't push you hard.
If you want me to show you how to push the study hard, I can.
No, no, I'm OK. See?
Aren't I teaching you in a fun manner?
No?
If you didn't go into the competition fully prepared, would you be upset?
Yes. There you go. There's your answer.
So, I'm merely just helping you get to where you want to get to.
OK, you done?
No, it's time for study now.
Let's have a very big welcome for Amy.
Now Amy must get more than five right to stay in the competition.
History is really hard compared to other things
like maths or memorising a deck of cards,
which is very nerve-racking knowing someone is going out
straight after one round.
Which American company bought and merged
with Australia's Holden Motor Body Builders in 1931?
Ausman.
(BUZZER) General Motors.
LARNIE: History is one to be tough,
but Amy's very hardworking and she's very determined.
She won't give up.
Which Australian city hosted the Commonwealth Games in 1982?
Sydney. (BUZZER)
Brisbane.
(EXHALES)
Amy can focus extremely well, like that. (SNAPS FINGERS)
Can turn very quickly and just focus.
Victoria. Correct.
Fingers crossed - I hope I brought up a little warrior girl
that can push her way through.
Wool. Correct.
Stockade. Correct.
With five points so far, Amy needs just one more correct answer
to be safe from instant elimination.
At the start of World War II,
which Australian prime minister offered Australian's troops
to defend Britain?
Menzies. Correct.
Amy's progression to the second round means Mahnoor remains in the danger zone.
Melbourne. Correct.
The Old Parliament House. Correct.
California. Correct.
Well done, Amy, you scored 12 points. Congratulations.
Oh, my goodness! Well-done! Good girl.
I got 12 out of 20
which exceeded my expectations a lot.
I expected to maybe get two or three.
(EXHALES LOUDLY)
Now only one last competitor stands between Mahnoor and going home.
Let's have a very warm welcome for Mackenzie.
Mackenzie shook up the competition on Day 3
with a perfect score in the card memory round.
That's amazing. You got 13 out of 13 points.
Congratulations.
We'd seen Peter get the perfect deck and we're like,
"Oh, my goodness, that's amazing. He's just a star."
And then our girl pulled the same thing
and it totally shocked us.
We weren't expecting that.
12-year-old Mackenzie was entered into Child Genius
by her mother, Madison.
MADISON: Mackenzie will do really well.
She always flies under the radar and just pops out of nowhere
with all these awards.
From Victoria's Mornington Peninsula,
Mackenzie's no stranger to academic achievement.
She's always getting A-pluses all the time for every subject.
Not only an exceptional student, she's an accomplished athlete.
MADISON: Go!
She wins so often in almost everything she enters.
Apparently, mothers are the ones
that pass down the intelligence gene, so...
If I can take claim for that, that'd be good.
Could I have a look? What have you done here?
She'll do well if she studies and she's not...
..one that has had to study before.
And I would have got a pen for every colour. So I think...
Oh, my gosh. That takes up too much time. No, it doesn't.
In some ways, she's very similar to me.
And I'm going to ask what group you think they might be in.
I never studied.
I'd get up for exams at 6am
and just crash study for one hour and then get an A.
I'll probably have to study a lot to try and catch up.
She'll ramp it up, though, when she has to, I suppose. (LAUGHS)
Yeah... probably have to.
And for the sudden elimination round, Madison is concerned.
MAN: How much studying has Mackenzie put in?
Minimal.
We didn't do much at Luna Park.
I think Luna Park won over study time and shopping.
I think it's called daddy treat time.
The question is - has she done enough to beat Mahnoor?
You've got four minutes to answer 20 questions.
Are you ready? Yeah. OK.
In 1916, Daniel Mannix criticised conscription.
He was at the time the Catholic Archbishop
of which Australian city?
Melbourne. Correct.
Which Australian state's Shipwreck Coast is near the Great Ocean Road?
Melbourne.
(BUZZER) Victoria.
GLENN: It hasn't helped, probably, I've kind of distracted her totally.
Um... But, at the same time, I think she's probably needed it
'cause it's getting a bit intense - it's been a long week, she's tired.
1956.
(BUZZER) 1912.
Ship. (BUZZER) Airplanes.
Wheat.
It was 'Federation wheat' we were after.
What important event of 1956 could only be watched live
on Australian television if you lived in Melbourne?
The Olympics.
I've got Melbourne Olympics, but Olympics will suffice.
Many people around the world used to watch
an Australian television program featuring Skippy,
an animal of what kind? (FINAL BUZZER)
Dog. (BUZZER)
A bush kangaroo.
A score of two means Mahnoor is safe.
But Mackenzie will be leaving the competition.
Mackenzie, you scored two points.
Great work, everyone.
Unfortunately, our lowest scorer does need to leave the competition at the end of this round.
Mackenzie, we are so sorry to see you go.
You have been a remarkable competitor
and we're all so impressed with you.
Let's give Mackenzie a very big round of applause.
MADISON: She's really pleased with herself for the card round,
to pull the 52 cards,
and I think she's happy to finish on that high.
I did try, Mum.
So, if there's no tears from her, then I can't be upset with that.
I might be in trouble. There might be tears for me.
(BOTH LAUGH)
I feel you're more sad than I am. I'm not.
(LAUGHS) Dog. Dog for Skippy?! Seriously?
You're going to have a break of studying for a while.
How's that sound?
And Dad's has promised to buy her a toy dog called Skippy. (LAUGHS)
It's the quarterfinals
in the battle to discover Australia's brightest child,
and Mackenzie has already been eliminated.
Hello, I got through!
Now we're in the top 10, officially, the top 10.
Some people think we might get our names on the side of buses.
You did so well! You surprised yourself, didn't you?
With a stunning first round score,
Sumedh has made his move
on the competition,
three points ahead
of second-placed Peter.
He turned the ball. Today is his day.
So, he just needs to be calm now.
Not get overconfident and just have to keep that up for the next round.
At the bottom of the leaderboard,
Mahnoor and Adam are in danger of the nation.
It's getting so tense that one mistake and then, you...
..you're done for.
It's Steneosaurus.
But round two is their chance to turn things around.
The two lowest can easily catch up and anything could happen.
Things change, don't they?
You could be the lowest here or the highest
and then it just goes... whoo!
The scales change.
So you cannot count your chickens before they're hatched.
SUMEDH: Goodbye. Do it well. Yeah.
This afternoon, it's the memory recall challenge.
(MUMBLES TO HERSELF)
The children have just 40 minutes to memorise as much as they can
about 66 different types of dinosaurs.
What does this name mean? Where was it found? How much does it weigh?
They have to be able to spell it as well.
There is a lot that they have to cram in just 40 minutes.
Late Cretaceous, Late Jurassic.
Overseeing the challenge is palaeontologist Dr Timothy Holland.
MAN: There's a lot of information.
My advice would be to come up with some sort of rhyme or story.
For instance, you could think of
"Iguanodon weighed five tonne,"
or, "Stygimoloch did not weigh a lot."
Muttaburrasaurus, Early Cretaceous.
There are 20 points on offer
and they'll be added to the scores from round one.
(MUMBLES TO HERSELF)
A place in the semifinals is at stake
for those who conquer this demanding test of memory.
Compsognathus. Oh, my God.
Compsognathus. Late Jurassic.
But for those at the bottom of the leaderboard,
it's a fight for survival.
I scored a lot lower than I would have liked to in history.
Some real big slip-ups. I only got seven.
I kind of feel like a little bit in danger.
But 12-year-old Adam has a survival plan.
I'm going to try and score a perfect 20
in the dinosaur's round.
That would... I think that would guarantee me safety.
As the other children prepare backstage, Adam takes to the podium.
Let's have a very big welcome for Adam.
What hat do we have today?
This is my tropical hat.
(LAUGHTER)
I'm a man of many hats and each one has a purpose.
This is my 'socialising hat'.
My director's hat. My hat-tossing hat.
My 'exotic' hat. I bought this hat in England.
Adam lives in Sydney's North with his mum and dad.
He is... You know, can be a little bit weird at times.
Have you ever been struck by lightning?
He thinks a little bit outside the square.
Because if you had, that would have been an excellent example of static electricity.
He's a little eccentric, I guess.
I'd say, I'm eccentric in a good way.
This is what I call the competition hat.
He doesn't care about what people think about his image.
Outrageousness.
O-U-T-R-A-G-E...
You get certain 'quirks' when you're gifted.
JOANNE: Ventriloquist.
I am not too good at sports.
I like astronomy and... and cows. Cows are my favourite animal.
I'm a little bit confused about this, Adam.
Mum, a nurse, and dad, an IT consultant,
discovered Adam was gifted at an early age.
It's a bit weird when you realise
that your four or five-year-old can spell better than what you can.
And his dad sees this competition as Adam's time to shine.
In Australia, I think a lot more emphasis is put on sport,
especially for younger kids.
If you're great in sport, you can get up there,
you can score goals or you can have the fastest time,
but sometimes the academic side isn't so important.
I want to give Adam a bit more of a chance to shine.
And maybe if he wins, even a couple questions,
he's going to get out there, that's him scoring a goal.
In the bottom three after round one and staring down elimination,
Adam and his dad have a game plan.
Are you going to try and ace it this round?
Yeah, 20 out of 20. 20 out of 20.
OK, is that what we are going for? Yeah.
20 out of 20. I hope.
Welcome back, Adam.
You've had 40 minutes to learn everything you can about dinosaurs.
You'll now have just four minutes to answer up to 20 questions.
Are you ready? Yeah.
Your time starts now.
Which dinosaur's name means 'wounding tooth'?
Troodon. Correct.
What does the name 'Supersaurus' mean according to the chart?
Super lizard. Correct.
JOANNE: Adam is hoping he's going to smash this whole memory thing
and get the maximum points.
I'm hoping he's going to get through the round.
Iguana tooth. Correct.
Hollow form. Correct.
Late Triassic. Correct.
So far, Adam's on a perfect score.
Heterodontosaurus. Correct.
If he continues answering correctly,
he'll be sure of a place in the semifinals.
How much did Massospondylus weigh
and in which time period did they exist?
25,000 kilograms
(BUZZER) 70kg.
But as the questions get harder...
Please spell 'Eustreptospondylus'.
..Adam takes longer...
Can you please pronounce the name again?
Eustreptospondylus.
..and time has run out.
(FINAL BUZZER)
Keep going.
(BUZZER)
(SANDRA SPELLS)
JOANNE: I think he deserves to get through
because of the effort he's actually put in.
But we just have to wait and see.
Well done, Adam. You scored 11 points.
(APPLAUSE)
Adam's score of 11 is well off his target,
leaving him with a total of just 18 points.
It is kind of sad that Sumedh's score from the first round
is higher than my score from both rounds.
Will it be enough to stay in the competition?
Are you able to spell 'Coloradisaurus'?
Yes.
Go for it. One by one...
I scored 15 points in the memory round.
..his competitors pass Adam on the leaderboard...
Well done, Rhedyn, you scored 13 points.
Well done, Nathan. You scored 16 out of 20 points.
And all Adam can do is wait.
I'm just sitting there being like, "Yeah"
when the other people kind of got higher scores than me.
I got 14!
How did you get 14?
That's quite a lot.
More than halfway through the round, Adam continues to be at the bottom.
Next up is Sumedh, the new competition favourite,
scoring 19 out of 20 in this morning's history round.
Welcome, Sumedh. Hi.
Feeling good for dinosaurs?
It is a nice feeling to be on the top of the leaderboard
and I hope to continue that into the next round.
Sumedh, your first question is -
what does the name 'Archaeornithomimus' mean?
Ancient bird mimic.
Correct.
And it doesn't take long for Sumedh to hit his stride.
Can you tell me how heavy the Stegosaurus was according to the chart?
2,500. Correct.
Apatosaurus. Riojasaurus.
54,000 kilograms. Correct.
Correct. Correct.
Well done, Sumedh, you scored 15 out of 20 points.
On a total score of 34 points,
Sumedh is hoping he will be unbeatable.
Coming first would be the dream quarterfinal finish.
I want people to notice me now
because I think I've been a bit unnoticed
throughout the competition.
But Sumedh isn't the only one chasing the top spot on the leaderboard.
Welcome back, Peter. Hello.
I'd be really pleased if I could get first-place spot for this round.
Are you ready? Yes.
OK, Peter, your first question is - according to the chart,
what does the name 'Allosaurus' mean?
Peter is currently sitting on a score of 16.
He needs to answer 19 questions correctly to secure the lead.
Different lizard. Correct.
The Early Cretaceous. Correct.
Dromaeosaurus.
Correct.
Alamosaurus. Correct.
Peter is always confident
and there's no difference between today and any other days.
Can you spell 'Iguanodon'?
(BUZZER)
Very unlucky.
Peter can't afford any more wrong answers
if he's to beat Sumedh.
20,000 kilograms. Correct.
Late Cretaceous. Correct.
3,500 kilograms. Correct.
It weighed 70,000 kilograms and it was Late Cretaceous.
Correct.
Now, with one last question to go,
Peter must answer correctly
if his combined score is to outstrip Sumedh.
The dinosaur names 'Deinonychus' and 'Euoplocephalus'
share six letters of the alphabet,
O, C, H, S, and which other two?
(FINAL BUZZER)
E...
..S.
(BUZZER) So unlucky.
E and U.
The scores are tied.
Peter must share the top spot.
Great work, Peter. You scored 18 out of 20 points.
(APPLAUSE)
With the frontrunners decided,
it is now a race to see who will be safe from elimination.
With a total score of 18,
Adam remains at the bottom of the leaderboard,
and with only two competitors to go,
he is perilously close to getting knocked out.
Let's have a very warm welcome for Mahnoor.
With a score of just five in round one,
Mahnoor is happy to have avoided instant elimination.
Now it's all about keeping focus.
I want to go into the top five.
I think if that is my goal,
it will really push me to work harder and study more.
Mahnoor requires a score of at least 14 to pass Adam
and have a chance of progressing to the semifinal.
Are you ready to go? Yep.
What does the name Troodon mean according to the chart?
Wounding tooth. Correct.
ANMOILA: Previously, it was alright,
you know, get 70% right, get 80% right, it's OK....
"Mountain runner" is the meaning of which dinosaur's name?
But now since more and more kids are being eliminated,
you have to be perfect in order to survive.
Eodromaeus. Correct.
Mahnoor has started strongly
and is on the way to passing Adam's score.
She challenges herself, she wants to be at the top,
she wants to win it, but I think it is not that easy.
From which time period is the Iguanodon?
Late Jurassic? (BUZZER)
Early Cretaceous.
2,500?
(BUZZER) Unlucky, 2,000.
But as the clock ticks down...
Late Triassic? (BUZZER) Early Cretaceous.
..so do Mahnoor's chances of survival.
From which time period is the Pachycephalosaurus?
(FINAL BUZZER)
Early Cretaceous.
(BUZZER) Close.
Late Cretaceous.
Well done, Mahnoor. You scored nine points.
(APPLAUSE)
A score of nine is not enough.
With just one competitor left to take their turn,
Mahnoor cannot avoid being sent home.
I think this competition has really blessed us
in that Mahnoor knows where she stands, her waters.
She was overconfident before,
so that has come down a little bit and then, of course,
we will take it from here and she will further her skills.
I don't feel as sad as I thought I would.
'Cause I think I was prepared to be eliminated.
'Cause I knew it was going to happen sooner or later.
Adam remains at the bottom of the leaderboard,
and all that stands between him and elimination
is the last competitor, Amy.
If she gets a five or less than that's me through.
Or if she gets a six then it's a tie breaker.
Amy has never been into dinosaurs,
has no idea of dinosaurs.
I am not that into things that don't really exist any more.
Let's have a very warm welcome for our lucky last competitor, Amy.
Because she was so concerned with dinosaurs,
when she got up on the stage she was white.
I could see the fear, absolute fear in her.
All her blood had drained from her face.
MAN: It was like, "I am going home now."
NATHAN: Three, two, one, go.
Oh, my God. He's doing it so fast!
It's the Child Genius quarterfinals.
I got weight, period and nickname.
One competitor remains.
And the final elimination is about to be decided.
Your hopes rest on Amy.
This will be an uphill battle
because dinosaurs are Amy's least favourite subject.
AMY: I am not that into things that don't really exist any more.
Amy needs seven correct answers
in this round to beat Adam
or she is going home.
Welcome, Amy. Lucky last. It's a long wait.
Because she was last out, she was terrified.
She was white and I actually thought she was going to faint.
Are you ready?
Can you tell me the time period the Troodon came from?
Early Cretaceous.
(BUZZER) Late Cretaceous.
One of the dinosaurs listed on the chart is the Argentinosaurus.
Please spell its name.
(BUZZER) So close.
T-I-N-O-S-A-U-R-U-S.
The Apatosaurus was 20,000 kilos
and it was from the Late Cretaceous.
(BUZZER) Late Jurassic.
She believes she can be number one.
I believe she can be number one.
But if she is not, if she gets out, that is still a success for us.
Please spell the dinosaur name 'Supersaurus'.
Correct.
Over what time period did the Orodromeus exist
and how much did it weigh?
Orodromeus was 50 kilos.
Her strength, I think, is memory.
She will memorise till the cows come home.
You see her, her eyes go back and she is visualising.
And it was in the...
..Late Cretaceous. Correct.
200 kilos. Correct.
..O-S-A-U-R-U-S Correct.
Parrot lizard. Correct.
9,000. Correct.
Amy and Adam's scores are tied.
Just one more correct answer gets her through to the semifinal.
Of these two dinosaur names,
the Baryonyx and the Eocursor, which has more vowels?
The Eocursor.
Correct.
She can do well. She can do really well.
The Procompsognathus. Correct.
Amy is one to watch.
27. Correct.
Brachiosaurus. Correct.
Chasm lizard. Correct.
Amy, you scored 14 points.
Well done.
Good work!
Good work, sweetheart. Well done.
I got 14 out of 20
and I was not expecting that one bit,
so I was really excited.
What did you get, what did you get?
What did you get?
She got 14.
(PRETENDS TO CRY)
Adam has been eliminated.
You scored too high, Amy. I'm sorry, Adam.
AMY: I'm sorry.
It's OK.
I'll be OK.
I just need to think calm thoughts.
I loved Adam.
I love that he was so happy to own his look
and really embrace that and just be who he was.
He's a real loss from the competition.
I made the quarterfinals. That's pretty good, right?
Yeah, I think it's very good.
I think you should be very proud of yourself.
You've done an excellent job.
You have done such a fantastic job and I am so proud of you.
Thank you.
While Adam says his goodbyes,
there's a new contender at the top of the leaderboard.
Sumedh has always been up in the top five
and he's really come up to the top this time.
With tomorrow's semifinals looming, everyone has their eyes on the prize.
Oh, my God. It's the semifinals.
Semifinals! It's going to be a really big thing.
I'm two steps away now from winning the grand final
and bringing that trophy home.
Yeah, I am really proud of myself. Mum is pretty proud of me as well.
I am really excited
now that I've seen I'm actually coming third on the leaderboard,
and I am starting to think, "Oh, I might actually be in this to win it."
Eyes are on the prize.