What is the ruling on receiving money for excelling in an exam, whether from the teacher or from competing students, while having paid a sum of money to participate in the exam?

The aforementioned method of competing in an exam (students paying money to receive a larger prize) is forbidden because it falls under the category of gambling ( Maysir). However, it is permissible if the money is provided by the teacher or a third party, without the students paying anything. Alternatively, if students do pay, it becomes permissible if another student, equal to them, who does not pay anything, is included and takes the total collected money if they win. The exam material must be beneficial, as competing for a prize is only legitimate in matters that benefit the Ummah, such as beneficial knowledge, by analogy with the prophetic Hadith: "There is no prize except in hoof, or arrow, or hoof."