I don't understand how that makes much sense. The multiple graduation exams per year theory.

I mean, they clearly state that Neji was last year's no. 1 rookie. He wasn't one of them. He was it.

Sasuke was clearly in the Academy since a young age. Why not take it then? He learned an advanced skill, in the Goukyaku, very young. That right there would have qualified as a passing skill. Fuck a Bunshin / Henge.