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nThis was the last week of June, it was time for the end of the first school semester.

nThis meant Exams.

nThe students were already used to their notebooks and pens. It was way better and cleaner than using slateboards and chalk.

nLandon had given all the children below ages 15: 4 empty notebooks, 3 eraser pencils and 7 pens (2 blue, 2 black, 2 red and 1 green).

nIf they needed more, their parents were to buy it for them. And those who were orphans, could take them free of charge from the school canteen.

nThe adults who took classes were required to buy their own textbooks as well. Afterall, they all worked and the books and pens were cheap.

n9 pens cost 5 copper coins, 9 pencils cost 5 copper, while 1 book cost 3 copper coins.

nThe teachers still used chalk of course.

nWith these books, the students could go home and revise their lessons.

nFor those that came to school in the middle of the semester, they would only be given tests on what they know so far.

nBut within the 1 month break, it was compulsory for them to take make up classes, so as to catch up with the rest for the next semester.

nThose that couldn't catch up would repeat their classes on the next semester. While those that passed would move on ahead to the next phase.

nAll they had been learning so far were language and math. Now, it was time to introduce them into the world of Chemistry.

nOf course it wasnt intense chemistry, just the basics.

nWith the basics, they could go about and have assignments like science projects and so on.

nThose that passed and did well, would advance and take Math 3, Language 2 and Chemistry 1.

nToday, the little princess Linda, from Yodan empire was taking the final exam for the semester.

nBack at Yodan, 9 year old Linda was ignored and bullied most of the time.

nSince she wasn't a favoured princess, the maids, servants and even her teachers looked down on her. The only people who cared for her, were her mother Winnie and brother Beri.

nShe would cry daily and sometimes even feel like she was trapped, with no where to go.

nBut ever since she came to Baymard, the people were nice and she could finally go to school with other children who were very humble.

nAnd for some reason, the food tasted better here as well.

nLandon would come to her school and read amazing stories to her and the other children. She even played on the metal swing and something called a slide.

nThe little princess was very happy.

nShe loved everyone, even the funny grandpa Willow. He would always put flowers on her hair and push her on the garden swing (yet, he gave trouble to Landon for plucking Tulips).

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nLinda sat in the large classroom nervously.

nAlthough she had math teachers and language teachers back in Yodan, she had realized that Baymard's educational system was different.

nIt was way better and more detailed. Plus she loved her rainbow painted exercise books, pencils and pens, which were much better and simpler to use.

nFor the tests, she liked that they were evenly spaced throughout the week, giving her more time to read at home.

nThe moment of truth had come.

nThe teacher placed a sheet of paper face-down in front of her.

nToday, she was taking her first exam... Math 1.

nOnce all the papers were shared, Grace signaled for them to start.

nSomewhere in another classroom, Linda's mother Winnie, Kim and Lucy, were also giving out the same exam.

nToday was meant for math 1. So even if they weren't teaching it, they had to help supervise the exams as well.

nAll tests had different sections within them. Some of the sections in Math 1 and math 2 were similar to one another, but not actually the same.

nMath 1 had 7 seven sections:

n•15%: Additions

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n•15%: Subtractions

n•15%: Playing with operations (using or -)

n•10%: Number writing

n•15%: Word problems (using only or -)

n•15%: Measuring Length (using only or -)

n•15%: Measuring Time(using only or -)

nLinda looked through the section titled 'Addition' and began.

nFirst question: 145 74 =? (show rough work)

nShe immediately started using her fingers and even showed the carry over process on the paper.

nThe more she answered, the more confident she became.

nTime went on and she arrived at the 'Playing with operations (using only or -)' part.

n>Question: Achieve the result 20, by using the numbers: 2, 6 and 4, as many times as you like.

nHe looked at the question and her eyes lit up.

n'6 plus 4 is 10, 10 plus 4 is 15....no no no!! its 14..' she thought.

nJust like that, she completed that section.

nNow, it was time for 'word problems'.

nQuestion: There are 67 bird families living near the mountain. If 32 bird families flew away for winter, how many are left near the mountain?

nShe immediately started writing the main points, as she was taught in class.

n'67 bird families.... flew away..... 32 bird families..... ahhh!! this is a subtraction.. this is taking away' she exclaimed inwardly as she immediately did the subtractions.

nWhen she was at the last section, Grace kindly reminded them to drop their pens, pencils and papers.

nShe was currently in the last section and had 3 questions left to answer. She couldn't help but curse the 6th section for slowing her down.

nAll in all, she felt like she was going to do very well in the exam.

nAfter the exam, she discussed her answer with some of her friends.

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"Did you guys succeed in finishing the exam?

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"Ahh!!! I only had 1 question left, and then they took away for paper

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"Woo woo.... I'm not sure I did well

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"Don't cry, who can say that we will all pass?

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"Yeah plus there's still make up classes during the break.

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"Don't forget that if you do well in Math 2 and Pyron 1, you will still advance.

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"We have to study hard for the next tests

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"Ahh!!! Question 5 in section 4 was very confusing

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"It was definitely a trap

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nAnd just like that, the Math 1 exam had officially come to an end.

nTwo days later, the exam for Math 2 began.

nThe Exam had 8 sections:

n•12%: Multiplication tables

n•12%: Multiplication

n•12%: Divisions

n•12%: Playing with operations (using × or ÷)

n•10%: Number writing

n•14%: Measuring length (using only × or ÷)

n•14%: Measuring Weight (using only × or ÷)

n•14%: Measuring Time. (using only × or ÷)

nUnder, the section titled: Multiplication tables, Linda moved like lighting.

nQuestion: 3 × 7 = ?

nAnd under the Multiplication section, Linda still felt it was easy.

nQuestion: 727 × 4= ?

nMoving forward, Linda realised that she had spend too much time with the Section 'number writing'.

nQuestion: Write Nine thousand four hundred and sixty-one, in numbers.

n'Thousand..thousand... Ahhh!!.. its 1000.. but since its 9, then its 9000...'

nShe also spent time doing the measuring length, weight and time sections.

nQuestion: 2 m = ? cm

nQuestion: 20 kg = ? g

nQuestion: 9 hrs 45 min = ? min

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nOnce again, she was unable to finish her exam on time.

nWas it a curse for her to never to finish on time?

nShe quickly went home and started practicing her pre-tenses, present tenses and so on, for her Pyron exam.

nAll the people in Pyno spoke 1 language, so the language spoken in Yodan was the same as that in Arcadina.

nAnother 2 days passed and it was time for her final exam.

nPyron 1 was divided into sections:

n•18%: Nouns, verbs, adjectives and pronouns

n•18%: All Tenses: Present, past, simple.. etc

n•9%: Writing numbers into words

n•15%: Prepositions

n•20%: Choose correct

/ Incorrect sentences

n•20%: Choose complete

/Incomplete sentences.

nLinda kept seeing questions like;

nQuestion: choose whether the following sentence is a simple or compound sentence.

nQuestion: Which sentence shows the proper use of a noun?

nQuestion: Write 109 in words.

nQuestion: Which is not a complete sentence?

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nQuestion: Identify the adverb in the sentence

nFor her, language was easy compared to math. So for the first time ever, she had successfully finished all the questions for the exam. She even had 10 minutes to spare, so she decided to go over her work once more.

nOnce the exam papers were collected, she truly felt free as a bird. She had never had this type of feeling before.

nShe began discussing with her friend on what they would do with this 1 month vacation.

nShe had been told that the exams would be posted on the 12th day of July.

nAlso, the next semester was going to start in August.

nSo for the entire month of July, she would hopefully have no school.

nTo be honest, she didn't want to spend the entire July doing makeup classes. That's why she earnestly prayed that her results would be atleast alright to take her to the next stage.

nShe had been so stressed during this exam period, that she didn't even care how her hair looked like when she left the house early this morning.

nHer mom wanted to fix it, but she refused as she needed to use all her time for studying.

nShe looked at her mom as if saying: 'Mom, my holiday is at stake here and your worried about my hair?'

nRight now, she didn't even want to see a single book, atleast until august.

n'Finally, No more exams'

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