Examination Day

Examination Day or Exam Day is a T'vaqi celebration occurring when a citizen reaches legal adulthood (16.5 years of age). The event is regarded as a highly significant moment in one's life, and most individuals spend a majority of their childhood preparing for it. The event is focused around the administration of a Cognitive Capacity test, and the subsequent reveal of the subject's score.

Event Structure

A sample invitation to an Exam Day.

A typical Examination Day celebration is attended by the subject, their immediate family, and any others the subject may be acquainted with. The length of the event often varies, since there is no official time limit for the exam; most Examination Days, however, last from 6 to 12 hours. The event begins shortly after sunrise, at which point the subject is given an hour to study before the test begins. Others attending the celebration are allowed to assist the subject in studying during this time. After the period of study has ended, the subject is led to a secure testing facility, where the Cognitive Capacity test is administered by a licensed Officiant. The subject is not permitted to contact others or access the outside world under any circumstances during this time. Others attending the event typically use this time to socialize with each other.

Following the conclusion of the exam, the subject is led back to the site of the celebration and stands next to the Officiant in front of the guests. The Officiant will then recite a standard T'vaqi prayer:

Sa qalia p'li / May the stars shine

Sa vri p'laqi / May the moon open

Sa vo'qa lia / May the sky be free

Sa shinpat qisa / May the ash retreat

Following the prayer, the Officiant will read the subject's score out loud.

Scores

The parents of a family commonly use their own scores to provide an estimate for the score of their child. While the actual result often differs, the child is expected to score within this range. Cases of abandonment when a child scores especially low compared to their estimate are common; children leaving their parents when they score especially high compared to their estimate is rare, but occurs on occasion.

Subjects are allowed to legally challenge their received score after the conclusion of the ceremony, though this is extremely rare in practice and typically does not result in victory for the subject. The structure of the T'vaqi bureaucracy often results in score disputes lasting months or years.

Variations

Examination Day is treated as an essential rite of passage by most, though not all families follow the generally accepted rituals of the celebration. Particularly low-scoring families, especially miner families, often refuse to invite others to the celebration. Others refuse to participate in the event outright, willingly submitting themselves to manual labor. Prestigious, influential, and wealthy families often choose to have private ceremonies; in some cases, the children of Senior and Grand Magisters are able to bypass the exam altogether.

Traditions

Pre-exam

On the night prior to Examination Day, many subjects will spend an extra hour praying to Doqala to bring themselves good fortune during the exam. It is also believed that capturing Ash Moth and keeping it where you sleep brings good luck throughout the ceremony. Some families serve rosi with dinner the evening prior, as the cube is believed to represent mathematical perfection.

Post-exam

It is customary for those who score above a 25 to immediately enroll in the High Institute of their choice following the reveal of their score. Families will often celebrate a desirable score with sweet pastries and gifts for the subject.

Trivia

The late Gmr. Voti holds the current national record for fastest time to complete the exam, clocking in at 1 hour, 58 minutes, and 22 seconds.