As this cache is the graduation ceremony, the puzzle icon is shown at The Open University, which is a suitably prestigious establishment for you to continue your studies.
However, the cache is not at this location. Please do not attempt to park or search there. It is not there.
As with all of this series, we are available for mentoring and support by email on request.
GCSEs were introduced into secondary schools in England in 1986 to replace the previous GCE "O" Levels and CSEs. They are available in a bewildering array of different subjects in a number of distinct categories.
MK Schooldays series requires you to pass at least one subject from each of nine categories to graduate. Some categories have more than one subject available.
A pass in each individual examination will reveal one of the bonus codes for this graduation puzzle. Different subjects in the same category will give you the same bonus code, so you don't have to do every puzzle to graduate, but as most of you are total addicts we are sure you will do them all anyway, just to prove that you can.
Categories and subjects currently available from the Examination Board are listed below.
Mathematics (Bonus Code A)
English (Bonus Code B)
Science & Technology (Bonus Code C)
Classics (Bonus Code D)
Modern Languages (Bonus Code E)
Humanities (Bonus Code F)
People & Society (Bonus Code G)
Expressive Arts (Bonus Code H)
Physical Education (Bonus Code I)
Once you have passed your 9 GCSEs you are eligible to apply for the Graduation Certificate. To do this please take the following steps.
- Substitute your 9 bonus codes into the Sudoku grid below
- Solve the Sudoku
- Answer the questions below
- Figure out how to use those answers to get the coordinates
Incidentally, the Sudoku grid is one containing what is very likely (but not mathematically proven) the minimum number of starting entries whilst still having a unique solution (17). About 45,000 grids like this are known. No unique solution grid has been discovered with 16 or fewer starting entries. Unless you know different, of course.
Back to the plot, the difficulty rating of this cache is high because you have to do 9 other puzzles to get here, not because the Sudoku is hard. It is actually quite a simple one.
Now you have solved the grid, you can find the cache at :
North PQo 0R.STU West 000o VW.XYZ
- P = (4/.4)+(4/4)
- Q = Joe Montana's Team
- R = 26
- S = General Agricola orders the building of Mamucium
- T = Speed of old records (rpm)
- U = Dumbbell Nebula
- V = Number of Human Chromosomes
- W = Slots on an American Roulette Wheel
- X = Curium
- Y = ASCII %
- Z = Dial Mexico
The final cache is a 450ml clip lock box covered in black duck tape. It contains a small log book and pencil/pen and a few graduation certificates. Help yourself to a certificate. If none are there, drop us a note through the log and we'll get one to you somehow.
As you will most likely solve this at home before venturing out, the final cache is placed where the calculated coordinates appear to be on GoogleMaps. This may be a few feet from where your GPS thinks it is.
As ever, please take care to replace the cache as you found it.
There is an image of a blank Sudoku grid below so you can print it out and fill in the Bonus Codes as you go along.
We hope you have enjoyed this series of caches.
