When Karthyayani Amma decided to take the first academic test of her life at the ripe old age of 96, few gave her even an outside chance of clearing it.

But the frail-looking great-grandmother from the coastal Cheppad village of Kerala’s Alapuzza district who had never gone to school has topped the exam with 98 per cent marks.

She scored the full marks of 30 each in mathematics and reading, and got 38 out of 40 in writing in the three-module exam under the Aksharalaksham programme of the Kerala State Literacy Mission Authority, officials said.

Amma, who received her certificate on Thursday from chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, now wants to learn how to use a computer.

“I want to continue with my studies... want to study at least up to 10th standard and clear the exam with good marks. I also want to learn computer,” said the woman who did odd jobs, including cleaning a temple, to provide for her family after her husband’s death 57 years ago. Amma had six children, of whom only two survive.

Having cleared the Aksharalaksham exam, she has got direct entry into the 4th grade of the equivalency course of the Literacy Mission. Once she clears the 6-month 4th grade course, she can join the 7th grade equivalency programme and subsequently the 10th standard course, the officials said.

Amma says she was inspired by her 60-year-old daughter Ammini who recently joined a literacy class of the Mission and cleared the exam. When she voiced interest in joining the class, the entire family encouraged her. Amma’s six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren enthusiastically helped her with her studies.

Sathi, the Literacy Mission’s prerak (instructor), said she was very particular about attending classes and asked many questions to clear her doubts. “She regularly attended the classes... was very

cool and calm even when she was going to write her first-ever exam of her life,” Sathi said.

Sathi hopes that Amma will realise her dream of passing Class 10 by the time she turns 100.

Sajitha, Amma’s granddaughter, said the family was excited and proud of her achievement. “I am a schoolteacher. As a family member and as a teacher, it is a proud moment for me. I am excited that I can inspire my students by sharing her story with them,” she said.

P.S. Sreekala, the Literacy Mission director, said Amma had become a role model for thousands of people who wish to be part of literacy programmes.

“The present phase of the initiative has covered 2,000 wards across the state. In the next phase, we are planning to join hands with local bodies and expand the programme,” she said.

Aksharalaksham is a programme of the Left Front government for achieving total literacy in the state over four years. According to the 2011 census, there were around 18.5 lakh illiterate people in the state.

Of the 43,330 candidates who appeared for the test, 42,933 cleared it. To pass, one has to secure at least 9 marks out of 30 in reading, 12 out of 40 in writing and 9 out of 30 in mathematics.