reconstruction of the project

app/Models/Exam.php

@@ -2,11 +2,22 @@
 
 namespace App\Models;
 
-use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;
+use App\Models\BaseModel;
 
-class Exam extends Model
+class Exam extends BaseModel
 {
     protected $table = 'exams';
+
+    /**
+     * Your CI model only uses created_at (updatedField = '').
+     * In Laravel, easiest is to disable timestamps and manage created_at yourself OR
+     * enable timestamps but disable UPDATED_AT.
+     *
+     * We'll keep auto created_at, no updated_at:
+     */
+    public $timestamps = false;
+    const UPDATED_AT = null; // ✅ no updated_at column
+
     protected $fillable = [
         'student_id',
         'student_school_id',
@@ -14,5 +25,21 @@ class Exam extends Model
         'exam_name',
         'created_at',
     ];
-    public $timestamps = false;
+
+    protected $casts = [
+        'student_id'       => 'integer',
+        'school_id'        => 'integer',
+        'class_section_id' => 'integer',
+    ];
+
+    /* Optional relationships */
+    public function student()
+    {
+        return $this->belongsTo(Student::class, 'student_id');
+    }
+
+    public function classSection()
+    {
+        return $this->belongsTo(ClassSection::class, 'class_section_id');
+    }
 }