At this week’s division meeting I spoke to the boys about their half yearly examinations during the next fortnight. Last week I discussed the importance of preparation and active study, studying always with a pen in their hand. This week I tried to give them some practical advice to help them complete these exams and achieve results that reflect their true ability. I told them that now is the time when they need to bring all their work together for the exams. On the night before the exam, I advised them to have everything organised – pens, calculator, extra batteries, library card and any other subject specific items. Going to sleep ready for the exam will allow them to wake up calm and refreshed.
I emphasised that the night before an exam, it is preferable not to study new information. They need to ensure they get a good night’s sleep and a good breakfast in the morning. It is better to get up early and study then to try to pull an all nighter.
For those students who feel nervous before an exam, I told them to keep reminding themselves that it is ok to feel nervous and to accept the emotion and think of the feeling when you leave the hall when you have completed an exam. To help with nerves, it is important that they arrive early to the exam and preferably do not talk about content with friends. This will normally only increase their feelings of anxiety.
When they get the exam paper, students were advised to look over it, reading the instructions carefully. Check how many sections and questions there are, which ones they will answer first, what is the value of each question and how much time do they have for each question. They should then decide on a plan of attack.
Once they are allowed to start writing I discussed four important steps:
- Look over the longer extended response questions first, then on the inside cover of the writing booklet, write or sketch any planned information that they have memorised. They should keep returning to this information during the exam as they recall more information. Sometimes, a multiple choice question can trigger something they want to write about in their extended response.
- Start with the multiple choice (if there are any). Don’t leave any out
- Constantly check the advised time for each section and stick to it!
- Finally, write your extended response question/s from the material that you have placed on the inside cover of the writing booklet.
Time management is crucial. Students were advised to constantly check their time against the percentage value of each exam question. An idea is to write the time they need to finish a question on a piece of paper so they know when they should have moved onto the next question.
I hope that your sons’ hard efforts this year are rewarded in results that reflect his true ability. This is all that we can ask and hope for.
Regards
Darren Frost
A man’s true character is not displayed in victory but in how they react to disappointment. During next term’s Division meetings and during night study, I will be discussing with students strategies for improving on their half yearly examination results.
