Deputy Principal, Teaching and Learning 

Do not be anxious

This week at assembly our theme was ‘Do not be anxious’.  We know that in the lead up to the Mid-Year Examinations our students may experience some anxiety, about what to expect, how to prepare and what they will actually do in the exam. Students and parents have been sent an exam timetable and student exam guide that outlines the expectations.  During the assembly today several of our Year 12 students shared their ideas about how they prepare for exams. It gives me pleasure to share their ideas with you.

Ollie Wortley: Exams provide you with the opportunity to practice study techniques and find what works for you, and the better you will get at completing them. The more exams that you do the more confidence you will have when approaching the next one … it helps to show what you have learnt to your teacher.  

I have found that by asking teachers what will be on the exams, I am more prepared for what to expect. This helps revise the right stuff, but also prepare for how some of the questions may be asked so when I get to the exam, I don’t get any surprises when I open the paper.

Lucy Roberts: During busy exam periods, I believe that maintaining fitness and a solid sleeping routine is vital for success. For me I like to spend time exercising, playing sport or running around the lake to allow some rest time from study, this helps me to clear my mind and plan out my next stint of study. This also assists with better sleep to ensure that my mind isn’t fatigued heading into exams. My favourite techniques for studying, especially in the humanities, is creating visually appealing mind maps and hanging them around my room. I read these before going to bed. I also think that doing flashcards with your friends and family can also be a great way to retain content’.

Ned Walker: As a student of predominantly Maths and Science, I know it is important to revise all the topics of past and make sure you have a strong understanding of the basic concepts before moving on to more difficult questions. Moving towards exam time, I find it most productive to define key terms onto either flash cards or summary pages. This will reassure my understand of the topic before I can apply all aspects of the course to single questions. Although I do not study Biology myself, I know that many Biology students have bucket loads of flash cards. Not only does this allow them to revise in a concise manner, but further allows them to quiz themselves briefly on many aspects of the course. I’m sure you have many scenarios where flash cards would be helpful, they are also handy when trying to memorise quotes in English or dates for History. In Physics, I find it most productive to make a reference sheet, even if it isn’t allowed into the examination room, it is a great tool to have when doing practice exams or revision booklets. Remember to only use it as a tool to help you to work faster or cement key formulas into your memory. If you become too reliant on it, you may find yourself hindered by its presence. 

Now that you have a strong grasp of all the topics, take practice test under timed conditions. This will allow you to measure your abilities under stress and find the areas which you will need to iron out, you will always be able to find areas where you may need improvement, and this is when they can be uncovered. Most importantly, don’t leave revision to the last minute, this will relieve some of the stress inevitably found during exam week. It is equally important to have down-time during exam week in between study and the exams themselves. If you are feeling too stressed at any point, take five minutes to relax and gather yourself. 

And finally, exams are not the end of the world, they are simply a time for teachers, parents, and yourself to track your progress in a subject. 

I would encourage parents to take an active interest in their children’s exam preparation. Perhaps discuss some of the ideas that the Year 12s have shared. Be patient and be available to help them when they simply need a word of encouragement.

A final reminder, that if your child is unwell, we will endeavour to reschedule the exam during the exam period only. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s Mentor.

Susan Bradbeer

Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning