Wantirna College Newsletter

Senior School

Important Academic Dates

Mon 18 - Wed 20 Sept

Knox Schools Exam Revision Sessions

 

Mon 25 - Thu 28 Sept

Formal Practice Exams

Preparing for Unit 3 & 4 Examinations

Practice Exams

During the last week of Term 3, all Unit 3 and 4 scored VCE students should have collected the following:

  • Exam Timetable and Exam Navigator
  • Practice Exam Booklets (all scored VCE students should have collected their practice exam booklets for each of their subjects)

Solutions for all practice exams will be made accessible to students in the Year 12 Team.

 

Prior to end-of-year examinations, scored students are expected to complete a minimum 4-6 practice exams for each subject prior to each end-of-year examination. In addition, students are expected to use these during structured exam revision classes during the first three weeks of Term 4 and at home, when undertaking self-directed revision and study. 

 

As most end-of-year examinations contribute 50% - 60% of a student's overall study score, we would expect most students are completing upwards of 10 exams. Completing practice exams is an integral part of effective studying and exam preparation.

 

These free exam booklets are an invaluable resource and vital for students in preparing for the end-of-year exams. Teachers will welcome and supply students with further exams upon request.

 

The Important Benefits of Practice Exams:

Assessment of Knowledge: Practice exams help students assess their understanding of the material. They provide a realistic simulation of the actual exam, allowing students to gauge their level of preparedness.

 

Identify Weaknesses: By completing practice exams, students can identify their areas of weakness. When they make mistakes or struggle with certain questions, it becomes evident where they need to focus their study efforts.

 

Time Management: Practice exams teach students how to manage their time effectively during an exam. This skill is vital in ensuring that they can complete all sections of the exam within the allocated time. 

 

Stress Management: Taking practice exams can help students become more familiar with the exam format, reducing exam anxiety. This familiarity with the testing environment and conditions can lead to better performance on the actual exam.

 

Retention of Information: Practice exams reinforce learning by requiring students to recall/retrieve and apply knowledge. This active engagement with the material can improve information retention and understanding.

 

Active and Adaptive Study: Based on their performance in practice exams, students can adapt their study strategies. They can focus more on the topics or types of questions where they struggle, rather than spending equal time on everything.

 

Confidence Building: Successfully completing practice exams boosts a student's confidence in their abilities. Confidence can lead to a more positive mindset and ultimately better performance on the actual exam. Practice exams also replicate the conditions of the actual exam, including time constraints and the format of questions. This helps students become more comfortable with the exam format and rules.

 

Feedback and Improvement: All practice exams come with solutions. This, along with teacher, peer and self-feedback, will help students understand their mistakes and learn from them. This process of improvement is a key part of the learning process.

 

Week 1 of Holidays

Knox Schools Exam Revision Sessions

Mon 18 - Wed 20 Sept

The Australian Indian Community Centre

16/18 Kingsley Cl Rowville

 

Session details, including the sign-up process for the upcoming Knox School Revision Sessions are now finalised. 

 

All sessions will be held at The Australian Indian Community Centre. Students will receive physical resources on the day of their session.

 

To participate, students are: 

  • committing to participation in the program 
  • meeting individual school attendance and code of conduct requirements 
  • permitted to wear neat casual clothes for the program
  • not permitted to have phones during the sessions and no other potential recording devices 
  • to remain in attendance for the duration of the session
  • to model mature behaviours and be respectful throughout the program

Students are required to bring: 

  • Writing materials
  • Water bottle
  • Snacks/food if attending multiple sessions throughout a day
  •  Health/medical pack, if applicable

Students should refer to Compass and Teams for further event information.

 

Week 2 of Holidays

Formal Practice Exams

Mon 25 - Thu 28 Sept 

Wantirna College Senior Centre 

(including F1, F2, F3 and F4)

 

Expectations: 

Scored VCE students are expected sit and attend a practice exam for each of their Unit 3 and 4 subjects over the three days.

 

Students must obtain consent on Compass and complete the sign-up form to indicate their registration for each practice exam. The sign-up form can be found here (students must sign in with Wantirna email): This must be completed by Thursday 14 September.

 

Students have the option to complete exams in other sessions outside what is outlined on the practice exam timetable. For example, if students know Physical Education and HHD are scheduled on at the same time in session 1, students are welcome to do one of these exams in another session on the same or different day. This must be arranged with Senior School prior to the holidays by indicating this on the sign-up form by writing the subject name in 'other' on the day/session they want to sit the exam.

 

All practice exams will be timed in the same timeframe as external examinations.

 

Students must arrive 20mins before each exam session time in neat casual attire.

 

Students are required to bring photo ID.

 

Students are required to bring all appropriate materials e.g., writing implements, calculator etc to each exam, as specified by VCAA here. 

 

All students are required to follow exam rules, protocols and processes, as per the VCAA requirements.

 

Teachers will provide feedback on each completed exam and/or unpack this exam with students in class during Term 4 scheduled classes. This will be the focus of term 4 classes and therefore it is crucial that students attend practice exams in week 2 of the holidays.

 

We wish all our VCE students well during this important study and exam season. Please remember to include healthy wellbeing time over the next few weeks and reach out to your teachers if you need support.

 

David Black, Tim Pearson 

& Darren Hoogkamer

Senior School Leaders