Senior School Update

Preparing for VCAA Exams

Over the past couple of months our Year 11 and 12 VCE students have been working hard to complete their coursework for their Unit 4 subjects and begin preparing for end of year exams. We are incredibly proud of our students’ commitment to their VCE program and the effort they have currently put into preparing for exams. Below is an overview of the various programs they have participated in so far.

General Achievement Test (GAT)

On Wednesday the 7th of September all our Year 12 students (VCE and VCAL) and Year 11 students (who are completing a Unit 3 & 4 subject) completed the General Achievement Test (GAT). The GAT plays an important role in quality assuring the VCE and assesses our students against new Literacy and Numeracy Standards (LNS). Our external supervisors were extremely impressed with our students’ focus and effort in completing the assessment. Our students were also treated to a celebratory BBQ during the break by their coordinators!

Elevate Education

For many years we have been inviting guest presenters from Elevate Education to our school to assist our students in preparing for exams using effective evidence-based revision strategies. Our Year 12 students were lucky enough to attend “Ace Your Exams” towards the beginning of term 3. This session covered areas such as fixing mistakes to ensure constant improvement, time allocation during exam preparation and techniques for managing stress and time pressure in exams.

Towards the end of term 3 our students participated in “The Finishing Line” which was a follow up session to “Ace Your Exams.” 

When asked “what was the most important thing you learned today?” our students responded:

• “That rotating study spaces are beneficial to my exam study.”
• “To take care of my wellbeing.”
• “To develop a study routine during SWOTVAC.”
• “How to identify my stressors.”
• “How to prepare for exams and how to take care of my mental health.”
• “How to manage my time and study effectively.”
• “To complete practice exams and cross mark with friends.”
• “To mimic the school week during SWOTVAC.”
• “How to identify my areas of improvement.”

Our students are encouraged to use the Elevate website to access study resources using the password rondo to enter the Student Portal. 

Practice Exam Program

Part of our students’ preparation for the end of year exams is the practice exam program. On the final day of Term 3 our English and EAL students completed a practice exam that was then marked by an external assessor. All students then came to school during their school holidays to complete a practice exam in VCAA exam conditions. Our Year 12 staff have been blown away by how committed and focused our students have been during this process. We are looking forward to seeing what our students can achieve when they complete their final exams. 

Overall, we are looking forward to the next six weeks and supporting our students in completing their VCE program. We also cannot wait to celebrate their achievements during Celebration Day and our Valedictory events.

Melissa Foresio

Senior School Leading Teacher