Learning

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL, Learning & Teaching

Dear Parents and Guardians

It has been pleasing to see so many Year 12 students this week taking the opportunity to sit a second trial exam for several of their subjects or to work with their teachers in preparation for the upcoming exams. We wish the Year 12 students all the best with their exams and offer some tips for thriving over the next few weeks:

Sleep is important, aim for 8 – 10 hours a night
Eat healthily, have regular meals with a variety of fruits, vegetables and protein and drink plenty of water. Avoid energy drinks and junk food
Maintain a balance; keep in touch with friends, do some exercise, play music or engage in an activity to allow the brain to relax
Allow enough time to arrive before the exam in case of any unforeseen disruptions so that there is no additional stress on the day

A reminder to families and students to reach out if you need any additional support during this time.

In addition to the VCE exams, the Year 10 and Year 11 exams start in three weeks and students should have started the revision process for their examinations. They should look back at how they performed in the Semester One examinations and how they felt about their preparation. Students are encouraged to continue what worked well or make adjustments to the revision process. For many it was to start revising earlier, create a study timetable or make a list of everything they needed to learn and what to do to revise.

When revising, it is recommended to continue the regular review process rather than trying to cram, this is using ‘spaced practice’ as opposed to ‘mass practice’. Spaced practice involves planning the revision and study time for one subject of 20-40 minutes, have a short break, then move onto another topic within that subject or another subject altogether, rather than trying to do a single, longer session (greater than 1 hour) of one subject. Little and often is much more effective than trying to cram for long periods of time as a one off. The exception to this is when completing practice exams, essays or questions that require a block of time.

Here are some effective study and revision tips for students in Year 10 and 11 preparing for exams, and all students for assessments:

Learn the facts first using a variety of techniques: creating and using flashcards, summarising and resummarising notes, making mindmaps, drawing tables or diagrams, quizzing others or asking someone else to quiz them
Apply knowledge to a range of contexts and new problems. Previous exam questions, Edrolo and text book questions can help with this
Attempt questions that combine information from multiple topics, these are usually at the end of examinations or after multiple chapters in a text book
Practise in exam conditions, set aside time in the week before exams to sit one exam and get feedback on it
Revisit any errors or anything that was challenging, seek help and feedback and redo these questions later

I wish all students and their families all the best for the upcoming exam periods.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or feedback.

Ms Lucy Neil

Deputy Principal – Learning and Teaching