EXAM PREP 101: GOOD LOGISTICS EQUAL GREAT PERFORMANCE
Mignonne Gerli • May 31, 2023
GOOD LOGISTICS EQUAL GREAT PERFORMANCE
Exam season can be a very stressful time for students. In addition to the actual work of preparing for each paper, stress and anxiety can create additional hurdles, which can lead to mental blocks and a drop in performance unrelated to how prepared a student is.
However, by sorting out the logistics of writing, much of this stress can be removed, to ensure that students perform to the best of their ability.
Mignonne Gerli, Principal: Abbotts College Pretoria East has compiled a list of helpful guidelines for students to prepare beyond subject revision to ensure they are positioned well to perform on exam day.
She advises the following:
BEFORE THE EXAM
- Most people fear missing an exam because they get the day or time wrong. Truly the stuff of literal nightmares! To avoid this, stick a copy of your exam somewhere you can’t miss it, and have a photo of the timetable on your phone for quick reference.
- Ensure that you know what is tested in the various papers, e.g. what must you study for English Paper I and what must you study for English Paper II?
- Make sure that you have at least 3 blue pens on hand for the exam, preferably the same type of pen to avoid your handwriting looking different if you change pens.
- Make sure that you have the required stationery and gadgets, e.g. a non-programmable calculator for Mathematics and a protractor and compass for Mathematics or Geography.
- Have a ruler to draw your right-hand marker’s margin.
- Be sure to get enough sleep and get up early enough to ensure that you are not late for your exam. Have everything you will need ready the night before.
- Be at school at least 15 minutes before the start of your exam. This will help you relax and enter the exam venue with a clear head.
- Avoid contact with fellow students who cause stress before an exam – those who ask if you’ve studied this section and who talk about how difficult the exam is going to be (they don’t have a crystal ball and you’ve studied so you’ve got this!).
- Do not talk about the exam or cram just before writing the exam. You have studied, so when you get to school talk about other things, like what you are planning to do during the holiday, a series you are really enjoying, your hobby that is sucking you in… anything but the exam! You need to be as relaxed as possible when you enter the exam venue.
- You need to be as comfortable as can be when you are writing so ensure that you eat something healthy and drink water before the exam, also go to the bathroom before you enter the exam venue.
- Avoid energy drinks and energy supplements, as they will give you energy for a brief period of time and then you will experience an energy crash, leaving you tired and without energy. Rather take a good vitamin B supplement that will get your nerve endings firing properly and help you to relax and sleep well.
DURING THE EXAM
Our brains are amazing but can be easily fooled. When we go down a spiral of self-doubt our brains go into panic mode and prepare for “fight or flight” mode. This is when some students experience a mental block and suddenly, they can recall nothing of what they have studied. This must be avoided at all costs.
- To avoid panic and mental blocks during the exam try the following: Start by answering all the questions you know the answer to and skip over the questions you are unsure of. This helps you in two ways:
- Firstly, you are not wasting time on the questions you do not know the answers to so you are able to get to the end of the paper and answer questions you are guaranteed marks for – which you would not have got to answer if you ran out of time because you sat too long on questions you could not answer at the time.
- Secondly, you will avoid panic and mental block by moving on and gaining positive momentum as your brain starts sending the signal that you’ve got this. This builds confidence and, once you have worked through all the questions you could answer with ease, you then go back to the ones you were unsure of. Most likely you will now find that you are able to answer most of them.
- If there are still questions you do not know how to answer, take an educated guess. Think of what makes sense to you based on what you know and can recall. Leaving the answer blank guarantees a zero but writing an answer could give you a mark or three.
- Be aware of the time and allow enough time for each section of the paper. If the paper contains an essay type question, allow enough time to write the essay. Remember that getting half-way through an essay may get you 60% of the essay mark but not starting will get you zero.
- Read the questions carefully and, where the question is scaffolded, be sure to answer each part of the question. If you are one of those people who tends to only answer part of a question, tick off each part you have answered to ensure that you give the full answer.
- Look at the mark allocation, this will act as a guide as to how much detail your answer needs to contain. Don’t overwrite or underwrite – a 1-mark question will usually not require a 4-line answer and a 4-mark question will usually require more than a 2-line answer.
“Some solid advice – try to enjoy each paper you are writing, keeping in mind that you are testing your knowledge and skills,” says Gerli.
“Exams help you determine which areas need more attention for future exams and confirm which knowledge you have firmly under your belt. And remember, where there are exams, holidays follow. Work hard for now and look forward to the restful holiday period that is just around the corner.”
Mignonne Gerli
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As the preliminary and final examinations approach, both students and parents or guardians often experience heightened anxiety and stress. This guide provides practical strategies to help parents and guardians support their children through this critical phase of their academic journey. 1. Foster Effective Organization Create an environment conducive to studying by providing a quiet, well-lit study space equipped with essential stationery. Collaborate with your child to develop a structured study timetable to set clear expectations and promote disciplined preparation. Encourage the use of resources such as past question papers, which serve as valuable tools for revision and practice. 2. Maintain Daily Check-Ins Schedule regular, intentional conversations, such as during dinner, to discuss your child’s progress. Inquire about their experience with the day’s examination paper, adherence to their study schedule, and their feelings about upcoming tests. These check-ins foster open communication and allow you to gauge their emotional and academic state. 3. Minimize Distractions Help your child stay focused by keeping electronic devices like phones, tablets, and gaming consoles out of reach during study sessions. Set boundaries on screen time and social media access to prevent procrastination. While challenging, limiting Wi-Fi access during study hours can significantly enhance productivity. 4. Support Emotional Awareness Encourage your child to identify and articulate their emotions, such as anxiety, stress, or fatigue . Recognizing these feelings is the first step toward addressing them effectively. Discuss coping strategies to help them navigate emotional challenges during this period. 5. Teach Self-Regulation Techniques Guide your child in practicing self-regulation to manage stress. Techniques include: Breathing Exercises : Inhale deeply for four seconds, hold for four seconds, exhale for four seconds, and repeat. Sensory Focus : Identify five things they can see or hear to ground themselves in the moment. Tactile Stimulation : Hold a cold object to shift focus and reduce anxiety. These methods can help your child regain calm and focus during stressful moments. 6. Promote a Balanced Routine Prolonged study sessions late into the night can lead to burnout. Monitor your child’s study habits and encourage breaks to maintain balance. Plan activities such as outings with friends, a family meal, or short recreational periods with access to devices. Engaging in non-academic activities, like helping prepare dinner, can provide a refreshing change of focus. 7. Prioritize Self-Care Support your child’s well-being by ensuring they: Eat nutritious, regular meals. Get at least eight hours of sleep by limiting screen time before bed. Engage in physical activities such as walking, jogging, yoga, dancing, or gym workouts. These practices help alleviate stress and anxiety, which are common during examination periods. 8. Practice Empathy and Patience The examination period can be emotionally taxing for both students and parents. Approach your child with empathy, actively listening and offering guidance without criticism. This fosters a supportive environment, bolstering their mental health and sense of inclusion. By implementing these strategies, parents and guardians can play a pivotal role in helping their children navigate the challenges of examinations with confidence and resilience. Good luck to all the Grade 12 students with the upcoming examinations - you most certainly can do it!
