How to tackle your exams …

The year-end exams are coming up and can be a time of immense stress and anxiety for teachers, learners and parents, said Step Up Education Centres.

According to Cindy Glass, owner and co-founder of Step Up Education Centres, “The trouble with exams is that the task of preparing effectively seems an almost insurmountable one – most especially for learners who may have made some negative choices for themselves throughout the year and, as a result, do not feel adequately prepared or confident to tackle the challenges that lie ahead.”

She added that, further exasperating the challenges of writing exams is that so many learners simply do not know how to study.

“Most learners stick to a once-size-fits-all approach without understanding that different subjects require different approaches to studying. The good news is that it not too late for you to achieve success.”

Cindy offered four easy steps to help you tackle your exams:

• Change your mindset: How badly do you want to achieve success? What are you willing to do to get where you want to go? If you are eager to put in what it will take to achieve your goals, you will reap the rewards.

• Believe that you are capable: No matter what your learning experiences have been to date, you can turn it around. You are in control of your learning. You are responsible for your success. Believe that you can!

• Start now: Remember, you are doing this for yourself and there is no better time to get going than right now.

• Commit to healthy boundaries with others: It is up to you to ensure that your cellphone is switched off during study time and that your friends and family respect your boundaries. This is your life to live – do not allow others to distract you from your purpose! You can and must do this by being respectfully assertive.

Cindy gave the following six helpful tips for studying Mathematics and Science:

• Use a calendar to help you plan what needs to be covered and by when: Break up the task into bite-sized manageable pieces. This will ensure that you cover everything and do not become overwhelmed by the enormity of it.

• Make sure that you have a designated study area: Have a comfortable chair, a desk, good lighting and the stationery that you will need.

• You can’t study Maths and Science parrot-fashion: You cannot study Maths or Science by reading and trying to memorise the work. These subjects require pencil to paper! You will need to practise, practise and practise some more! Do not just do one example of a skill and feel that it is enough. Keep going until you know that you will not forget how to do it. (Note: Try using a pencil instead of a pen. It is a non-threatening tool as what you have written can be rubbed out. It also makes your work look neater.)

• Start with the easy-mark skills and questions first: Make sure that you know these well. This will give you the confidence to keep going.

• Work through past exam papers: This will familiarise you with the layout of the paper as well as the types of questions that are likely to be asked. Again, do not feel like you are ready after completing just one paper. Keep at it – you will feel your confidence increase as you practise.

• Ask for help if you need it: Identify questions that you do not understand and ask for clarification from someone who can help – your teacher, a friend, your parents or a tutor.

“Remember that you are allowed to make mistakes, but you are not allowed to give up! Start preparing today,” concluded Cindy.