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Mrs Chilton
Head of Teaching and Learning
How to prepare well for examinations

Year 12 students are currently sitting their Trial HSC Examinations and Year 11 are beginning to prepare for their examination block later in the term. Examinations are a useful tool for teachers to assess student progress; however, they are but one measure used for assessing student learning. Girls can get hyper-focused on the examination and their result, and this can create undue stress that can potentially undermine their performance. One way to address this issue is to remember that learning is deep, rather than simply rote. Deep learning is learning that has personal meaning and ensures that information is stored in long-term memory, which is more resistant to stress.

Here are some tips for preparing well for examinations for all students:

  • Attendance at school is vital to ensure that there are no gaps in learning. It is also an opportunity to reinforce learning and understanding. Studying at home is not as effective, as students are not given opportunities to engage in retrieval practice in the same way as in the classroom.
  • Develop study habits that work for you and your schedule. Try out different approaches and don’t compare hours or approaches to other people. There is no one size fits all model to study.
  • At the beginning of the examination, write down some of the information committed to memory, such as essay plans, quotations or formulas. This can help to reduce stress and free up the brain to focus on the complexity of the questions.
  • Ensure that you are resting effectively during study breaks and after examinations. Taking regular breaks that are device free and/or involve physical activity and regular rhythms of sleep are essential. Cramming late at night before examinations will lead to burn out over the examination period.

 

Volunteers for HSC Examination Reading and Writing

We are looking for volunteers to support our students who require a reader or writer for examinations. If you are interested in volunteering some time to assist these students during the HSC Examination Period in Term 4, please contact Ms Sascha Bass for more details on sbass@meriden.nsw.edu.au.