ASSESSMENT WEEKS

Today Monday 27 May signalled the start of Junior Assessment Week where our Year 9s and 10s will have their learning assessed for understanding and progress. In Week 6 (4-7 June), our senior students in Years 11, 12 and 13 will be assessed in mock examinations or will complete internal assessments. These two weeks are essential preparation for our students to learn acceptable behaviours in an exam situation as well as develop good, consistent revision skills.

To support our students through these weeks, here are some handy tips on how to attain success in assessments.

1. MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR STUDY TIME: Don’t just panic, bury your head in a heap of books and hope for the best. Get organised. Make a schedule and work out how much time you need for each subject. Study a little each day and give your brain a break every 45 minutes. Avoid cramming the night before – it’s not the way to guarantee a good mark.

2. DON’T JUST STUDY SOLO: Why not form a study group with friends? It will provide you with variety and moral support, plus it’s motivating to have people around you who are working towards the same goals.

3. DEAL WITH YOUR STRESS: Exam stress is perfectly normal – in fact, a little bit of stress can be a positive motivator. However, too much of it can negatively affect your performance. So, take regular breaks, exercise daily, and spend time relaxing with friends. If you begin to feel frustrated or overwhelmed, step away from the books for a while.

 4. ASK FOR HELP: Don’t be afraid to ask your teachers for help – they’ll be glad to assist. If you need clarification on a topic you’re struggling with, then ask them to talk you through it. Don’t panic in silence when there’s a support network around you.

5. GET PLENTY OF SLEEP: Rest is good for your brain. Get a full eight hours sleep each night and avoid studying till the early hours.  ‘Sleep is vital to exam success.’

 6. PREP THE NIGHT BEFORE: Pack everything you need into a bag the night before – this way you can avoid a last-minute rush the next day. Essential items might include pens, pencils, a calculator and water.

7. MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR MORNING: Get up early and eat breakfast – whether you feel like it or not. Hunger will slow down your brain, plus who wants a rumbling tummy in the exam room? 

8. WHEN YOU’RE IN THE EXAM ROOM… TAKE YOUR TIME: When waiting outside the exam room, avoid the temptation to discuss what you’ve studied with your friends. You’ll probably all have studied slightly different things so don’t panic each other! Just sit quietly outside the room, breathe deeply and avoid looking at your notes. Once inside, read the exam instructions very carefully. Allocate time for each question and keep an eye on the clock. If you don’t know the answer to a question, skip it and return to it later. Never leave an exam early, use your time to fully complete and revise your answers. And remember – you can only do your best.

https://blog.intostudy.com/studying/examsrevision/8-simple-tips-for-exam-success/

We wish all our students the very best in the next two weeks. With clear focus on excellence and resilience, we are sure they will attack the assessment weeks with confidence.