Using a balanced approach in preparation for examinations may not only aid your success, but reduce some of the stress and anxiety associated with examinations.
Careers Portal spoke to Robyn Angler, a Cape Town based Life Sciences teacher with ten years of experience in the classroom to get some insight into what learners can do to prepare for their end of year examinations.
Angler, who marks National Senior Certificate (NSC) matric examinations, noted that an important thing learners must do when preparing for examinations is to learn to understand what question is being asked. This is because learners spend a lot of time learning but not enough time practising how to answer questions.
It's not that they don't know the work, you can see that they have spent time and put effort into it, because you can see the use of the vocabulary. The problem is, they are not answering what the question is asking.
Learners should practise techniques on how to answer exam questions. This can be done by making use of past papers and evaluating how the question must be answered according to the past papers’ memorandum.
A useful trick would be to look at the mark allocation and fill in the answer that you thinks would justify getting the marks. Once you identify the gaps between the way you are answering a question and what is being asked, you should then revise in order to improve your question answering ability.
Angler also stresses the importance of revision over a period of time leading up to the examinations. You can use the 2357 revision method to start preparing well in advance of your exams. One of the benefits of this revision method is that you won't simply be revising the same content every day.
The 2357 revision method is based on the psychological scientific principle of spaced repetition that says that people forget a huge chunk of information they learned after two days.
Using spaced repetition, you can reduce the amount of information you forget by revising your work on the day you would forget the information. The 2357 revision method will also help you avoid cramming.
You need to space out your revision days so that every time you fall into the forgetting day, it is a day you are accurately revising and it brings it [the information] back into your thoughts
Another thing you can do to manage you time effectively when studying is called time blocking. Time blocking will also assist you in avoiding the pitfalls of procrastination.
To begin time blocking, you must dedicate a block of time (one to two hours) to revise a specific topic. Once this time block has elapsed, you must move on to the next time block and study a different topic.
If you move on to the next section, you have now successfully studied two topics, where you may have only studied one and potentially done half a job
Angler explains that dedicating a specific amount of time and a deadline to study topic may increase productivity as it will force you do get the work done and help you understand the most challenging aspects of a topic.
She adds that you should not just read your work when you are studying, but you have to recall your work. The process of recalling your work is called Active recall and it requires you to make an effort to remember the work you previously learned.
This process of actively recalling your work will help you save the information you are studying in your long-term memory. There are several resources available online which you can use to assist you with active recall.
Learners can recall their work using a host of different tools including using flashcards to practise what you’ve learnt, drawing mind maps and then reading the mind map out loud. Do something where you are actually recalling the information.
Angler emphasises the importance of rewarding yourself by taking breaks from studying. This will motivate you to get through the study time blocks. An example of rewarding yourself can be having two hours of study and a half an hour of doing something you enjoy, like watching you favourite television show or listening to some of your favourite music.
Angler also creates educational content for different social media platforms including her YouTube channel and TikTok Account. She took her skills online and onto the social media space to provide learners with tools they can use to make school easier.
While social media platforms can serve as a distraction to learners, Angler says that these platforms have untapped potential. The wide range of online educational content enables learners to take more control of being able to access lessons and learning materials at a time and place that suits them.
Digital education and social media can also level the playing field for learners who may not be receiving their subject in the way they need to hear it or in a manner that makes it easier for them to understand.
These resources are freely available and can be accessed online. Learners can access video lessons in all subjects and download past examination papers and memorandums.
Angler concludes that learners place too much pressure on themselves when it comes to exams. Learners should take care of their mental health to prevent burnout. And if things don't go to plan in their examinations, there's always an opportunity to redo and rewrite their exams.
It is not the end of the world, everything can be redone, everything can be rewritten, there's always more opportunity and so their mental health is really important
If you are feeling anxious or overwhelmed during this exam season, there are free resources available online to assist you. You can also call the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) on their 24 helpline on 0800 456 789.
