“…The difference between try and triumph is a little umph. …” – Marvin Phillips
Our #WellnessWednesday blog this week comes from our learning support specialist Ms Ghida Bernard. Ghida provides us with a few exam tips and tricks to help during exam time. We also speak to some of our 2019 top achievers and ask what advice they can give to our 2020 matric pupils.
Exam Tips & Tricks
Preparation for exams are well on their way and you can feel the energy levels rising on campus. As a Kingswood family, we are committed to supporting you in every possible way to pass and achieve excellent results.
Learning success relies heavily on what you put in. It depends on how you use the time available to you and relies on your ability to stay focussed on what you want to achieve. It also depends on how you manage your overall well-being. balancing study time with other crucial elements of self-care, such as staying healthy through exercise and investing in your mental well-being. It is important to remember that an important part of successful learning is asking for help when you need it. Keep on asking and driving your learning process until you feel satisfied that you have been helped. Practically, if your question or need is not addressed fully by the first person you ask, keep on asking until you get a solution and feel you have been heard and understood.
Preparation for exams are well on their way and you can feel the energy levels rising on campus. As a Kingswood family, we are committed to supporting you in every possible way to pass and achieve excellent results.
Learning success relies heavily on what you put in.
It depends on how you use the time available to you and relies on your ability to stay focussed on what you want to achieve. It also depends on how you manage your overall well-being. balancing study time with other crucial elements of self-care, such as staying healthy through exercise and investing in your mental well-being. It is important to remember that an important part of successful learning is asking for help when you need it.
Keep on asking and driving your learning process until you feel satisfied that you have been helped. Practically, if your question or need is not addressed fully by the first person you ask, keep on asking until you get a solution and feel you have been heard and understood.
By putting in the work and taking care of yourself, you are investing in your future and shaping your own authentic life. School is only a small part of that life, however what you put in now has the ability to support you greatly in building towards a life that you want to live.
We asked some of our top achievers from 2019 to share their advice:
“My advice would be the following: Take care of yourselves, and be kind to yourself. Working hard, and studying hard is of course important – but so is rest. Make sure you’re giving yourself breaks, and getting enough sleep. In such a stressful time, it is even more important to make sure you are staying mentally, emotionally and physically healthy.” – Francoise Marais
“Start early, work consistently, take breaks and do past papers. Don’t listen to your friends or peers who may be spreading negative energy and trying to stress you out even further than you already are. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from friends and teachers when you are stuck or need clarification. Another important thing to remember is to exercise (even if its only a walk around the block). Always keep your mental health as your highest priority and know that you’re not alone. Above all, just try your best, breathe and remember that there’s more to life than a few pieces of paper.” – Quinlan Caiger
“Always give yourself enough time to do past papers, and if time is running out switch to doing past papers rather than sweeping through your notes. Doing past papers really does help. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. If you put in a decent amount of preparation, work and time and you go into the exams with a clear head, you will get the results you want.” – Henning van Zyl
“My advice would be to familiarise yourself with the curriculum as much as you can. Don’t be afraid to ask for help; exchange and compare notes with your friends and friends from other schools as this will give you a better understanding of the content. Also! Past papers! I know you’ve heard it before but honestly do as many as you can! Finally, just relax and breathe. You’ve (hopefully) been over the content before so you know what’s up” – Rachel Strachan
“I think I’d have to say that the most important thing for you to remember is that you should really put aside all expectations and other pressures you might have faced or had over the course of the year. Now is the time to focus on enjoying the start of the conclusion of your school career. Give your exams your best shot, work hard and be consistent. Most importantly try and remember to be present in every moment (the big, the small and the in-between) because it really is over so quickly” – Simeon Smit
“Firstly, I’d like to tell you that you are doing this for yourself and for your future so as much as it feels like a lot of pressure, it should motivate you. Just a little bit of advice for you: 1. Don’t forget that the amount of hours you spend “chilling” will have to be equivalent to the amount of hours you spend studying. 2. Take breaks when you feel like it even if you have a hard exam the next day, you will not be able to take in new information when tired. 3. It is your final term of Matric and your final term with your friends so I advise you to play hard (make memories) BUT work harder. Matrics: You’ve come to the final term of high school and you have made it this far and you will make it through Prelims and Finals. All the best!” – Reatile Balopi
“Work as hard as you can and then be happy in the knowledge that you have tried your best. Remember that there is no substitute for planning, preparing, practicing and putting in the hard work. Don’t procrastinate, use the resources available to you and focus on your goals. Most importantly believe in your abilities and be confident in your knowledge – we have been working towards this your entire school career. You have this Matrics!” – Mrs Tracy van Molendorff, Senior School Head
Who is Ghida Bernard?
Ghida Bernard is a qualified Occupational Therapist registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa. She completed her undergraduate studies in Occupational Therapy (OT) at Stellenbosch and her MSc in Perceptual Disorders (OT) at Wits. At Kingswood College, she assists the learners in the Junior School with additional learning support to fully benefit from the rich learning environment offered. Her special areas of interest include Self-Regulated Learning, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Educational Assessments, Emotional Regulation, Anxiety and Perceptual Disorders. She is a keen trail runner and enjoys music, gardening and art. Her husband is a marine biologist working in Makhanda and they have 3 wire haired pointers called Mungo, Molly and Chicko. The family love the Eastern Cape and plan to stay here long term.