It’s the time of year that separates all high school and college students into one of two boxes – plan or cram.
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Tasmanian Certificate of Education examinations will begin for year 11 and 12 students next week, with this week dedicated to revision and study.
Exams for grade 10 students will start this week, to help the students measure how they have progressed over the past year of education.
The Examiner caught up with some grade 10 students from Scotch Oakburn College and some year 12 students from Launceston College to see how their preparation is going and how they are feeling.
LAUNCESTON COLLEGE
The nerves are definitely real for some of Launceston College’s year 12 students, who are preparing to take their final TCE exams next week.
Lars Gillingham, Myles Saunders Liddicoat and Yasmine Wright Gittins are some of the school’s top performers, recently receiving special awards for services to the school.
The trio were recognised for not only their academic performance but for their contribution to the school community through participation and extra-curricular activties.
Mr Gillingham said it was hard to juggle both study and social life, but he relied on technology to steer him straight.
“I have really relied on my phone’s calendar this year, to get me where I need to be,” he said.
Miss Wright Gittins said it was important to make sure you balance your commitments and ensure you spend the right amount of time on each task, whether it was study or social.
The trio said they found ensuring they were eating right and sleeping well the night before their exams really made a difference.
They said they were nervous about finishing up their formal education but all three had plans for the future.
Mr Saunders Liddicoat and Miss Wright Gittins said exams were really important to them.
“We are both looking to further our education at university, so it’s important we do well in our exams,” Mr Saunders Liddicoat said.
Mr Gillingham said his exams were important to him, but he was only submitting one this year, with other exams being folio work.
He is planning on spending some time in the Australian Defence Force next year.
Written exams for the TCE will be held from November 12-22.
SCOTCH OAKBURN COLLEGE
Grade 10 students at Scotch Oakburn are still feeling the pressure of exam preparation, despite the exams only being part of their overall mark.
Will Bennett said he was feeling a bit of stress this week, because he has to fit his revision among his other extra-curricular activities.
“I haven’t been able to do much study because I’m in the Sound of Music, so I have to fit it in around those performances,” he said.
“But luckily I don’t have a very big part [in the musical] so I have been able to fit in some study and reading during breaks.”
Mr Bennett said he was hoping to follow a career in music or theatre but wanted to do well in his core subject exams, with his first one scheduled for Thursday.
Emily Clark said she was feeling most confident about her English exam because she could re-read the text and think more about how she could answer her exam questions.
“But there has been so much that we’ve learned in maths, I’m not sure if I will be able to remember it all,” she said.
“I have been using flash cards to help test myself, because I find it the easiest way for me to remember things and test my memory.”
Mr Bennett and Zara Kernan both agreed with Miss Clark, that flashcards were the most effective way to help them learn and study for their examinations.
“It’s the first time that we’ve been tested on things we’ve learned throughout the whole school year,” Miss Kernan said.
“So the nerves are definitely hitting in because of that.”
The trio said they were all most confident about their English exam and were hoping their exam results would help them to be able to do the subjects they want to specialise in next year for year 11.
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