Education expert offers matrics study advice

With matric finals set to start in a matter of days, education expert Wonga Ntshinga, of the Independent Institute of Education, shares some valuable insights and tips with learners on how to strategically manage their time and life during the final exam season.

“The upcoming exams represent the culmination of 12 years of hard work and will play an important role in determining the options that are open to matriculants after school, “said Ntshinga.

“But even though the final exams are an undeniably important milestone, learners should not become overwhelmed in the face of what lies ahead and (should) instead enter this period with a holistic strategy to perform at their best.

“Essentially, now is the time to draw up your roadmap for the challenging few weeks that lie ahead.”

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Here are a few tips recommended for matrics:

• Get organised – Review your study schedule before the exam period. Draw up a study roster but bear in mind time constraints. Create a neat working environment and have a clear plan for what you need to study and ensure all necessary materials are sorted and on hand.

• Narrow down your reviewing – Ideally, all materials should be covered once you enter the exam period. Focus your attention on sections of work that are almost certainly going to be tested and master them rather than attempting to re-read entire textbooks.

• Breathe and get your head in the right space – remain calm. Download mindfulness apps and invest five to 10 minutes in calming down your nerves before stepping in the exam room. Managing anxiety ahead of a paper will help towards avoiding mind blanks during the exam.

• Stay healthy – do not start stress-eating or staying up in the early morning hours of an exam to cram. Take regular breaks, drink plenty of water, exercise, sleep and ensure healthy eating habits are practiced.

• Do not stress about the papers already written but do not relax too soon either – Keep the focus even after writing most of your subjects. Also, keep focus on what lies ahead and do not stress about the results of the exams already written.

• Defer your concerns but keep the end goal in mind – Visualise your plans for the coming year and match that dream with your performance in the exams. Do not allow motivational thoughts to become negative.

“It is worth taking stock now of where you are, determining what still need to be done, and getting to a space where you are able to stay strong, motivated and effective right until the end of the exams,” says Ntshinga.

“Matric learners have a challenging yet exciting few weeks ahead of them, and going into it with the right frame of mind and a clear-cut strategy can mean the difference between an average performance and an exceptional one.”

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