THE MATRIC STUDY HACK THAT PACKS AN OUTSIZED PUNCH

“Writing past exam papers helps your preparation on several levels, which is especially helpful given the current circumstances,” says Wonga Ntshinga, Senior Head of Programme: Faculty of ICT at The Independent Institute of Education, SA’s largest and most accredited private higher education institution.

“In addition to covering the material you studied in a practical way, you also get a deeper understanding of how you need to pace yourself to ensure you complete a paper within the required time. So you get used to the stress of being faced with problems and questions in different formats and the way papers are structured, as well as deep practise applying your knowledge. You also get more thorough insight into your work, which you can’t duplicate by simply reading and re-reading your textbooks until the day of the exam,” he says.

“So in addition to your existing study and revision strategy, commit to writing a past paper a week in each of the subjects that can do with a boost – the benefit of taking this approach is that it will give you a much greater return on the investment of your time and focus than almost any other form of revision,” he says.

And the good news is that there are several ways in which past papers can be relatively easily accessed.

“Most schools should make past papers available to their learners, but it is also a good idea to get ones in addition to those provided by your school,” says Ntshinga.

“You will find countless past papers on the web and on educational and government websites. Additionally, good higher education institutions also help matric learners by providing past papers, so contact a registered and accredited institution close to you, and ask for assistance from their student advisors. On top of making past papers available, the benefit of speaking to a student advisor is that they will also be able to talk through your struggles and concerns, and advise you on additional ways in which you can conquer your work.”

Ntshinga says that while the final exams may still feel far away at the moment, the last few months of the Matric year fly by in the blink of an eye, and learners should get into their preparation without delay.

“Every day and every week counts, and you must use your time wisely now. Make sure you have your study roster in place, that you consistently stick to your plans, and that you stay on top of things. Discipline during these next few months, and the small victory of making your daily targets, will build confidence and capability. And doing just that extra little work every week on the subjects that need greater attention, will make a substantial and potentially decisive difference to your final results,” he says.