Australian Catholic University education and wellbeing experts have united to provide practical advice to support senior school students in the lead-up to their end-of-year exams. Source: Melbourne Catholic.
From Thursday, about half a million senior students around Australia will sit national exams for secondary school certificates, including the Victorian Certificate of Education, the New South Wales Higher School Certificate and the Queensland Certificate of Education.
ACU standardised assessment expert Steven Lewis, of the Institute for Learning Sciences and Teacher Education, advised students to ensure they are well prepared leading into the exam period.
“You will have likely heard the expression ‘Failing to plan is planning to fail’. Seek out past exams to familiarise yourself with what to expect. Don’t let yourself be caught off-guard, as this could increase your anxiety,” Associate Professor Lewis said.
Professor Lewis, a former teacher, said it was important students do their best during exams but that they also understand their Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) does not define them.
“Year 12 exams are the gateway to many post-school opportunities like university, apprenticeships and work. Research your preferred outcomes, but remember that many roads lead to that destination,” he said.
“Success looks different to different people, and it is about finding the right path for you. You can always change your mind about where you’re going or how you will get there.”
Inclusive education expert Dr Matthew White, of ACU’s School of Education based at Strathfield in Sydney, says it was important for students with diverse needs to ensure they have a support person they can turn to, and that they use any approved special provisions during exams.
Resilience expert Dr Kylie Trask-Kerr, of ACU’s School of Education in Melbourne, said while some strategies taught at school can help to manage everyday stress before exams, students should seek support from trusted others to help put things in perspective if an exam doesn’t go as planned.
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Prepare for exams, but put them in perspective, ACU experts say (Melbourne Catholic)
