With the holidays and Christmas celebrations fast approaching, learners may easily get distracted but Dr Felicity Coughlan, director of the Institute of Education (IIE), advises that learners stay focused an not let themselves be distracted by the appeal of the holidays.
“In a world of instant gratification, the month to six weeks set aside for the matric exams, requires the kind of tenacity from school leaving young adults for which the rest of their education had not necessarily prepared them for.
“The relative freedom of this period can be counterproductive as students give up the security created by a routine that others managed,” says Coughlan.
The doctor dispels the belief that learners should stay away from friends during this time as she strongly believes that a complete ban on this interaction will lead to many wasted hours using social media and other communication tools to stay in touch.
She also advises that the learners not get too relaxed as the list of subjects gets shorter.
“Stop stressing about the subjects you’ve already written as there is nothing more you can do about those results.
“Retain your focus right to the end, especially for the so-called ‘easier’ subjects which are often scheduled towards the end of the exam timetable,” she adds.
“Every paper counts and you have to give your best right up to the end.”
Coughlan reminds students that selecting one or two subjects which may come easier to them was a deliberate part of their strategy four years ago.
“At that time they included these subjects to get access to some relatively easy ‘points’ to up their scores and improve their chances of access to courses and that strategy should not be abandoned now.
“Don’t stumble over the last hurdle and forfeit those points because the end of November will arrive, and with it the end of your school career,” she says.
“There is nothing left for you to do about the way you started, now it is all about the way you will finish.”
Coughlan says that in the next three weeks, matrics can keep their focus by:
* Not looking back – what is done cannot be changed and each paper should be treated as a stand alone opportunity to do your best.
* Ensuring that they stick to a schedule of eating healthy, and getting enough sleep and exercise.
* Sticking to their study schedule and even upping the ante a little, by putting in an hour or two extra to complete another mock paper, for example.
“A few extra marks may well mean the difference between your application for a position and that of your competitors in the job market.
“It may also mean the difference between being accepted into your course of choice or having to look at alternatives,” says Coughlan.
“Put in the time now and stick it out right until the end, and you’ll find your focus and additional effort will be the gift that keeps on giving throughout the rest of your life.”
