Beginning on May 7, our grade 1o students will sit their IGCSE exams, the culmination of two-years’ worth of study and preparation. These exams and their results–released in mid-August–mark a significant milestone for the students. It’s the first time (though certainly not the last) that they will be asked to demonstrate a large quantity of knowledge, understanding of concepts, and skills in a high-pressure testing situation. But just as important, it’s grade 10’s chance to prove to themselves, their parents, and their teachers what they are capable of doing.
May 7 may have seemed a long ways off when school opened in September, but as the calendar turns to 2013, the date is quickly approaching. This week I shared the exam schedule with the students. Click here to see it: IGCSE exam schedule.
The tests–twenty across eight subjects–span over a month. Some days are very busy (three exams) and many days are exam-free. The challenge for our students will be to most effectively manage their time and sleep during that month. We’ll talk more detail as the time approaches, but students most certainly will need to spend quality time at school on those off days, working closely with teachers to revise for exams. Every bit of practice pays off…
…which brings me to mock exams. For all the work we do in class and for all the assignments students complete at home, the best way to prepare grade 10 for the pressures of the exams is to replicate those exams. That’s why for ten days in February the students will sit through a full-length practice exam of every IGCSE test. Every detail–from the appearance of the exams to the seating plan in the room to the available materials–will be exactly as it is come May.
This will be a very compressed week. Rather than spread out over a month, the exams will be packed into less than two weeks. Again, time management, sleep, and diet will be very important for our students. Both exam periods naturally mark a time of increased stress and it will be important that teachers and parents work together to ensure grade 10 performs to their best ability.
Here’s the mock exam schedule: Mock exam schedule (draft) It’s still subject to change, but I don’t anticipate anything major. Please take a look at these schedules with your student. Talk to her/him about the challenges ahead and the importance of planning.
I hope grade 10 have a fun and relaxing holiday break. While they should certainly spend some time hitting the books and revising material for all courses, they should also get some rest and come back in January focused and ready for an intense five months.