Preparing for exams
Whether you're a student preparing for exams or a parent supporting your child through their studies, understanding the value of revision and how to best prepare for assessments is key to success. Revision isn't just about going over notes, it's about building confidence, identifying gaps in knowledge, and developing the skills to apply learning under pressure.
Being exam ready
Being exam ready is not something which happens the night before your exam when you check you have the right equipment in your pencil case, it is a process which takes weeks and months of hard, diligent work.
Being exam ready is the mindset with which you apply yourself over the whole of your studies. If you follow the 4 principles behind the mindset of being exam ready then exams actually take care of themselves.
The 4 principles of being exam ready:
To be successful at the end of any assessment period and in particular the end of Year 11 or 13, your focus should not be on your exams, it should just be on ensuring you achieve each of the 4 principles each week. If you do, you will be exam ready and you will be on track to achieve your personal best.
More information on how to achieve each of the 4 principles each week can be found in Getting Exam Ready document.
GETTING EXAM READY LINK
https://sway.cloud.microsoft/VK1BiqM3KnhqNjgY?ref=Link
Effective revision strategies
For students in all year groups, time in school is punctuated with important milestones, tests, assessments, GCSEs, A-levels and good revision habits can make all the difference. The St Joseph’s Effective Revision Strategies document offers practical tips, resources, and guidance to help make revision more effective and less stressful. It focuses on 6 tried and tested revision strategies which you can adapt to suit your revision needs. Whether you're just getting started or fine-tuning your approach, the guide is a useful resource for students of all ages.
EFFECTIVE REVISION STRATEGIES LINK
https://sway.cloud.microsoft/lOAWRwTwoORhMUhe?ref=Link
Looking after your mental health - Exam stress
Stress is something everyone feels at times, and there are all kind of stressful situations that can be a part of daily life. It isn't uncommon to feel worried about exams, especially if you're feeling under pressure to achieve a particular goal. Exam stress can cause you to feel anxious or experience low mood, which may affect your sleeping or eating habits and impact your relationships.
The following document provides tips and coping strategies to help students look after their mental health through periods of exams, although some strategies may help deal with other stresses in their lives. There are a few resources and revision tips included that we would encourage students to try.
We appreciate that feelings of anxiety and stress may cause a change to student’s sleeping patterns, so we have included a list of strategies to help gain a better night's sleep alongside a list of helpful websites that students can access to gain additional support and advice.
LOOKING AFTER YOUR MENTAL HEALTH: EXAM STRESS LINK
https://sway.cloud.microsoft/G67sXhBezblYbEWW?ref=Link