Although June/July mid-year examinations have come and gone, the focus has already been shifted to the October/November exam period, particularly for matric learners.
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) recently shared the timetable for the 2023 end-of-year exams, indicating when learners will write their National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams or their Senior Certificate (SC) exams.
Learners participating in the final examinations have just over 100 days left to prepare for the first of their exams. The examination period is set to commence on Monday, 30 October 2023 and will conclude during the first week of December 2023.
Here is the 2023 Final Exam Timetable
DOWNLOAD THE 2023 FINAL MATRIC TIMETABLE HERE
The DBE has advised parents and learners to regularly check its website for any updates or changes. Learners are also encouraged to make the most of their time preparing for the important exams.
Exam Study Tips
An exam period can be an incredibly stressful time for learners, so it is always to prepare as much as you can, while also getting enough sleep and keeping up with hydration and nutrition.
Here are some study tips to help you prepare for the exams
- Have all your materials ready before you begin studying – pencils, pens, highlighters, paper, etc.
- Be positive. Make sure your brain holds onto the information you are learning by reminding yourself how important it is to remember the work and get the marks.
- Take a walk outside. A change of scenery will stimulate your learning. You’ll be surprised at how much more you take in after being outside in the fresh air.
- Break up your learning sections into manageable parts. Trying to learn too much at one time will only result in a tired, unfocused and anxious brain.
- Keep your study sessions short but effective and reward yourself with short, constructive breaks.
- Teach your concepts to anyone who will listen. It might feel strange at first, but it is definitely worth reading your revision notes aloud.
- Your brain learns well with colours and pictures. Try to use them whenever you can.
- Be confident with the learning areas you know well and focus your brain energy on the sections that you find more difficult to take in.
- Repetition is the key to retaining information you have to learn. Keep going – don’t give up!
- Sleeping at least 8 hours every night, eating properly and drinking plenty of water are all important things you need to do for your brain. Studying for exams is like strenuous exercise, so you must be physically prepared.
Using Matric Past Papers
Being a matric learner means that you are under intense pressure. Finding ways to study smart and effectively will help you to pass your exams.
One of the best methods used by learners to prepare for matric exams is to practice answering past exam question papers. Past papers for all Grade 12 subjects can be found on the Careers Portal website.
These few tips will help you use your resources effectively:
- Prepare to write the past papers like you are writing your actual exams
- Work through past papers with the help of your notes if necessary
- Set the time to work through past papers
- If the exam is 1 hour 30 minutes, then you should also work through it using that time frame
- Check your answers to the questions
What To Do On Exam Day
- Make sure you have all the necessary stationery for your exam, i.e. pens, pencils, eraser and calculator (with new batteries). Make sure you bring your ID document and examination admission letter.
- Arrive on time, at least one hour before the start of the exam.
- Go to the toilet before entering the exam room. You don’t want to waste valuable time going to the toilet during the exam.
- Use the 10 minutes reading time to read the instructions carefully. This helps to ‘open’ the information in your brain. All questions are compulsory, unless indicated otherwise, but you do not have to answer them in order. Start with the question you think is the easiest to get the flow going.
- Break the questions down to make sure you understand what is being asked. If you don’t answer the question properly you won’t get any marks for it. Look for the key words in the question to know how to answer it.
- Try all the questions. Each question has some easy marks in it so make sure that you do all the questions in the exam.
- Never panic, even if the question seems difficult at first. It will be linked to something you have covered. Find the connection.
- Manage your time properly. Don’t waste time on questions you are unsure of. Move on and come back if time allows.
- Check weighting – how many marks have been allocated for your answer? Do not give more or less information than is required.
- Write big and bold and clearly. You will get more marks if the marker can read your answer clearly.
Learners can also access a wealth of resources to prepare for the examinations on the DBE’s website. These resources include study guides, audio lessons, video tutorials and past exam question papers and memorandums.
Browse the Careers Portal for more on MATRIC PAST PAPERS.
