Best ways to study for November exams
For most children, it is difficult to focus for more than a few moments on any task and that’s quite natural, due to their curiosity, exuberance and energy.
However, concentration is essential for studying, for homework and for the completion of any task.
Adults can improve their concentration with special exercises, however, with children one needs to use slightly different strategies. You can help your child increase her concentration in various ways. These strategies will teach her certain habits and rules that, over time, make it easier to focus while doing homework or studying.
13 Ways to make sure you succeed with CAPS exams:
1. Divide an exams paper into Smaller Tasks
The whole exam may requires too much concentration and discipline, so it would be a good idea to divide it into smaller sections over 10 – 20 minutes at a time. A whole exam requires time, dedication and focus, might seem intimating and overwhelming, and can awaken reluctance to tackle. A small part seems easier to carry through and there is less resistance.
2. Reducing Distractions
Unless engaged in something they really like, children might find it difficult to screen out distractions. You need to keep the environment where they learn or study, as distraction-free as possible. Be especially wary of television, loud music, noises, and anything else that might distract the child’s attention.
3. Television and Cell Phones
It is not a good idea to watch TV while doing exams or practising for it, since this distracts the attention. Text messages and emails also interrupt the concentration. It is recommended not read text messages or use cell phones, while studying or doing homework.
4. Studying at the same time every day
Repeating the same activity every day at the same hour, eventually, turns it into a habit. If a child sits down for homework or exams every day at the same hour, after a while, when the hour comes, there will be less effort required to focus. The mind will know that the time for studying has arrived, and would be more willing to study.
5. Give Them Enough Physical Activity
Some physical activity, like playing and some sports, between study and questions, provides a way to vent out extra energy. This would help your child to be less restless, offset boredom and make it easier to focus.
6. Let Children Have Play and Fun
Giving children too many questions and involving them in too many activities can be overwhelming and tiring for their brains. As a parent you should allow them enough time for pleasure and fun, so they don’t feel too pressurised. Offer a period of play/doing a non-academic task that they enjoy, as a reward for completing a section of their study timetable.
7. Enough Rest
Ensure that the child has enough sleep at night, and also, some rest during the day.
8. Set Time for the Completion of an Exam
Set the time for completing an exam or part of it, like ten minutes, twenty minutes, etc. This might help the child to focus, so as to finish the goal within the time limits. However, you should be careful with this, since some children might find setting time limits too pressurising, and this could cause them anxiety and disturb their focus. Perhaps allow your daughter or son to offer her/her suggested time for completing a particular part of the exam or the whole exam.
9. Let Them Play Games that Require Focus
You can train and strengthen a child’s ability to focus by playing games that require thinking. Playing games that require focusing, planning and the use of memory combine fun with concentration. For example, word puzzles and riddles are great for practicing this skill.
10. Allow Some Time before Beginning a Exam
When your child is busy, tell them what they have to do next, but allow a few minutes until they stops and starts the new activity. This advice is more valid, when a child is engaged in doing something that they like and enjoys, since there would be reluctance to stop what they are doing and start do something else.
11. Always start with March exams
Starting with March exams set a baseline of the work your child has done. This will show you where he or she is still struggling with. Look at the memo at the end of each paper and mark only the correct answers. The wrong answers you don’t mark. This is where psychology plays a huge role in any child.
The wrong section answers need to be worked on first. Keep a separate papers and example to your child the answer from the memo.
12. November exams
Starting with the November exams will take all the above steps into action.
Start with Home Language first (HL) then also do the First Addition Language (FAL) and then the rest of the subjects. Mathematics, Social Sciences etc.
Here are links to all the official exam papers you need to practice.
Afrikaans
Graad 1 November vraestelle
Graad 2 November vraestelle
Graad 3 November vraestelle
Graad 4 November vraestelle
Graad 5 November vraestelle
Graad 6 November vraestelle
Graad 7 November vraestelle
Graad 8 November vraestelle
Graad 9 November vraestelle
English
Grade 1 November papers
Grade 2 November papers
Grade 3 November papers
Grade 4 November papers
Grade 5 November papers
Grade 6 November papers
Grade 7 November papers
Grade 8 November papers
Grade 9 November papers
Don’t be surprised if you get the same papers or very similar papers as it’s CAPS and the way questions are asked stay the same.
13. Done with a paper
Read questions and answers from the exam and the Memo again. Study how to correctly answer it.
VERY VERY IMPORTANT. QUESTIONS ALWAYS REPEATS WITH EXAMS. ONLY THE ANSWER DIFFERS
