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External Exam Preparation

Strategies for preparing for external exams

August 18, 2024 - 10 MIN READ

External exams are fast approaching, and every student has different goals depending on what they want to achieve next year.

For some, the goal might be to secure a particular ATAR, while others may be aiming for the top score of 99.95. No matter your target, effective preparation is key. This blog outlines six strategies that can help you prepare for external exams.

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1. Practice Past External Exams Under Exam Conditions

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With a few weeks left until external exams, it’s highly beneficial to complete all questions from past external exams. Simulating exam conditions is crucial for this practice. For example, you could print off the 2022 external exam, the formula sheet, and set a timer for yourself to replicate exam conditions. Managing your time effectively during these practice sessions is vital. Furthermore, if you encounter any questions that you find particularly challenging, circle them and review them later with the help of a teacher or tutor. This focused approach helps you identify areas that need more attention.

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2. Mark the Exam Yourself Using the QCAA Marking Guide

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After completing your practice exam, use the QCAA marking guide to grade your work in the same way as a teacher. This exercise will help you become familiar with how marks are allocated and identify common trends in the marking guide. Understanding these details is critical for knowing what to focus on when showing your working out in questions, ultimately helping you to score higher.

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3. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 with Exams from Different Years

 

Repetition is key to mastering exam content. After you’ve practiced one year’s exam, move on to another. All past external exams for mathematics can be found on the QCAA website. Here are the links to access past external exam papers:

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Practicing with exams from different years will expose you to a broader range of questions and scenarios, helping you to build confidence and proficiency.

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4. Use the QCAA Syllabus as a checklist

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The QCAA syllabus forms the basis for your external exams, making it an excellent tool for exam preparation. You can use the syllabus as a checklist to ensure you’ve covered all necessary topics. I’ve created an example of how an exam preparation checklist might look, specifically for Mathematical Methods and linked to the Cambridge Textbook.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 1:  Snippet of a Math Methods exam preparation checklist 

 

Creating a checklist will help you track your revision progress and ensure you’re well-prepared for every topic from the QCAA syllabus.

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5. Glance at Worked Solutions for Quick Hints

 

When practicing questions, whether from past exams or your textbook, it’s okay to take a brief look (5-10 seconds) at the worked solutions if you’re completely stuck. Sometimes, a quick glance can provide a hint or reveal a small piece of information that you were missing, thus helping you understand how to solve the problem. While it might seem counter-intuitive to check the answers, this method can be an effective strategy during revision. Of course, aim to complete questions without looking at the solutions as much as possible. With enough practice, you’ll find that you rely on the solutions less and less.

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6. Work Hard, but Maintain Balance

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After working as a high school mathematics teacher for the past five years, I’ve seen many Year 12 students struggle with burnout during exam preparation. Burnout usually results from prolonged overworking without adequate rest. Just like in physical training, rest days are crucial for recovery. The same principle applies to studying. As exams approach, it’s essential to start your preparation at a steady pace. For instance, you might begin with 2-3 hours of study per week and gradually increase your study load leading up to the exam. In the week leading up to exams, aim to study for 8-10 hours. By pacing yourself, you can avoid peaking too early and prevent a mental crash before externals. Gradually increasing your study hours will help you optimize your mental performance and peak at the right time.

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Conclusion

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Every student is unique, and while these six strategies are proven to be effective, it’s important to tailor your study plan to your individual learning style. I hope this blog has provided you with valuable exam preparation strategies and inspired you to develop your own strategies for success.

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All the best with your external exam preparation. Now is the time to lock in, stay focused and remember that nothing good comes easy.​​

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Chris Woolway

True North Math Tutoring 

Why True North Math Tutoring?

The story behind the name

October 8, 2023 - 3 MIN READ

I've always believed in the idea that everyone has a unique 'calling' in life. I define this 'calling' as a natural pull towards a specific career path driven by our passions and natural abilities. Everyone’s calling is different and unique to them. For example, for some people it could be building/construction, for others it could be nursing, or sports, or science, etc etc 

 

I refer to this ‘calling’ as a person’s ‘True North’. 

 

To travel in a direction of ‘True North’ means to travel directly North, without any deviation. I believe that to live a life of happiness and fulfillment, it is important to find your own ‘True North’ and have the courage to move in that direction. By doing so, you will never work a day in your life, you will wake up with excitement every morning and you will become highly accomplished at what you do. 

 

The reason why I started True North Math Tutoring is because teaching mathematics is my True North. I believe that my purpose in life is to pass mathematical knowledge down to future generations. Teaching math is something that has always given me a lot of fulfilment in life. It is more than a job to me, it’s my passion. I am always thinking about how I can improve my skills to become the best possible math teacher and provide the most value to students. 

 

I currently work as a high school teacher and the part I enjoy most about teaching is…teaching. Unfortunately, teaching in a school setting comes with a lot of additional duties and responsibilities, some of which do not align to my True North. I believe that my True North revolves around teaching mathematics, but in a small group or individual setting.

 

I appreciate you taking the time out of your day to read this blog and I hope that you now understand not only the reason behind the name, but more importantly, why I do what I do.  

 

Chris Woolway

True North Math Tutoring 

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