Matrics urged to develop structured study plans as final exams creep closer

The Class of 2024 is set to start writing their final exams on 21 October. 

More than 700,000 full-time candidates will sit for the exams, while over 136,500 part-time candidates are expected to sit across 7,000 exam centres.

The examinations will run until 27 November.

On 18 October, matriculates will sign a pledge promising to follow the exam rules and report any contraventions they become aware of.

Group coordinator at SADAG, Amber Schoeman, says pupils need to draw up a manageable timetable for their studies.

"I cannot understate the importance of the structured study plan, making sure that you are giving yourself enough time. A realistic schedule.

“If you think that a section is going to take you half an hour, rather give yourself an hour just so that you aren't feeling that additional pressure and you're dividing it into manageable chunks. On top of that, I would also say to know your study method.

"Are you somebody who likes to read things out loud? Is it better for you to retain information by writing it down or by using cue cards? So make sure that you know your study method and use it accordingly. Obviously, rest and sleep are important.

"I know that our matrics are under so many deadlines and have got a lot of pressure on them at the moment. Internal and external pressure, but the importance of rest and taking intermittent breaks throughout your study day is so important and cannot be understated."

Education expert Hendrick Makanetha also emphasised the need for matrics to focus on level-one questions to earn more marks during exams.

"Learners and teachers must be able to focus a lot on questions that require a lot less impact. In subjects, you've got level one questions as well as right up to level four questions. So I think that teachers and learners should be able to focus a lot on all of those questions during revision to make sure that they can be able to score marks.

"In certain papers, they write two papers, paper one and two, and so once you do extremely better in paper one, then it might be easier for you to pass your exams with distinctions.

"I think that it is very important for teachers to have those categories of learners who can do better and those who cannot do much better. Their focus, of course, should be in such a way that teachers can know their learners. They must know what their learners are capable of.

"Those who are  struggling, they should guide them on how best to answer those level one and level two questions, because in most cases, you find that they can be able to do better there, and they must be able to treat as many questions as possible, giving the students enough time to rewrite or to write and rewrite so that they can be ready for the upcoming exams."

Schoeman adds that it is important for matriculants to focus on their personal progress as they approach their finals.

"Those who feel like they want to give up, they feel like it's becoming too much, it's important for them to acknowledge those struggles, speak to someone about it, whether that's a friend, whether that's a family member, if it's a teacher or SADAG, as it is a wonderful resource for our matrics to reach out to just so that they can have that safe space to get that emotional support and practical advice.

"There's a lot of importance on focusing on your personal progress. A lot of the time, our matrics compare themselves to their friends and how their friends are doing in certain subjects. 

“While, that can be okay, it's really important for you to reflect on how far you've come in the study process and celebrating those small wins is so important for your mental health."

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