Examination Advice (Grade 12 NSC Matric Life Orientation): Revision Notes

Examination Advice

Before the examination

Gathering your materials and preparation

Proper preparation is essential for exam success. Start by collecting all the materials you'll need well in advance. Pack three black pens, two sharpened pencils, an eraser, ruler, clock or watch, your ID book, and any other required equipment in a bag. Make sure to take this bag with you to the exam room on the day.

Managing pre-exam anxiety

It's important to avoid spending time talking to friends about the exam just before you start writing. These conversations can confuse you or make you worried, especially if they mention sections you haven't studied. Instead, spend time alone before the exam doing deep breathing, calming exercises, and relaxation techniques to manage your stress levels.

Time management strategies

Stop studying at least 30 minutes before you need to enter the exam room. Your brain won't have enough time to absorb new information properly at this point. Trying to study right before an exam starts may actually confuse you and cause you to forget work you already know well.

Plan to arrive at school at least 30 minutes before you need to be seated, as you usually have to be seated 30 minutes before the exam begins. This means planning to be at school a full hour before the exam starts. If you live far from school and depend on transport, plan to arrive two hours early in case of delays like late buses or trains, taxi breakdowns, accidents, or strikes. Bring a summary with you so you can review your work whilst waiting at school.

Mental preparation techniques

Before looking at your exam paper, do some breathing exercises. These will help you feel calm and focused as you begin your exam.

Once the examination starts

Initial procedures

Write your exam number and other required details on the cover of your answer book. Double-check these details to ensure they are correct, as incorrect information can cause problems with marking.

Reading and planning strategy

You will be given 10 minutes to read through the entire question paper before the exam officially starts. Use this time wisely by reading through all questions to get an overview of what you need to answer. When you're allowed to start writing, make sure you understand exactly what each question is asking you to do.

Key exam question words and their meanings

Understanding command words is crucial for answering questions correctly. Here are the most important ones you'll encounter:

Analyse means breaking something up into separate parts and discussing each part. You need to examine, interpret, explore, and investigate each component, explaining how each part is important and how the parts connect to each other.

Apply requires you to use knowledge in a practical way. When applying concepts, you demonstrate your understanding by making the topic relevant to a specific situation, issue, or problem.

Assess involves making a judgement about the nature, quality, or value of something. You need to provide a value judgement that you support with clear reasons.

Calculate means you must reach an answer using numbers through addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division.

Comment asks you to give your opinion, explain, or criticise something. Make your judgement based on the evidence provided.

Compare requires you to look at two or more things, identifying both similarities and differences. Focus more on similarities than differences when comparing.

Complete simply means adding missing information to fill in gaps.

Consider asks you to think carefully about something and give your opinion.

Contrast focuses specifically on differences between two or more things, showing them in opposition to each other.

Create means putting together ideas or parts to develop something original. You should engage in creative thinking and offer novel suggestions.

Critically analyse requires you to show approval or disapproval of something, usually presented as a list format.

Match involves finding things that go together or are similar and connected to each other.

Measure asks you to find the size, quantity, or other measurable aspects of something, or judge its importance, value, or effect.

Mention requires brief writing about something without detailed explanation - keep it short.

Name is similar to mention - give a brief answer without long explanations.

Outline means summarising and describing main ideas, core points, concepts, or events to give an overview.

Prove requires you to give facts that support the issue or argument.

State means explaining something exactly and clearly as it is.

Suggest asks for possible reasons or ideas that must be believable, though they don't necessarily need to be proven.

Summarise requires giving a very short and brief account, including a short conclusion without unnecessary details.

To what extent asks you to explain and analyse, then comment on how important or significant something is. This also refers to degree - how much, how far, or how many.

Trace means showing the order of events or progress of a subject. Tell what happened first, then next, and so on. For example, you might trace events that led to the formation of workers' unions in South Africa.

Question types and strategies

True or false questions

These questions require careful attention to qualifying words. If part of a statement is true and part is false, then the entire answer is false, unless there's a qualifying word like "usually" or "sometimes".

Words like "all" and "none" generally make statements false. Extreme statements using words like "always", "completely", and "never" are often false.

Conversely, words such as "most", "usually", "seldom", "sometimes", and "rarely" generally make statements true. Statements containing words like "some", "may", and "partly" are usually true.

When a statement is given negatively, try restating it without the negative words like "no", "never", or "not" to see if it becomes true or false. If the restated version is correct, then mark the original as False.

Matching items questions

Start by reading the whole section before beginning. Begin with the easiest matches first, then cross out matches as you use them. If you can't make a perfect match, choose the alternative that is closest to the truth.

Find out whether each item can be used only once or if some can be used multiple times. Check if there are extra items on one side of the list. Save time by reading the longer half of each statement first.

Essay-type questions

Essay questions require longer answers in paragraph or essay format. These questions need you to support your answers with evidence or proof.

For essay questions, follow this systematic approach: First, find out exactly what the question is asking you to do and underline key words in the question. Take time to plan your writing by making a quick outline before you start.

Write down the important points you want to make, then number these points in the order you'll cover them. Restate the question and use it to begin your answer, addressing the question directly in your first sentence, paragraph, or introduction.

Get straight to the point, then develop your answer with supporting ideas and facts. Keep to the topic throughout your response. Check for spelling errors, missing information, and incorrect dates and numbers. Write neatly and leave space between paragraphs to allow for additions later if needed.

Managing exam stress

If you feel stressed during an exam, try some deep-breathing exercises. These techniques can help you stay calm and focused during challenging moments.

If you experience feelings of stress, pressure, anxiety, or depression about your exams, don't hesitate to seek help. There are several South African support services available:

Remember that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. These resources are available specifically to support students like you during stressful times.

Remember!