Table of Contents
Introduction
Many students view December mocks as a cruel trick and see them as nothing but a cruel trick. These tests are more valuable than you might think. Here’s why?
Many things happen in the first week of December. Christmas songs are played incessantly at restaurants and supermarkets; the temperature has to be raised to 23 degrees; mock exams begin for many students. Although it may seem difficult to get students interested in these topics, here are five ways to help them make the most of their exam preparations.
Students should be motivated to get started with revision as soon as possible.
According to research, 75% of students believe they are procrastinators (pdf), and 50% do it regularly to the point that it is considered problematic. Piers Steel, the author of the largest study on procrastination (pdf), states that the further an event is from people, the smaller its impact on their decisions.
Summer exams seem like a lifetime away to teenagers, so many will only start working hard after Easter. Students can focus their efforts and attention earlier by taking mock exams halfway through each year.
Effective revision strategies
The most common techniques for revision are often the least effective. These include highlighting and re-reading key passages. They are often done on autopilot, which is why they are ineffective.
Students can practice revision strategies that have been proven more effective and find what works for them by taking mock exams. Many memory strategies have been proven to work. Researchers found the following memory strategies to be effective in one of the largest reviews of memory: spacing revision sessions so that you have enough time to forget, then re-learn; teaching the material to another person (this forces you to think clearly and structurally about the material); switching topics from time to time (which allows you to build upon previous revision sessions).
Psychologists refer to this as “elaborative interrogation”. This means asking yourself “why”. A fascinating memory study asked students to recall sentences like “The hungry man got into his car” (pdf). The first group only read the sentence. The second group was asked why he got in his car. What were the results? The results?
Improve knowledge
It is a great way to increase your knowledge and recall. Researchers found that students who took a mock exam after some revision performed better on the final exam (pdf).
Instead of viewing an exam as something that could be dangerous or as a judgment of their abilities, we should encourage students to view mock exams as a way to improve their memory and knowledge.
Students who have failed a mock exam are better off having the shock in mock than on the final exam. This can signal students that they may need to work harder, improve their revision strategies, or develop the skills necessary to perform under pressure.
Practice under exam conditions
Students can be influenced by pressure. It can cause anxiety, nerves, frustration, and even sloppy mistakes resulting in poor performance. Others find that pressure helps them focus, work harder, and perform better. To perform well under pressure takes practice and time. It is a lottery how students will react if they are experiencing these conditions for the first time during the final summer exams.
Students can use mock exams to practice and learn what works for them. You can use various techniques to calm nerves, such as slowing down and channeling nerves into positive behaviors or relaxing music before the exam.
Identify the topics that require attention
Mocks can be done early enough in the school year to give you the time needed to improve. The mock exam results will help students decide how to spend their time in the next months.
After identifying these areas, it’s time to put in the work. It’s not enough to think about the things you can do better. What matters is what you do.
A key part of a growth mindset is feeling confident and comfortable asking for help from others, whether they are a parent, teacher, or caregiver. To get students comfortable with receiving feedback, mock exams can be used. This will help them improve and learn.
Five ways mock tests can help improve your exam scores
Although competitive exams can seem daunting, it is possible to make the process more manageable if you use smart strategies. It is helpful to conduct mock exams in preparation for competitive exams. This helps students learn from their mistakes. Students have an opportunity to learn and improve with technology.
These mock tests can be used as practice exams for your final exam. These mock tests can help you boost your confidence and avoid making mistakes. This is where you learn about the test format and practise the basic test strategies.
Below are five ways that mock tests can help you prepare for exams
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This helps you to develop the right strategy
Preparing the right strategy is more important than just learning formulas and concepts. It is essential to be able to strategize to pass these tests. These mock tests are designed to provide a benchmarking tool that will allow students to assess their readiness and identify their weaknesses.
Through a thorough analysis of each mock’s performance, the mocks can also be used to help you develop the best test-taking strategy.
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This site will help you to learn new ways to solve problems
These mock tests are meant to help you learn advanced techniques while you attempt them. Students often find new ways to apply basic concepts.
It is important to treat mock tests as real tests. A mock test should be taken seriously by students to ensure they are prepared for the real exam. Every mock test you take is an opportunity to improve and learn.
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Let’s talk about time management
When you are trying to pass competitive exams, time management is crucial. As accuracy is crucial, it is difficult to answer all questions within the time allowed. It is worth solving many mock tests.
Students are more likely to pass their exams on time if they take more mock tests.
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This tool will help you practice and prepare
Mock tests can be solved quickly if you practice and understand the concepts. If students are not adequately prepared, it is good to understand concepts and then apply them during mock tests. This will allow them to assess their understanding of the material.
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This allows you to examine yourself after examination
Students should take the time to analyze and understand their mistakes after each test. To fully grasp each section, one must carefully go through it. Students who attempt these tests should first experiment with different approaches to each question and then search for the solutions.
Students can expect to understand better the concepts and basic principles that could be used in the final exam by this type of preparation.
Summary
If done correctly, mock exams can prove extremely beneficial for students. It is important to help them see that this is part of their challenge. They can assist students in revising earlier, practicing effective revision strategies, increasing their knowledge, dealing with pressure and acting as a guide.