Exam Preparation takes a Creative Turn

Examination preparation isn’t all about cramming and book-work. Year 13 have been looking at the importance of style as well as substance when it comes to gaining those all important marks.

Year 13 students have been focussing on the precision of their exam-writing skills in recent lessons. Using mini-whiteboards to achieve a more precise style and post-it notes to keep the focus on the smaller building blocks of an essay, both enable learners to make rapid progress as they approach their final A Level exams.

Mrs Hunn-Smith, Senior Deputy Head and Head of Sixth Form, explains:

“In so many schools, learners are left to just pick up their essay writing skills alone. At Stoke College, we devote time to the specific teaching of how to construct excellent exam answers, right down to sentence and word level. The difference it makes to students’ final grades is huge.”

Year 13 student, Maddie, said “this method has encouraged me to develop my essays and planning in a way which works for me and built my confidence enormously. Breaking down the skills like this means I don’t get overwhelmed by the enormity of the exam task and I can see how rapidly I am improving now.”

See the article on page 26 to discover how Madame Henson is helping Year 11 students prepare for French speaking exams.