Matric learners: Top tips for exam success

Matric learners all over South Africa have the finish line in sight as the race to complete their schooling career nears its end. Cindy Glass, Director and Co-founder of Step Up Education Centres explains “There is no doubt that the upcoming Trial and Final exams can be a source of anxiety and stress for most, if not all, Grade 12 learners-and their parents! The task ahead can feel overwhelmingly challenging and the resulting fear-of-failure can and, too-often, does become counter-productive in the learning process.”  

It need not be a negative experience at all. Cindy has these following tips to ensure Matric Trials and Finals success:

1. Start TODAY! Get hold of a calendar.  Identify your Trial and Final exam dates. Use the calendar to PLAN your study schedule for each day. You must tick off each completed task as you go-this will give you a wonderful sense of accomplishment. 

2. Set your goals-for each subject. Ensure that your goals are realistic.  Be creative in writing these goals on an A4 piece of card which you can stick on the wall in your study area. Take the time to remind yourself of what you wish to achieve, every day! This will keep you motivated!

3. Get hold of as many past exam papers as you can. Working through past papers (and using the memo’s to check that you are on the right path) will ensure that you are ready for the actual exams! Past exam papers are KEY to effective exam preparation! 

4. Looking at the enormity of all that needs to be done for the exams can feel overwhelming. Use your calendar to break this big task into smaller, more manageable, bite-size pieces. Be consistent and hold YOURSELF accountable for making sure that you cover the work needed. 

5. Ensure that you have a designated space to study.  A small desk, a comfortable chair, good lighting and the stationery that you will need must be in place before you begin. 

6. The best way to study is to put pen-to-paper.  You are seven times more likely to remember information if you write it down! Again, focus on past exam papers. Write down the answers and practice the areas you are unsure of-in writing!

7. Look after yourself.  This is a time to eat healthily, exercise, drink plenty of water and get enough sleep. 

8. Avoid distractions. Be self-disciplined and switch off your cellphone! Remember that you honour YOURSELF by being intrinsically motivated and disciplined!

Cindy concludes by saying “Matric exams need not feel like an insurmountable task.  Don’t look backwards. Start working towards achieving the best that you can-today.  Trust yourself and know that you can do this!” 

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What to do if your parents don’t agree with your study choices

Many Matrics considering their study options for next year are finding themselves in the difficult position of being at odds with their parents or guardians about their preferred direction. While this conundrum has always been around, it is even more pronounced today, given that there are a myriad qualifications and careers that didn’t exist even a few years ago.

“Parents often have expectations of the potential careers they see their children pursuing, and it can be hard for them and their children to get on the same page when the parents are in favour of the more traditional qualifications, while the child would prefer to pursue a qualification the parents don’t know much about,” says Nola Payne, Head of Faculty: Information and Communications Technology at The Independent Institute of Education, SA’s largest private higher education institution.

She says it is important for families to have a respectful dialogue based on facts and research when they find themselves in this position.

“If you are the young adult who would like to pursue a career in, for instance, digital marketing or game design and development, but your parents would rather you do a BCom at a public university, there are ways to get them to see your side of things,” she says.

“And if you are the concerned parent, worried that your child’s preferred qualification is lightyears away from what you think they should be doing, there are also a few ways you can set your mind at ease,” says Payne.

She says it can be helpful for parents and future students finding themselves at loggerheads to approach the situation as follows:

DO THE RESEARCH AND UNDERSTAND THE OPTIONS

There are many more study options today than in the past. The range of qualifications on offer has grown exponentially, while the institutions offering them have also multiplied. All registered and accredited higher education institutions – whether they be public universities or private – are registered by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET).   They are only registered if they have been accredited by the Council on Higher Education (CHE) and registered by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF).

Looking up a qualification on the NQF is as easy as going to the SAQA website and typing in a few words.  An institution should also be able to give you the SAQA identity number immediately. This means that prospective students and their parents can be confident about the bona fides of any qualification they want to pursue, provided that the institution is recognised by DHET and the programme is listed on the NQF which can be found on the SAQA website.

FACE REALITY

The world of work looks a lot different today than it did a decade ago, with numerous new and emerging careers on offer, such as brand management, big data analysis, app development, and digital design, to name a few. The traditional, generic 3-year degree is no longer a golden ticket to landing a job.

Prospective students would do well to pursue a career-focused qualification which fits well with their talents and interests, and which will prepare them to step into the workplace with confidence. Career-focused qualifications will often also include work-integrated learning, which allows students to build a portfolio of work throughout their time at varsity. This puts them in a much stronger position after graduation when applying for a position.

UNDERSTAND THE MARKETPLACE

What can you do with your qualification after graduation? That is an important question to ask before committing to a programme. A great way to determine the demand for a qualification and your future earning potential, is to look at career sites and job ads, to see how much demand there is in marketplace. Speaking to an advisor at a higher education institution’s career centre can also go a long way to clarifying your prospects post-graduation.

UNDERSTAND THE MOTIVATION FOR STUDYING

Pursuing a degree requires a substantial investment of time and money. And handling the demands of higher education and young adulthood is not a walk in the park. The dropout rate among first years is very high, in part because the reason for heading to university wasn’t sound.

So if the motivation for further study is for the sake of status rather than to lay the foundations for a specific and successful career, or if a student is only studying to fulfil the wishes of their parents, it would be better to wait, investigate all the options, and only apply when they have found something that gets them really excited about your future.

“Parents need to understand that the best approach now is to study and prepare for a world that’s changing, and that the traditional way and ‘safe’ careers may not be the best course of action,” says Payne.

“And prospective students need to understand that while the difference in opinion may be frustrating, it is up to them to present their case calmly, clearly and respectfully, with the research to back up the viability and prospects of their choice.”

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Breaking Barriers: Helping Your Child Shine

Every child is a little star with their own way of learning and growing. But sometimes, those learning journeys come with a few speed bumps, and that’s perfectly okay! Whether your child is finding it tricky to focus, struggling to read, or facing sensory challenges, recognising these hurdles is the first step to supporting them.

What Are Barriers to Learning?

Barriers to learning can show up in lots of ways. Maybe your child has ADHD, dyslexia, or struggles with numbers (dyscalculia). Perhaps they face sensory challenges like hearing loss or a visual impairment. Emotional hurdles, like anxiety or attachment issues, can also make focusing a bit harder.

For some children, conditions like autism or foetal alcohol syndrome call for extra-special strategies to help them succeed. But here’s the thing: these challenges don’t define your child! With a bit of understanding and the right tools, they can absolutely thrive.

Small Changes, Big Differences

Supporting your child doesn’t have to mean massive changes. Sometimes, it’s the little things that make the biggest difference—like adding a quiet corner at home, trying a new way to explain a tricky concept, or working with their teacher to adjust classroom strategies.

Finding help can sometimes be challenging. At Twinkl, we believe every child deserves to feel confident and capable. That’s why we’ve put together resources to help parents and teachers work through barriers to learning. 

You’re not alone on this journey! Twinkl’s resources are here to help you every step of the way. Whether you’re looking for advice about ADHD, dyslexia, or even anxiety, we’ve got booklets packed with practical tips and ideas.

How Twinkl Can Help

We know that supporting children with different needs can sometimes feel overwhelming. That’s why we created the Barriers to Learning Information Booklet Series—a collection of handy, easy-to-read guides made especially for South African parents and teachers.

Here’s what you’ll find in these booklets:

  • Mind Maps: A quick and clear overview of each challenge.
  • Top Tips: Practical advice to support your child at home or in the classroom.
  • Indicators and Signs: Wondering if your child needs extra help? We’ve got you covered.
  • Adaptation Strategies: Ideas for tweaking teaching methods and daily routines to suit your child’s needs.

These booklets are your go-to guide for creating an inclusive and supportive environment where every child feels seen, heard, and valued.

Let’s Break Barriers Together

At the heart of it all, we just want children to feel confident, happy, and ready to take on the world. Together, we can create a learning environment that celebrates every child’s uniqueness.

So, why wait? Head over to Twinkl and check out our Barriers to Learning series. Let’s work together to help every child shine bright and feel unstoppable!

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MATRICS: USE THE NEXT 6 WEEKS TO LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR STUDY SUCCESS

University choices may feel like a distant priority for this year’s Matrics who are currently settling into the rhythm of their final year at school. But now is, in fact, the optimal time to be investigating what they want to study and where, because making the right choice takes time, and will ultimately impact on study success and employability 4 years from now, an expert says.

“Prospective students will start applying from around the April holidays onwards, whereafter the applications will start coming in thick and fast, and the rush to secure a place will intensify. Once your fellow learners start applying, you will really start to feel the pressure to do so as well, which could lead to you settling for a generic qualification or taking the traditional route that others in the same boat as you are following just to make sure you don’t miss your chance,” says Nola Payne, Head of Faculty: Information and Communications Technology at The Independent Institute of Education, SA’s largest private higher education institution.

“The gravity of the choice you need to make about your future in coming weeks can’t be overstated. The right study choice at the right institution is a solid foundation for future success, but the wrong choice can exact a costly financial and emotional toll for a long time. It, therefore, makes sense to use the relative calm of the coming weeks – a calm that will not again be repeated in your Matric year – to make absolutely sure about what you want to do next year,” says Payne.

She says there are two main questions around which Matrics should focus their investigations: 1) What should I study and 2) Where should I study.

1)     WHAT SHOULD I STUDY?

“If you have more or less of an idea of your strengths and ideal work, that’s a great start,” notes Payne.

“However many people have no idea of what they want to do with their life after school.

These learners should start by investigating potential careers that interest them, and importantly, investigate the demand for suitably qualified professionals in these fields.”

Payne advises Matrics to scour job advertisements, see which positions excite them and devour any media they can lay their hands on to get an idea of the kinds of careers that are out there.

“Remember that new careers exist today that are vastly different from the careers of the past, and you may even land upon something you’ve never heard of before. Once you’ve identified your ideal career, you should then investigate what you would need to study to do the kind of work that excites you.”

A major consideration is whether to opt for a traditional academic degree or a work-focused one, says Payne.

“In our tough job market, the closer a degree is aligned to the realities of the world of work, and the greater a qualification’s ability to make you land on your feet from the first day on the job, the better your chances of success. So ask institutions about their lecturers and curricula – are they still involved in their profession beyond teaching, and does the institution have close ties with companies and industry professionals?

“The days of academic ivory towers disconnected from the demands and requirements of the real world are numbered, and prospective students must endeavour to find an institution that understands and responds to what is needed in today’s workplaces.”

2)     WHERE SHOULD I STUDY?

With South Africa’s 26 public universities and countless private higher education institutions, prospective students have their work cut out for them in determining where their goals and ambitions would be best realised. Because if an institution is registered and accredited, its qualifications will be valid and recognised in the workplace, regardless of whether they originate from a private institution or a state-funded one.

But there are other important issues to consider. These include proximity to where one currently lives, class sizes, student support and career guidance services, and the degree to which the curriculum is aligned and able to adapt to modern workplaces.

“Opting for a uni closer to home means savings on the financial front, as well as proximity to your existing support structures which can be helpful when the going gets tough,” says Payne.

“Large class sizes can make you feel invisible and like a number, while smaller class sizes mean more attention and a greater feeling of belonging. Getting real-life work experience and assignments prepare you for the workplace in a way theory only can never do, while student support services can make a crucial difference in your success.

“Make sure you get satisfactory feedback on all these issues before signing up with an institution,” she says.

Payne says making the right choice, based on thorough research and investigation of all options, has a huge role to play in student outcomes.

“Many students drop out of their first year because they made their study choice under pressure, or because they realise after a few weeks or months that there are other qualifications more suited to their aspirations. Some only get exposed to interesting fields and other higher education institutions once they leave school and are already studying – a situation that can be avoided if proper time and attention is given now to exploring what’s out there.

“We urge teachers, parents and guardians too, in coming weeks, guide the young people in their care to enable them to make informed choices calmly and with clarity. This will allow learners to put the anxiety of their 2020 plans behind them, and focus fully on doing their best in the important series of exams that lie ahead this year.”

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