Practice Makes Prepared – Year 10s Get Exam-Ready
Facing your first high school exams can feel like learning to ride a bike, wobbly and a bit scary, but with the proper support, it can be an empowering rite of passage.
That is why our Year 10 students spent time during Pastoral Care Time (PCT) learning what to study and how to study. For many, these upcoming exams will be their first formal assessment experience, and we are making sure they are set up for success.
Why Start Now?
By Year 10, students are stepping into the deeper end of high school learning. It is the perfect moment to build the habits and mindset that will support them through Year 12 and beyond.
More than simply reading over notes, this teaches that real learning comes from doing and from practicing.
The Strategy - Practice, Feedback, Improve
The key tip students have been working on is simple but powerful:
- Practice, practice, practice
- Make lots of notes – simplified notes!
- Use diagrams where possible.
- Practice with time limits.
- Ask specific questions. Teachers are there to help.
- Use Practice questions. Try without notes.
- Get feedback from your peers. Use it to improve.
Under the guidance of Regan Dyer, Acting Dean of Year and Heads of Learning Areas, students are being encouraged to approach exam prep like a skill to be developed, not just a memory test. It is about taking initiative, asking questions, and learning from mistakes while there is still plenty of support and a safety net.
Building More Than Academic Skills
In this process, students are not just prepping for exams. They are building:
- Resilience – by sitting with discomfort, trying again, and persisting through challenges.
- Initiative – by taking ownership of their learning and asking for help.
- Critical Thinking – by applying knowledge, not just recalling it.
These are exactly the kind of real-world skills that will support them in life far beyond the school walls.
A Foundation for the Future
We are committed to nurturing confident, independent learners from the very beginning. By introducing study strategies early, we live out our Mercy values, especially excellence and resilience, and give girls the tools to grow through challenge.
We don’t wait until Year 12 to build strong learners. We start early, guide with care, and celebrate every step of their journey. Because confident learners are not born, they are shaped, one challenge, strategy, and practice question at a time.
- ExamPreparation, ExamSkills, Featured, HighSchoolExamSupport, SantaMariaCollege, TeachingStudyStrategies, Year10Study
Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.
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