1. Pakuranga College
How can we support our children to prepare for NCEA exams? Text me a question:

2. Aims for this evening
To consider what are the issues relating to teenagers and study
To consider how we can support our children to study
To learn some study techniques
To learn where we can access study material
To learn different subject specific study strategies

3. How does NCEA work? 3
Level 3 (60 credits at level at any other level) 2
Level 2 (60 credits at level at any other level)
Level 1 (80 credits at level 1 or higher
10 must be literacy credits + 10 numeracy credits) 1

4. Students and study…The issues
The students tell us:
“Im not organised in my study”
“Im not sure what to study”
“Im not sure how to study”
“Nobody has taught me how to study”
“I find it hard to get motivated”

5. Organising study: Plan ahead
“Im not sure when my exams are”
“I’m not sure which subjects I have exams in”
“Im not sure how many exams I have in each subject”
“What is the difference between the exams in September and the ones in November?”

6. Organising study: How can parents help?
As a starting point. discuss with your child how many credits they currently have in each subject and are they at achieved, merit or excellence level?
How many credits do they still need to pass NCEA this year?
How many credits do they still need to gain merit or excellence endorsements?
In which subjects are they aiming to gain subject endorsements?
With your child set goals for each subject in the exams

9. Organising study: How can parents help?
Take home tonight/download the prelim and NCEA exam timetables
Ask your child in which subjects do they have exams and how many papers are they sitting in each exam
If they are unsure, ask your child to check with their teachers, check moodle with them or teachers directly
Help your child to design a study plan with specific goals for each session – don’t forget to add the exams

11. A study plan
Count how many days your child has until each prelim/NCEA exam
Taking into account their other commitments between now and the prelims, work out how many 1 hour blocks of study time they have
Divide the 1 hour blocks between the papers that they will be sitting and identify how many study hours that they will have for each paper or subject
Sketch out a plan on a calendar with a clear goal for each session or day

12. Exemplar study goals
In this hour, I will aim to: Complete a practice exam paper for the English visual text exam Learn 30 chem. cluster questions by repeating them and covering them up until I know them Read a German newspaper and underline words I do not know

13. Study plan exemplar My exam plan – stuff I need to do for exams Sun
Mon
Tues
Weds
Thurs
Fri
Sat
English
7-8pm
Practice film essay
7-8 Note summary on film
Maths
5-6 Complete online trig quiz
9am
Exam!!
Science
12-1
Learn elements
Health
7-8 practice essay
Music
Listen to 3 x music
Other
Go bed early
Eat healthy

14. Organising study: Study space
Help your child create a study routine. It takes 3 weeks to form good habits
Help your child organise a place to study
Help them to avoid distractions – other children occupied or asleep? Turn off the TV, internet and phone?
Music?
Offer to help

15. How to study
What the students tell us when we ask HOW do you study: “I study…I go back through my books” “I don’t know”

16. How to study Practise answering questions from previous exams
Make summary notes
Rote learn vocabulary, equations or other information
Read articles or books related to the topic
Explain what you have learnt to another person

17. Practice exam papers & exemplars
Go to the website: nzqa.govt.nz Click on the: Search tab Choose: Search NCEA standards Choose: The subject you require Choose: Exams and exemplars Choose: The NCEA level that you require

18. Practice exam papers & exemplars
Download the APPs:

19. Practice exam papers & exemplars
Students will also be provided with past exam papers by their teachers. It is only worthwhile students completing practice papers if they get clear feedback, either from their teacher or by comparing their answer with previously marked exemplars.

20. Make summary notes
Students should use their notes from the year to create summary notes.
Students should aim to get the notes for one exam paper onto one page of A3 paper.
Use colour for each section of the notes
Use shapes to identify different topics
Stick the summary sheets up high on the wall
Aim to redraw the summary sheets from memory
Parents could test their children how much of each set of notes they can remember

21. Summary notes: The Blindside
Main character: Big Mike
Homeless
Low IQ but high compassion
Visual techniques
Sc 1. Close up + up beat music
Sc2. Long shot + dialogue
Key messages:
If we help each other we can achieve great goals
Friendship
Key quotations:
“Smile at them, then they will want to be your friend”
“What is in it for me”
“Can SJ come too?”
Key scenes:
At the park
Training
NFL scouts
Car crash

22. Rote learning
The students have told us that they learn things in different ways:
“I just repeat it over and over again”
“I write it out 1 line at a time and keep repeating it”
“I record myself on my phone and listen to it over and over”
“I down loaded a flip card app on my phone”
“I get my brothers to test me”
Parents can discuss with their child the different methods above and which one they find the best.
Offer to help test them at the end of a 30 minute study session

23. Read texts related to the topic
Excellence grades in many subjects are about being able to relate the topic studied to society, student’s own experiences and other similar texts or topics
Students should aim to read ‘around’ their topic – Use google scholar; TED; academic journals or youtube
Parents can support their children by discussing topics with them or by asking them which topics could they help find articles about

24. Subject specific study tips
All subject heads of faculties (HOFs) suggest that completing past exam papers and writing summary notes are the best preparation for exams. Beyond these two activities HOFs also suggested: Music: Listen repeatedly to the significant music works Sciences : Rote learn key information and use websites such as ‘hyperphysics’ and ‘studyit’ Languages: Talk to friends in your target language, read in your target language and use the ‘Language Perfect’ or ‘Quizlet’ websites Mathematics: Make use of vodcasts and quizzes available on Pakuranga Moodle Detailed subject specific study tips and web links are available on Pakuranga Moodle under the academic tab and study tips

25. What motivates us?
What the students told us: “High grades” “Praise, not hassling us” “asking us if we have studied, but not having a go” “Achieving my goals” “Money”

26. What motivates you
Think back to the last time that you attempted to change a habit. What was it that motivated you? Success? Praise? Support of others? Achieving a goal? Celebration? Rewards? Or was it someone nagging you? Everyone has different things that motivates them Discuss with your child what motivates them to study and how can you help them

27. How can we support our children to study?
Help them identify a goal for each subject + NCEA level
Help them work out how many exams they have in each subject
Help them design a study plan with clear goals for each session
Discuss with your child who can support them and how

28. How can we support our children to study
Set up a study space for them and help keep study time quiet and free of distractions
Print resources for them such as practice exam papers
Find out what motivates them?
Praise…praise…praise!