Matric Mock Exam Preparation

To succeed in your final Matric paper, a great preparation tool to use is a mock exam (also known as prelim exams). Whether your school sets one up for you, or you make one yourself, mock exams are a great way to succeed in your final test.

In this article we will be discussing the benefits of mock exams and how it can aid you in achieving top marks in your final year of high-school studies.

What are Matric mock exams?

A mock exam is a practice test. It includes all elements of your final exam such as question layout, question topics, and time constraint. Whilst it is not exactly the same as your final exam, it is similar enough for you to prepare and know what to expect.

Download the Matric 2023 Final Exam Timetable here.

What are the benefits of a mock exam?

The main benefit of a mock exam is to help you prepare for your final test. Whilst preparation is the key element, mock exams also have a number of essential perks that are guaranteed to help you achieve high marks in your final exams.

Benefits include:

An easy transition into the examination process: Owing to exams being highly stressful, a mock exam is a great way to get comfortable with the formalities of an exam setting. By doing a mock exam you can prepare yourself for what to expect on the final day.
Familiarization with exam questions: Engaging in a mock exam will allow you to familiarize yourself with the type of questions they will ask you on your final paper. The questions for both the mock and final exam are based on the curriculum. By doing a mock exam (or past papers on your own), you will gain an understanding of how questions are structured, what instructions you may get, and what sections to focus on.
An idea of how to use your time effectively: A final exam can range between one and three hours long. In this allocated time, you will need to answer various sections and have an idea of how to allocate your time wisely (by not spending too much time on one section.) A mock exam will help you practice your time allocation for each question. Pro tip: To estimate how much time to spend on each section, be sure to look at the mark allocation per section on the front page of your exam. A mark should equal a minute. Therefore, a section that is worth 10 marks = 10 minutes, 40 marks = 40 minutes, and so on and so forth.
Gaining practice: Preparing for an exam will equal better results. As such, a mock exam is a great way to put your knowledge to the test and learn from your answers. If you get answers wrong on a mock exam, don’t be discouraged- rather look at it as a way to fix your mistakes and prepare for your final exam.
Knowing your weaknesses: A mock exam is a great way to figure out what may be preventing you from getting 100% on that final test. Perhaps you are not sticking to the time limit? Perhaps you are struggling with the instructions? By doing a mock exam, you can see your areas of weakness and work on them before the final exam.

Your Matric results will be used to determine whether you gain entrance into university or college – find out how to calculate your Admission Point Score (APS) here.

How to prepare your own mock exam:

Matric mock exams usually fall between June and September end of term exams. Whichever schedule your school chooses, mock exams are always before finals at the end of the year. If your school does not conduct any mock exams, you can always set up your own!

Here are some tips of how to set up your mock exams:

Ensure you have an adequate study venue: You will need a place to take your exam where you will have no distractions. If you want to engage in mock examinations with other students, make sure your environment is spacious and that you each have at least a meter between your desks.
Find someone who will invigilate your mock exam: This can be a teacher or family member. Be sure to get someone who will be fair and prevent you from being tempted to cheat or look at study notes.
Set a timer: Be sure to look at the time allocation of each paper and set a timer for the exam.
Read all the instructions and exam rules: Ensure that whoever is invigilating your exam reads out the exam rules, such as cheating and bathroom breaks. It’s important that you are aware of the “dos and don’ts” during the exam process.
Make sure that you have all your necessary resources: Ensure you have all your necessary tools: from pens, to papers, to calculators, to set squares. Have your tools ready for each specific exam. Pro tip: Access past exam papers from the Western Cape Education Department website to set up your own mock exam.

** TIPS & ARTICLES **
Read our top tips on submitting your bursary application for the best chance of success.
Read our tips on how to write a bursary motivational letter here.
Read about how to prepare for a bursary interview here here.
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Read about the Public vs Private Higher Education Institutions and which to choose.
Read about the National Benchmark Test (NBT) for University Entrance.

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