Exam Paper Season
It’s exam paper season! During this crucial period, we shift our focus from topical learning to full exam paper practice, ensuring students get the best preparation possible. Here’s how our structured method works to maximize learning and retention.
How It Works
Week 1: Attempting the Exam Paper & Peer Marking
Students attempt a past year exam paper in a timed setting to simulate real exam conditions.
Peer marking process begins:
For Science papers, Principal Kydon rewrites all the answers using the exact keywords taught in class to standardize the marking process.
Students mark each other’s work, referencing my model answers and their peers’ responses.
This encourages critical thinking, as students must analyze their friend’s answers and decide if they are correct.
FAQ: Why Do We Peer Mark?
Enhances understanding – Students compare answers and refine their thought processes.
Develops critical analysis – They must justify whether their friend’s answer is correct or not.
Encourages active learning – Instead of passive corrections, students engage with the material deeply.
Teacher Oversight in Marking
Teachers actively walk around and assist students if they are unsure.
After peer marking, the papers are returned to the owners for final checking.
Debating and discussing with teachers: If a student feels their answer should be correct, they are encouraged to argue their case—but only with teachers, not their peers.
Verifying Scores & Reporting Progress
Markers count the scores. Paper owners recount and confirm accuracy.
Once everyone is satisfied, students report their scores, which are noted in the progress report.
Week 2: The “Second Attempt” Method
After marking, teachers collect back the scripts to create a personalized “Second Attempt” for each student. Here’s how it works:
Individualized Papers:
Questions that were answered correctly are removed.
Only mistakes remain for focused practice.
This allows students to target their weak areas instead of repeating known concepts.
Why We Use This Method Instead of Corrections:
Traditional corrections often result in students copying answers from the board without truly understanding them.
Our method forces students to test themselves and redo the question, reinforcing learning.
We can keep reprinting their Second Attempt until they confidently and quickly answer all mistakes correctly.
Long-Term Benefits & Final Steps
The original script and the Second Attempt paper are returned together for further review.
This process continues throughout the exam season until we resume topical lessons.
No class tests or homework during this period, allowing full focus on exam practice.
This structured approach, refined over years, has consistently helped students retain knowledge and improve their accuracy.
Our goal is simple: help students learn from their mistakes effectively and build the confidence to tackle exams successfully. This tried-and-tested method ensures they don’t just memorize answers but truly understand the concepts needed to excel.
Let’s work together to make this exam season a success!
Principal Kydon
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