Trials and tribulations

THE MATRIC trial exams ended today (Wednesday) with some pupils concluding they were a “real eye opener”.

With just 26 days to the biggest test of their school lives – the National Senior Certificate exams – most are now burning the midnight oil, and planning to make the most of their time when schools close at the end of the third term on Friday.

POST gauged the feeling among pupils at PR Pather Secondary School in Merebank.

Wandisa Bhengu, 17, of uMlazi, found physics particularly challenging.

“The trials have been a real eye opener for what’s needed in preparation for the final exams. It was a great platform to see how much work still needs to be done.”

Suvarn Balmukan, 17, of Merebank, found certain papers “a bit tricky”.

“However, it wasn’t too bad. Most questions were similar to past years’ papers.”

Suvarn, who plans to study business administration next year, found maths and Afrikaans challenging.

Kamini Naicker, 17, of Merebank, who wants to enroll for a BCom degree next year, also found the trials an eyeopener.

“The interpretation of certain papers was challenging.”

She particularly enjoyed the accounting paper.

Kamini said she would be spending the next few weeks going over past exam papers.

Sashin Lutchan, 17, from the Bluff, said he was hoping to achieve a ‘B’ aggregate in the trial exams.

While the exams were “good overall”, he found maths challenging and planned to use a revision booklet which his teacher handed out this week.

Ntombovuyo Sabuka, 18, of the Eastern Cape, found the trial papers to be “clustered”.

“Last week we wrote maths, life science and physics and it was a short week because of Heritage Day.”

Physics and maths were challenging, Ntombovuyo said.

Olwethu Dube, 17, of uMlazi, found the trials easy compared to past papers.

“This was a real wake-up call for the finals.”

Olwethu said she had mixed emotions after the trials but was going full steam ahead with preparations for the finals.

Nomawethu Gama, 17, of Merebank, also found physics challenging.

She was aiming for distinctions in most of her subjects and would join a study group over the holidays.

Principal Val Satyandra said 141 pupils were registered to write the finals. The school had attained an 86% pass rate last year and was hoping to improve on this, Satyandra said.

“My biggest challenge has been progressed learners (pupils moved up grades without meeting the pass requirements).

“They are difficult to deal with as they do not have a good work ethic.”

According to the national Department of Basic Education, the total number of registered candidates are 801 688, with 674 232 full-time candidates and 127 456 part-time.

It confirmed that over 10 million question papers were printed and ready to be distributed to almost 7 000 examination centres.

Spokesman Elijah Mhlangu also confirmed that approximately 65 000 invigilators and 35 000 markers would be stationed at 118 marking centres around the country after the finals.