SA Speaks: Exam Pressure

Let’s face it, we’ve all been there. During exam season or a day before the test, we go through a series of breakdowns, stress, lack of sleep and of course, our best friend, procrastination. As semester one draws to a close, this anxious feeling is shared by students of all ages here at Sampoerna Academy. So let's explore what these students have to say about their experiences coping with these gruelling tests.

In November, the 10th Grade had their time trials, during which students were tested in all their subjects under IGCSE conditions. Let’s see what they have to say about their time trials and their intense subjects. “The strict schedule was really tough since it felt like we had no breathing room between the constant difficult tests, and having to cram for demanding subjects such as Physics or Additional Math detrimented my sleep since I had to spend many hours reviewing, says a student, reflecting on their experience. Although the bombardment of challenging tests has taken a heavy toll on many students, they still stay determined to carry on and improve for future examinations. So let's commend them on their grave efforts and wish them the best as they build up and improve themselves for their upcoming mocks and eventually their IGCSEs

But Grade 10 isn’t the only ones who have it rough; even younger grade levels struggle with the intense testing. In preparation for the Cambridge Checkpoint, the 8th Grade has been grinding it out, just recently taking their first-ever time trials. When asked about his experiences studying for the tests, Rasya stated that “I learnt how to manage my time efficiently and effectively to balance studying for max results, which helped me in the exams, since it helps me manage my time so I could be efficient in learning.” It seems like such diligent habits are already forming in young students, reminding us that to excel in our tests, we have to start building and compounding good study habits early. 

Our grade 11 students have also been bombarded by exams and have faced some difficulties throughout the process. Luna from 11 AS level stated that due to exams being back-to-back, the stress piles up due to a lack of time for review. However, the exam schedule may feel like a warzone; proper preparation before the exam and time management help your mind stay at ease without too much stress. Do not forget to take breaks! Breaks help your brain to rest and process information, but do not take advantage of the breaks and keep expanding them - that’s when the real problem starts.

Exams are demanding and stressful, but that’s part of the journey we go through. There will always be places where we might feel helpless and give up, but that gets us nowhere. Having to stress about school is not something everyone experiences. Yes, it’s tiring, but the rewards later make it worth it. So let’s bring our heads back up for the following academic years in a better way than we did before.