Exams during festive season teach students to utilise time wisely
Written by Writer on Monday, October 6th, 2008
Exams during festive season teach students to utilise time wisely
FOR some students, the festive season of Raya is not only an occasion to celebrate, but also an opportunity to practise time management with their upcoming public examinations.
Hasmi Bagol, who is taking his GCE ‘O’ level examinations next week, said that having exams during the festive season in his previous experiences had taught him to make early preparations.
“I’ve been having tuition classes three times a week even months before my exams as I know it is difficult for me to concentrate during the festivities,” he said.
During Raya, he said that he found it hard to concentrate even though he has limited the number of houses to visit, as he had to entertain guests visiting his house.
When there is an open house, it is too tiring to even pick up school books, he said.
Another student from Pengiran Anak Puteri Hjh Rashidah Saadatul Bolkiah Secondary School in Lumut, said that it is his first time to sit for an exam during Hari Raya.
“A part of me wanted to enjoy Hari Raya while another felt anxious, my exam made me feel guilty to enjoy myself wholly during the festivities,” said the Secondary three student who did not want to be named.
He said that even though he stopped revising towards the end of Ramadhan, he would continue studying at the start of the school term. He will be sitting in for his Penilaian Menengah Bawah (Lower Secondary Assessment) exams, which starts in the middle of this month.
Rayyan Fikre Iman told The Brunei Times that it is the first time he has to study while people are occupied with the celebrations.
With the public primary school exams starting Saturday this week, the 11-year-old said that his parents scheduled his revision as early as January.
“I have to attend extra classes in the evening and was only given a break during Ramadhan.”
Zulfadli Hj Daud, who is taking Higher National Diploma (HND) in mechanical engineering at Institut Technology Brunei (ITB) said the experience of having to sit for one exam during Raya will be a good lesson for students to learn the importance of time management.
Having misseed Raya celebration himself in the previous years, he said that he and his peers made up by having their own open houses even when Syawal ended.
Rosiah Hasnol, a teacher from Anthony Abell College in Seria, said that teaching at the start of this school term will be a challenge, as students will still be in the Raya festive mood.
Revisions on important topics will only be made, so that they are not bogged down with too much information, she said.
“This is the time for students to study smart, not hard,” she said, hoping that this experience will teach them the significance of effective learning when they move to the tertiary level. (DKR1)
The Brunei Times
