This is the ripe time of the year for the long awaited harvest. It is normally this time of the year when candidates get ready for the mock exams. Because students anticipate that mock exams are tough, they end up failing yet they think they had fought tooth and nail to make it up to the summit.

How to prepare for your mocks:

Candidates need to prepare a timetable before doing anything. It is good to prioritize your subjects according to your ability where easier subjects need less time and tough ones more.

There is also great need for enough time for relaxation. Remember, work without play makes Jack a dull boy. Overworking without relaxing will easily wear you out even before the onset of exams. Free your mind if you must excel in to fetch good results.

Have confidence in yourself and avoid all the tension there is. Most candidates simply fail because they are afraid of the paper before it reaches their table. Never sit back and wait for inspiration to come your way. What if you got perspiration in the wrong run?

When you get back to school, try to visit the library as much as possible. Make use of the available past papers as they will help you master how exams are set and at the same time answered. This will increase your curiosity and trigger you venturing into the unknown.

Make brief notes in form of points to help you keep track of what you are reading as well as memorizing what you have already read. Brief notes help one revise well as you can’t revise all that the teacher has given you as the notes are detailed.

Wise students usually do this as early as their primary level to ease their work. Those who haven’t done this yet, it is never too late to mend, you have the potential.

Choosing a conducive study environment will help you comprehend better. Find yourself a comfortable place and now that you are getting back to school, it is better to utilize the morning hours when the surrounding is still quiet. This will ensure maximum concentration.

Put God before everything. Believe in Him and all will be well with you. But don’t sit back and wait for miracles. Remember, God helps those who help themselves.

Good mastery of your content and presenting it are quite different. Make sure you have the right content and present it in good handwriting. Your bad handwriting won’t fetch you any better results. Examiners love to look at neat work so avoid vague work.

Be honest to yourself and avoid examination malpractice. It quiet absurd to witness your exams being cancelled in a blink of an eye after all the years you spent at school. On the other hand, it is extremely dangerous to expect marks out of cheating.

Success will always be granted to those who struggle. All the energy you put in will be rewarded on judgment day when you will have passed with flying colours.

The author is a teacher at Kagarama secondary school
shebs10@yahoo.com