Cramming a no-no as big exams loom

Campbell Gibson. Photo / Supplied

NCEA and NZ Scholarship exams begin tomorrow with agricultural and horticultural science and classical studies.

Campbell Gibson, 18, of Rosmini College in Takapuna, is busy revising everything he knows about vases and emperors.

Classics is Campbell's only Scholarship exam and he is trying to stay positive and confident.

"I have mixed feelings about it. I kind of know what to expect, but they ask very open-ended questions."

More than 700 students will sit the three-hour exam and are required to write three essays in that time.

Campbell is not looking forward to the section on Greek vases, which requires students to learn all the details of 16.

"I find it quite boring. You have to know every single one off by heart."

However, he finds Alexander the Great much easier to study for. "I like writing about conquerors."

As for study tips and techniques, Campbell uses acronyms to remember key passages and quotes.

A visual learner, he creates diagrams and reads his notes over and over again.

"I wouldn't recommend cramming. The chances are you won't remember because you are stressed out."

He will be getting a good night's sleep tonight and will make sure he has water with him in the exam room.

Campbell is one of more than 141,000 candidates preparing for 116 exams and 22 non-exam-based external assessments being held from tomorrow until December 2.

As well as students in New Zealand, 504 candidates in the Cook Islands and 53 in Niue will take part.

This year's largest exam session is level one English on Tuesday; more than 47,000 students will take part.

The smallest is Scholarship Latin on Monday, with 25 students.

More than 68,000 candidates have entered for level one exams, 55,000 for level two and 36,000 for level three.

In NZ Scholarship exams, 8986 candidates will attempt assessment across 33 subjects. There are six new Scholarship subjects this year - agricultural and horticultural science; design; painting; print making; photography and sculpture. The last five replace the subject visual arts.

Last month, the Qualifications Authority launched a twitter feed, twitter.com/NCEAexams, where students can sign up to receive reminders through the social networking site.

A team of 2054 from around the country will mark all papers by Christmas. Students should receive their NCEA results in mid-January. Scholarship results are due to be delivered in mid-February.