AS Grade 11s head into the final quarter of the year, they are advised to implement a strategy that will smooth their matric journey and ensure maximum success, an education expert says.
“There are some sure-fire ways that can ensure that you finish your school career successfully, and set yourself up for entering higher education on the path towards a fulfilling career,” said Wonga Ntshinga, senior head of programme: faculty of ICT at The Independent Institute of Education, SA’s largest and most accredited private higher education provider.
“The last quarter and the December holidays provide you with this opportunity to get in the right frame of mind by finishing the year strongly and considering your future path without the pressure next year will bring,” he said.
Wonga advised Grade 11s to invest in their future now by taking the following steps:
1) Shoot for the stars when sitting for your grade 11 finals
“Grade 11 is an opportunity to hedge your bets against any potential problems that may arise in Grade 12, whether academically or personally,” said Ntshinga.
He said that many higher education institutions will make a provisional offer based on a learner’s Grade 11 performance, which means that learners can get time-consuming higher education applications out of the way early in the year. Additionally, if they don’t perform optimally in matric, good results in Grade 11 provide them with something to fall back on.
2) Take some time during the holidays to work on subjects requiring attention
After the exams, make sure you get some well-deserved rest following a tough year. And then, when you have relaxed sufficiently, invest a small amount of time working on concepts or subjects you found tricky during the year or which showed up as areas for improvement during the exams, Ntshinga said.
“By investing in a few days during the holidays, you can significantly strengthen your foundations going into matric. Working on just a handful of core concepts or challenges while you have free time will let you enter the new year with a stronger foundation and momentum, allowing you to spend more time on the new subject matter in matric,” he said.
3) Plan your year ahead
“During the holidays, draw a calendar outline of next year and note down important dates,” said Ntshinga.
He said the calendar overview should denote the start and end of school terms and when exams and significant events are likely to happen – even if those dates have not been fixed yet.
“By conducting this exercise, you will create a deep understanding of how much time you’ll have available to study and revise next year – spoiler alert, it is less than you think – and by when certain actions need to happen.
“This will allow you to calmly, and timeously, master work, rather than having to anxiously cram as the finals and other deadlines creep up on you.”
4) Take time to think of future plans
By now, most Grade 11s should have a good idea of what they want to do after matric.
“If you do not yet know, or are undecided about your plans going into 2023, now is the ideal time to consider the matter – before you go to matric,” said Ntshinga.
“The reason for this is that you will have very little uninterrupted time to consider your future plans during your matric year, and leaving it late means there will be many other things competing for your attention.
“So, in order not to have to make a decision under pressure and without clarity of thought by the time application due dates roll around, start considering and cementing your future path as soon as possible.”
For those learners who don’t yet know what they want to do after matric, the December holidays provide the perfect opportunity to consider their plans, Ntshinga said.
“During your downtime, spend some time looking at the websites of respected higher education institutions, and reach out to current and former students to hear about their experiences studying there – particularly during lockdown.
“Speak to a student advisor; determine which qualifications match your aspirations and find out what application requirements apply for different qualifications. Having this information before you head into matric will help focus your attention on what you need to achieve and how you need to perform to make your career dreams come true.”
