Johannesburg - A total of 801 688 pupils are registered for the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination.
This number includes full-time and part-time candidates.
The NSC examinations started last Monday, October 26, with the English examination.
Pupils across the country will be writing exams for a period of 6 weeks which ends in the last week of November.
The last subjects on the timetable are Visual Arts and Music P2 Comprehension on November 27.
Here are some tips to help you answer exam questions
1. Read all questions carefully
The stress of the situation can cause you to misread a question. Even though you generally won’t be writing answers to every question on the paper, read all questions thoroughly.
2. Manage your time
This is where you need to be strict on yourself. Once you have assigned a time limit for each question, you MUST move on once you hit it or you won’t be able to give the next question your full attention.
Remember to leave yourself some time at the end to go back over your answers and fill in the ones you couldn't.
3. Structure your answer
Don’t just jump into writing your answer. Take the first few minutes to plan the structure of your essay which will save you time when you are delving into the core of your argument. Always stay on topic; if you’re discussing the role of women in society don't digress and go into how terrible men are.
Most essays should have an introduction, three main points and a conclusion. A lot of students see a conclusion as a final sentence to finish the piece off. A strong conclusion give an A grade student the chance to shine by bringing everything together and fortifying their opinion.
5. Explore both sides of an argument
Building your argument in the main body of your exam answer will give your overall opinion credibility. English language questions, for example, encourage you to explore both sides of an argument and then conclude with a critical analysis of your answer.
Many questions you approach will look as though they seek a straightforward answer but in reality they want you to fully outline a structured essay. Don’t fall into the trap of providing a one-sided view; get your hands dirty and open your mind to other possibilities.
6. Review your answers thoroughly
Smart students can still make the mistake of handing their answer book in without checking through what they have written. Proofread your answers as much as you can to correct any spelling mistakes and add any extra comments you think are worth mentioning.
You will be surprised what you can spot in those last few minutes.
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