Mock exams can seem like an extra worry to deal with amongst all of the other work that you have to do. So why do you have to do them? And what are the benefits? Jemima Adcock explores the reasons why mock exams can help you prepare for the real thing, and how to make the most of them.
Consolidation
Mock exams give you the chance to consolidate all of the information that you have learned on your course so far. The first part of any course is always an introduction to the theories and ideas within the subject, and these principal theories provide you with the tools you need to develop through the rest of the course. Mock exams give you a chance to check that you understand everything you have covered so far, and see how it all fits together. It’s only when you’re revising and looking back at your notes that you begin to make sense of the wider picture. And remember, if your mocks are in the middle of the course, then you still have much more to learn, so it’s important that you get to grips with the basics!
Check you’re on the right track
Mock exams can help you find gaps in your understanding and identify your weaknesses. More often than not questions will come up in your mock exam that you have no idea how to answer. This is a good thing (as much as it might not seem so at the time!), as it makes you more aware of the level of knowledge that you need to have for your real exams.
Get feedback from your tutor
Mock exams provide a really good opportunity for you to get some feedback from those who are teaching you. Even though your tutors speak to you in class every day, and mark your homework every week, they won’t have a complete picture of your progress until after your mocks. Your mock exam results can provide the basis for a conversation about your progress, and can help you and your tutor identify together how you can improve.
Work on your exam technique
You might be the number one student in your class but exams can sometimes rattle the best of us. Some people buckle under the pressure of exams, others can’t deal with the eerie silence, and some just don’t do time limits! Mocks highlight any problems that you might have with exams, and give you the chance to overcome them in time for the real thing. For example, if your mocks reveal a hatred of time limits, you can spend the rest of the year practising timed questions until you learn to love them! Finally, the more you get used to an exam situation, the more comfortable you will feel on the actual day.
As much as you might hate the thought of mock exams, they are the best thing you can do to help you get ready for the real thing!