On Monday morning 6,083 standard six students countrywide are expected to sit part one of the Primary School Examination. You can call it the beginning of the rest of their academic career because their performance is likely to determine what high school they attend. On Monday the students will sit English paper one and two and science. That will include the English composition, which has been a problem in past years. Today 7NEWS checked in with a class of standard 6 students on how they are preparing for the big test.
Keith SwiftReporting,
On the last school day before they sit the PSE, you would think they would be sweating. Not these students - the students in the standard six class at Grace Primary School were calm because they say they are prepared.
Heather Baizar, Standard 6 Student
"I know I could pass the language but the science is fuzzy so I still need to review some stuff."
Javan Jenkins, Standard 6 Student
"I am a bit nervous because its my first time so I think it will be tough. I am not really good with the language right now and I am afraid I'll make a mistake but I think I'll do okay."
Jaylon Usher, Standard 6 Student
"Basically I am just looking over my books and the things I didn't really understand from the rest of the year and I am not going to cram 'cause its going to make me nervous."
Their teacher Ruth Castillo says that if they aren't already prepared - they will never be which is why she is doing a measured review rather than the alternative - cramming.
Ruth Castillo,
"They are already prepared and today we are just doing last minute reviews, not cramming anything. We don't encourage them to cram but we are just going over the some of the things, some of the materials, that they need to take with them to the exam room; making sure everybody has the correct index number, making sure that we calm them, talk to them, and help them to understand that its just another exam and they don't need to get all worked up and nervous."
And to allay those fears Castillo says she will leave her 45 students with these words.
Ruth Castillo,
"The last thing I will do with them is pray, encourage them to go home, relax, study a little, don't cram, and try to have a have a very restful weekend and don't do a whole lot of activities. Basically take it cool for the weekend and prepare for Monday."
But that is how most of these students plan to spend their weekend doing r and r - relaxing and reviewing. But will they be able to sleep?
Jaylon Usher,
"I am not sure about that. I think I'll be up wondering."
Heather Baizar,
"Of course, sleep is my favorite hobby."
Sasha Garnett,
"Well yes I hope so."
Students will sit part two of the exam which is math and social studies on May 9th. The exam date was deferred for two weeks, after the two weeks school closure.
