5 reasons why mock exams matter
As students navigate through GCSEs and A levels in the UK, the significance of mock exams in this January period is apparent.
Mocks serve as a great ‘stepping stone’ for students, providing them with a unique opportunity to fine-tune their exam strategies, identify areas of improvement and build resilience. It's also a key time for Oppidan mentors as they support mentees with their growth and development.
So, what’s the value of mock exams?
1. Simulating real exam conditions
Mock exams provide students with a taste of the real thing. By replicating exam conditions as closely as possible, mocks give a glimpse into the pressure, time constraints and atmosphere of the actual GCSEs and A levels. You can’t underestimate the importance of this! Experiencing the intensity of a mock exam helps students acclimatise to possible stress, allowing them to develop effective coping mechanisms and strategies for the real thing. These skills are a large part of what Oppidan mentors focus on during their mentoring sessions.
2. Identifying strengths and weaknesses
More obviously, one of the primary benefits of mock exams is their ability to pinpoint a student's strengths and weaknesses. By analysing their performance in a controlled and ultimately ‘safe’ environment, students can identify the subjects or topics where things are going well and those that require additional attention. This allows students to tailor their study plans, focusing on areas that need improvement and consolidating their existing knowledge. At Oppidan mentors are trained to ask - “what is going well? What could you be doing differently?”.
3. Refining time management skills
A crucial part of exam success is timing. Mock exams provide students with a platform to practise allocating their time effectively across different sections and questions. As they become accustomed to the pace of the exam, students can fine-tune their strategies, ensuring they can complete each section without compromising the quality of their answers. This goes beyond subject knowledge and forms part of the ‘performance skills’ that are necessary for exam success and that play a central role to what we do at Oppidan.
4. Building confidence and reducing exam anxiety
Exams can be daunting, and anxiety or nervousness can hinder performance. At Oppidan, we strongly believe that mock exams act as a confidence-building tool, allowing students to confront their fears in a controlled environment. Success in mock exams boosts self-assurance, reassuring students that their preparation is on the right track. Moreover, apparent ‘failure’ in the form of low scores is no disaster but gives students valuable learning points. The experience of facing challenging questions in a mock setting prepares students mentally for the rigours of the actual exams.
Navigating GCSEs and A Levels requires resilience. One of the biggest learnings from public exams is the ability to develop a student’s character and essential skills. Mock exams expose students to challenges, helping them develop the fortitude to tackle setbacks and bounce back from disappointments. Learning to persevere through the ups and downs of mock exams equips students with a resilient mindset, a quality that will serve them well not just in exams but throughout their life. This is central to our ethos at Oppidan, and an important part of what mentoring is about: preparing students for the long term.
5. Receiving feedback
We bang on about feedback all the time at Oppidan. Mock exams are not just about assessment; they are also an invaluable source of feedback. Teachers use these assessments to provide constructive feedback on students' performance, highlighting areas for improvement and commending strong points. Mentors do too and regularly work with mock exam papers to ensure students are successful for the long term. This feedback loop is instrumental in guiding students on how to enhance their understanding, refine their exam techniques and overcome specific challenges before the official exams.
Everyone hates revision (mostly!) but mock exams also serve as a good test for students' revision strategies. Oppidan mentors work regularly with mentees. The insights gained from these assessments enable students to evaluate the effectiveness of their study methods. If a particular approach proves successful in the mock exams, students can incorporate it into their ongoing revision plan. Conversely, if certain strategies don’t produce the best results, mentor and mentee can work together to make adjustments to optimise the study routine.