Page 2 - 佛教葉紀南紀念中學（2020-2021校訊）

Exam Skills Training with Principal So

As a result of this pandemic, the school has had to adapt to
various teaching methods to best cater to both health guidelines and
students’ needs, and a balance needed to be struck between the two
with all the changes occurring throughout the year. The fluctuations
between online learning and face to face learning posed a series of
challenges that affected one group of students in particular.

Our Form 6 students have had to overcome these swift changes
and cope with the lack of physical support from teachers and their
peers throughout the extended periods of online learning - the public
exams seemed especially stressful during this time. In order to boost
morale and inspire motivation among students, Principal So organised
a series of Exam Skills Training sessions.

During these sessions, he worked closely with the Form 6 cohort,
addressing their personal worries and doubts about the impending
public exams. He focused specifically on Exam Skills Training, a
topic that is integral in the coming months. This training programme
consisted of a comprehensive coverage of topics, beginning with skill
development through multi-media support. He stressed the importance
of past paper revision, as it provides active output, which can show
students how much content they have learned.

He referred to past paper practice as a “tell-all” to
understanding the HKDSE structure, as it allows students to
observe and internalise question patterns and their associated
answers. Principal So also highlighted how integral it is to
be well acquainted with one’s mistakes and correct them.
“Going over past mistakes and pitfalls will lead to a more
solid understanding of previously misunderstood content and
ultimately lead to more confidence when facing the real exam.”
To give students a better idea of the process of self-studying,
Principal So orchestrated a past paper exercise during the
training session, which students stated was highly educational.

During the exam period, what stood out most during
the training session was Mr So’s specific focus on mental
health. He introduced some of the critical concepts of Buddhist
Mindfulness; the importance of being aware of one’s thoughts
and the process of taking each moment one step at a time
so as not to become overwhelmed. Mr So also talked about
maintaining a healthy lifestyle during the exam period. He
mentioned that sufficient sleep is necessary for students to be
fully awake and functional.
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