Practice exams?

[dcesaona]

I was planning on doing a full modules exam today, but it just seems so laborious and mentally exhausting (2 full hours!!!) Should I push myself to do it anyways, or just focus on completing a timed response on my weakest area for modules.

Essentially, do you think it would be more beneficial to break down the exam into sections or smash it out as a whole, as it's what I'm going to have to do in a few days anyway?? I've literally been internally debating this for like the past 4 hours hahahaha

[angewina_naguen]

I was planning on doing a full modules exam today, but it just seems so laborious and mentally exhausting (2 full hours!!!) Should I push myself to do it anyways, or just focus on completing a timed response on my weakest area for modules.

Essentially, do you think it would be more beneficial to break down the exam into sections or smash it out as a whole, as it's what I'm going to have to do in a few days anyway?? I've literally been internally debating this for like the past 4 hours hahahaha

Hey, dcesaona! 

I think it is up to what is going to ultimately benefit you the most. If I use myself as an example, I would much rather spend 40 minutes on my least confident module, spend the rest of the time revising areas to improve and continue retaining my content for long term than spend another 80 minutes on two modules I am feeling alright with. However, I know that a full practice paper has its benefits because you will force yourself to do it under the conditions in which you will have to do it in the HSC. Alongside that, it gives you a chance to test and build your physical and mental stamina.

The question I think you need to ask yourself is how good is your time management in exams? If you have always finished with time to spare, then you can afford to only focus on strengthening areas which need more attention. If you finish just on the dot or you don't finish everything you want to write, then practising with a full paper would be more appropriate. This is also so you can experiment and see the order in which you want to complete the different sections of the paper and what would be more beneficial for you. If you decide to attempt a full paper, perhaps consider leaving it to tomorrow and giving yourself the chance to treat tomorrow as if it is Paper 2; you should have your content revised for a final time today and getting rest so you will be able to power through the exam with energy to continue studying.

Hope that helps! All the best with your exams 

Angelina 

[jazcstuart]

I was planning on doing a full modules exam today, but it just seems so laborious and mentally exhausting (2 full hours!!!) Should I push myself to do it anyways, or just focus on completing a timed response on my weakest area for modules.

Essentially, do you think it would be more beneficial to break down the exam into sections or smash it out as a whole, as it's what I'm going to have to do in a few days anyway?? I've literally been internally debating this for like the past 4 hours hahahaha

I completely agree with this, I can think of nothing worse than completing a full 2 hour paper 2 exam. Personally I don't think I will ever complete a full 2 hour exam before my HSC, even though as you said I will have to do it in just over a week, because I see no need to put myself under that much stress before the actual exam.

However, what I will be doing (and have been doing) is doing each module essay under very strict 40 minute time periods. My aim is just to do at least 1 40 minute timed essay every day from now until HSC, so I am still very much getting used to writing under timed conditions. I even find this more helpful in some ways because I can't buy myself time from other sections, which inevitable leads to me running out of time in the exam, because I am forced to finish the essay after 40 minutes.

Also if I think about it in terms of "I only need to spend 40 minutes of hard work on this essay then I'm done" I find it so much easier to motivate myself than if I have to mentally prep myself for doing the full exam, and I am less likely to procrastinate because I just sit down and do it.

So using this method you could either do your weakest module under timed conditions and then revise it further with your extra time, or you could still do the whole paper but give yourself breaks in between each section. As Angelina said, it really depends on what you think will benefit you the most (sorry for ranting about my own struggles ahaha)
 Good luck!