Study first, play afterwards
Daniel D. Palmer
As a matric student, you have to tackle so many things before the final NSC timetable comes out.
In Grade 12 you have to deal with finding your place in society while transitioning from your teenage years towards adulthood.
Aside from home duties, being there for your family, studying around the clock, and balancing your social life, you may also have to attend extra tutorial classes.
We can't blame you for feeling as if you are juggling too many balls at one time.
Despite the nagging pressures that come with the Grade 12 year, as a matric student, you now know that you need to take your studies into your own hands.
While the 2024 NSC timetable is a needed tool that will help you prepare for your final schooling exams, it can create chaos and panic from the moment that it comes out.
Some matriculants can struggle to wrap their heads around when to study for what, how many extra lessons to take prior to the examinations, and when to schedule some relaxation time in between.
Combing Through The 2024 NSC Timetable
Organising is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.
A.A Milne
The first thing that you need to do is familiarise yourself with the 2024 NSC timetable.
Take a long and hard look at the timetable before you start planning. You need to highlight the subjects that you do so that you don't end up missing an exam.
It is also a great idea to write down the subjects and dates of all your exams in chronological order to stay on top of things.
Below is an example of some of the exam dates, to give you an idea of how to structure your personal timetable.
Pay special attention to the the subjects that have more than one paper and make sure to order the dates of each paper correctly.
| Subject | Date |
|---|---|
| English HL,FAL, SAL Paper 3 | 21/10/2024 |
| Computer Applications Tech Paper 1 | 22/10/2024 |
| English HL Paper 1 | 28/10/2024 |
| Mathematics/ Maths Literacy Paper 1 | 01/11/2024 |
| Mathematics/ Maths Literacy Paper 2 | 04/11/2024 |
| Geography Paper 1 | 05/11/2024 |
| English HL,FAL, SAL Paper 2 | 13/11/2024 |
| Life Sciences Paper 1 | 15/11/2024 |
| Life Sciences Paper 2 | 18/11/2024 |
| Afrikaans HL,FAL, SAL Paper 1 | 19/11/2024 |
| Geography Paper 2 | 21/11/2024 |
| Afrikaans HL,FAL, SAL Paper 2 | 25/11/2024 |
The main thing to take note of is how spaced out or close together your papers are.
From the time you receive this timetable, decide how you want to plan your study time. You must make sure you devote enough time to each subject making sure you get in some extra time to prepare for the subjects that you may be struggling with.
The best thing to do is to diarise your times for studying certain subjects. Pencil in your tuition times.
When organising yourself with the help of a diary, make sure to set realistic and achievable study goals. You must leave some free time planned out in case you did not do as much on a certain day or just for those unexpected situations where it becomes impossible to study on a particular day. While studying should be your key focus during your matric year, we understand that other aspects of your life may require your attention too, so plan these moments ahead of time if you can. In that way, you always have extra time mapped out to make up for any lost study time.
If you have a tutor, you need to be upfront with them about how much or how little time you have to prepare for subjects that you are struggling with.
Ideally, you should have had enough tutorial lessons before your final paper. The ideal situation would be to schedule in as many tutorial lessons as possible during the September holidays before the manic and exam stress starts kicking in.
The best organisational tip that we can give to you is to comb through your timetable and plan your study routine before time.
Monday, 21 October is officially the day that the 2024 NSC examination period will begin.
Most people will be writing on this day as the morning session will be the English HL, English FAL and English SAL papers. You will need to prepare yourself mentally and in advance way before the day that you write your first paper.
Once you are mentally prepared, all else will fall into place.
The main thing to remember as a matric student is to set your mind up for the long stretch of studying, tutorial lessons, and focus that is needed all through the 6 weeks of exams.
You need to keep in mind that hard work will reap rewards. You thus need to adopt the mindset that motivates you to work hard before and during the examination period, so that you face no stress once the exam period ends.
The right mindset to adopt is one where you know the study period will be difficult, but you push on because you have to. You know you need to persevere until you reach the finish line.
However, we know that the stress only really ends when the matric results are released.
When Are Matric Results Released?
The results for the 2024 NSC examination will be released on 16 January 2025.
From November 2024, you will have to wait rather impatiently for your results.
While matric results are not the be all and end all of the rest of your life, there is much emphasis placed on these, as they determine whether or not you can gain entry to university or another higher education institution.
This waiting period will not at all be smooth sailing, but it is always easier if you have support of your friends and family members.
The Truth About Matric Finals
Never let a stumble in the road be the end of a journey
Unknown
The matric finals are the end of the schooling period and perhaps the last chance that matriculants have to score the academic achievements they have worked towards.
Yes, matric final examinations are important, however, don't let this pressure get to you.
If you do not pass your matric final examinations, you can rewrite in 2025. It is best to rewrite your matric exam as early as possible and not to let too much time pass between the first time you sit for a matric examination and the next.
Every examination is preparation and there are lessons that you will learn from sitting for each and every exam. If you do stumble while travelling on this Grade 12 road, it doesn't mean it is the end of your academic journey entirely.
When you sit for a serious examination, it serves as preparation for university examinations that you will have to face later on. Matric final examinations are a great way to prepare you for life later on when things start to get tougher.
Remember to put all of your effort and the right amount of time into your matric examination preparation.
Giving your matric finals your best shot is by no means burying your head in your books for the entire year!
Your matric year is the last time that you will get to walk down the school corridors so make the most of it. Have laughs, form strong bonds with your friends, and enjoy the final steps towards a brighter future.
The main thing to remember is to create a healthy study schedule, be in control of your mental health, and make sure you are devoting time to everything else that is important to you. If you feel like you are in control of your time, you won't have to panic about your matric results. If you do put in the work from the beginning of the year, you will feel well-prepared.
Put in the effort and you will rock your matric finals!
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