Revision and test preparation tactics
In the last days of May, the atmosphere of preparing for the 10th grade entrance exam in Hanoi became more tense than ever. In many families, the school lights are still on until late at night. On the desks are sets of mock exam questions marked with flashcards, notebooks recording formulas and reminders from teachers after many months of reviewing.
For 9th grade students, this is considered the most important sprint stage before the 10th grade public high school entrance exam - a highly competitive exam in Hanoi for many years.
According to Ms. Tran Tra My - Math teacher, Thong Nhat Secondary School (Hanoi), throughout the review process, students are trained according to each topic closely following the structure of the exam.
After completing the 9th grade program, students will review according to each type of test and participate in surveys with a structure similar to the real exam questions. Through each test, students know which knowledge parts are still weak to supplement" - Ms. Tra My said.
According to the female teacher, practicing questions not only helps students remember knowledge but also form reflexes when doing the test. After many practice sessions, students know how to time each question, avoiding spending too much time on a difficult type of test.
“At this stage, students are used to the structure of the questions and know how long each test needs to be done. The important thing is to maintain a stable learning rhythm instead of trying to study a lot in a short time” - Ms. Tra My shared.
When starting to do the test, students should spend a few minutes observing the overall exam to determine the structure and level of questions. Instead of rushing to handle difficult questions, students should prioritize completing familiar parts in advance, suitable for their abilities to create a sense of confidence.
For basic questions, it is important to be sure and present clearly to avoid losing regrettable points. When encountering advanced questions, students should not be too stressed or indulge in a question for too long when the easier parts are not complete. After completing the foundational questions, students should carefully review the paper before spending time on more difficult classification questions.
Notes to avoid regrettable points loss
The 10th grade entrance exam in Hanoi is currently assessed to have a tendency to enhance students' ability to apply and think instead of just testing knowledge.
Ms. Tran Thu Huong - a Math teacher at Luong The Vinh Secondary & High School (Hanoi) said that in the current exam questions, there are many questions related to probability, statistics, and real-life situations, requiring students to read the questions carefully and understand the requirements correctly.
There are math problems where if students miss data or misunderstand the problem, they can easily lose points. Therefore, in addition to knowledge, we pay special attention to reading comprehension and problem analysis skills for students" - Ms. Huong said.
According to the female teacher, instead of forcing students to memorize the solution, teachers today aim to help them understand the nature of the problem and find the appropriate way to do the test themselves.
In many review sessions, students are asked to orient how to do it before starting to solve specific problems. This helps them form logical thinking, know how to analyze data and avoid completely relying on sample tests.
Especially, at this stage, students' health and psychology need to be put first. Staying up late continuously or creating too much pressure on oneself can make students easily stressed and distracted when entering the exam room. Instead of trying to learn more new knowledge, students should spend time rearranging familiar types of questions, practicing questions at a moderate level and keeping their spirits relaxed.
