Students talk about exam challenges

By Yumi Epati Tala’ave 22 November 2018, 12:00AM

As the school examination period draws to a close to mark the end of another academic year, there was a mixed reaction from students on how they performed and the exams they sat for.

Speaking to Samoa Observer after their exams, Seventh Day Adventist College year 13 student Daniel Koria said the exams were helpful in terms of assessment.

“So far, the national exams have been quite helpful, in terms of assessing what I have learnt as a student throughout the academic year, from my various subject teachers as well as my own time in study,” he said. 

Emmanuel Neru of Samoa College said time management was important for him, as it enabled him to prioritise his studies in preparation for the exams. 

Others said the exam papers were relevant to what they were taught in school, although two expressed concern at how one exam question appeared “new” to them. 

“Although it is one question, we fear that we may still lose marks which is not very fair,” said Daniel Koria and Apollosio Alaalatoa.

Another student Emmanuel Neru expressed similar sentiments but on the Samoan paper, as he claimed there were “unfamiliar questions” included in the exam. 

While distraction can be a challenge for students in the lead-up to the exams, different students experienced different forms of distraction. 

Melisha Toetu Sooaemalelagi of Maluafou College said her mobile phone is a distraction, but she ignored it in her preparations. For Samoa College’s Millennium Simiti, it is movies that got him distracted while his school mates Kolokita Tiatia Eurnik Lee Hang had to put up with loud music from nearby residents during the exam week. Despite the challenges, everyone was happy that it is now over.

With that chapter of their lives closed, it now becomes a waiting game as they await their exam results, which will determine where they go next year.

Jacqueline Smith and Lani Musu of Samoa College are adherents of the popular phrase “education can take you places”—on the condition that you worked hard for it. Melisha Toetu Sooaemalelagi subscribes to the same school of thought, and wants to be able to provide for her family in the future.

By Yumi Epati Tala’ave 22 November 2018, 12:00AM

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