Tag Archive for: Pretoria tutor

Blanking Out During An Exam – What To Do!

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Blanking out in an exam, whether it happens once or every time you face a test situation, can be unnerving and frustrating. In most cases, exam stress and blanking out are caused by anxiety. The pressure to perform well is immense, particularly for school-leaving exams, where results can shape future opportunities. Even younger learners may fear disappointing their parents or facing consequences for poor results. The good news is that you can take steps to overcome exam stress and boost your confidence. In this blog we’ll look into some strategies to help you stay calm and focused.

Find out more about overcoming exam stress by boosting confidence!

blanking out in an exam

Tips To Avoid Blanking Out in an Exam or Freezing

1. Content Preparation

Effective study habits are key to preventing blanking out during an exam. Ensure you:

  • Pay attention in class and listen for hints your teacher may drop about common exam topics.
  • Ask your teacher if there are particular areas you should focus on.
  • Practise regularly by completing examples and past papers.

If you struggle with certain subjects, consider seeking help from a hand-picked tutor. A tutor can help fill knowledge gaps and offer different perspectives. If you’re unsure about your study methods, a study skills crash course can significantly boost your confidence and reduce stress.

2. Prepare Emotionally

Beyond academic preparation, emotional readiness is crucial, especially for subjects you find challenging. Try the following:

  • Visualise yourself entering the exam room, staying calm, and working through the questions methodically.
  • Remind yourself that doing your best is all anyone can ask of you.
  • Understand that a disappointing result is not the end of the world—having a contingency plan can provide a sense of control and reduce anxiety.

3. Prepare an Exam Strategy

A good exam strategy can help you stay focused and manage time effectively. Some key tactics include:

  • Reading through the paper carefully before starting.
  • Answering the questions you are most confident about first.
  • Reviewing your answers at the end if time allows.

4. Look After Your Physical Wellbeing

Your physical state can impact your mental performance. To optimise focus and energy levels:

  • Get enough rest before the exam.
  • Engage in physical exercise to reduce stress.
  • Eat brain-boosting foods, such as fish and nuts, while cutting down on junk food and sugar.

5. Get Exam Assistance if Necessary

If you qualify for examination concessions or accommodations, due to some barrier to learning or learning disability, ensure that you apply for this well before exams. Ensure that you have the necessary help during your exams by booking a trained and qualified concessions facilitator beforehand to avoid disappointment.

What to do if You Blank Out During an Exam

Even with thorough preparation, blanking out can still happen. If it does, try these strategies:

  • If you have a facilitator, let them know immediately so they can guide you.

  • If you are alone, remind yourself that this is not a life-threatening situation. Take slow, deep breaths to calm your mind.

  • Turn your paper over, close your eyes, and breathe deeply. Repeat this a few times until your breathing steadies.

  • Move on to another question. If you get stuck, leave space for that question and tackle one you feel more confident about.

  • Mark the questions you feel most prepared to answer and start with those. You do not need to follow the order of the paper, but you must number your answers correctly. An examiner cannot mark a disorganised paper, and you may lose marks unnecessarily.

After the Exam: Moving Forward

Once the exam is over, avoid dwelling on your performance. Exam post-mortems are only helpful if they identify what caused you to blank out and how you can prevent it next time. Otherwise, let it go.

Remember, exams are naturally stressful, and most people do not enjoy them. However, if exam stress consistently prevents you from performing at your best, consider consulting an Edu-coach or looking into exam concessions.

The key to overcoming exam stress is taking action. Identify what needs improvement and work on it. Exams do not define your future – your success depends on much more than your results!

Tutor Of The Month: Christie Munro

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BrightSparkz Tutor of the Month

Christie is our February 2018 Tutor of the Month!

Christie matriculated from Rhenish Girls’ High in 2015 with fantastic results – 7 distinctions! She is currently completing her BSc majoring in Ocean and Atmosphere Science and Marine Biology at UCT, and has also studied Mandarin for 4 years. She is also a volunteer for the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town. Christie has been tutoring for BrightSparkz since the middle of 2016, and has taken on several clients for us, tutoring everything from Maths and Life Science to EMS! Our team loves Christie because of her quick, cheerful responses and her willingness to take on any client. Her clients love her for her positivity and the amazing effect she has on her learners. She is a sweet, engaging tutor with a real passion for helping others, and we’re so happy to have her as part of our team. 

What some of Christie’s clients have to say about her: 

“ I wish to advise that Christie did a really great job helping Nicola – she has now written both her Matric Maths exams and both seemed to go reasonably well.  I wish you to pass on to Christie our many thanks for her dedication and attention to detail as well as her excellent teaching systems – they all made a huge difference to Nicola.”

Thank you for your dedication and effort as a BrightSparkz Tutor , Christie!

To get your amazing tutor, click here. 

Tutor Of The Month: Tayla Booyse

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Tayla Booyse Tutor of the Month

Tayla is our January 2018 Tutor of the Month!

Tayla matriculated from Brescia House in 2013 with outstanding results, including 4 distinctions. She is currently in her 4th year at Wits University, studying Speech Pathology and Audiology and will be doing her community service this year. Tayla has been tutoring for BrightSparkz since 2014 and is one of our trained Afrikaans Boot Camp tutors. She is a reliable, kind, patient and hard-working tutor who has a passion for helping others. She is always willing to help and enjoys going the extra mile for her learners and clients. Over the past year, she has worked with over ten clients (Afrikaans Boot Camp and tutoring clients) and has always received amazing and positive feedback for all her lessons. She is an exceptional tutor and we are so proud and thankful for having her as part of our team.

What some of Tayla’s clients have to say about her: “My son was positive after the session. Tayla seemed very patient with Cameron.”

Thank you for your passion and effort as a BrightSparkz Tutor and Afrikaans Boot Camp trainer, Tayla!

To get your amazing tutor, click here. To find out more about our Afrikaans Boot Camp, click here.

Tutor Of The Month: Rosha Naidoo

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Tutor of the Month

Rosha is our December 2017 Tutor of the Month!

Rosha has been a tutor with us since September 2016. She was one of our first Readers & Scribes, and has assisted 6 learners through multiple sets of tests and exams since March this year, and has also tutored two learners. She has completed her Bachelor of Social Science, and two Honors degrees in Social Science, all at UKZN. She is currently completing her Masters degree. She volunteers at various children’s homes and charity events, and enjoys cooking, gardening and writing. Rosha is always willing to help, she is reliable and dedicated. The learners she assists during their exams and tests say she makes them feel comfortable and at ease. She always calls before exams to introduce herself and to check in with the learners she has been assisting. Rosha reads at a steady pace and makes sure the learner doesn’t fall behind.

Thank you for your hard work and the excellent example you’ve set as a concessions facilitator this year, Rosha!

To get your own incredible Reader or Scribe, click here. For your own amazing tutor, click here.

Tutor Of The Month: Marc Kasongo

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Marc Kasongo

Marc is our November 2017 Tutor of the Month!

We are proud to announce that Marc Kasongo is our Tutor of the Month for November! Marc is one of our newer tutors who has proven himself as an incredible asset to our team very quickly. He receives excellent feedback from all the clients he works with, and is currently in his 3rd year of a Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree at the University of Johannesburg. Marc is one of our tutors who are able to tutor Maths and the Sciences to Grade 8 – 12 level learners, as these are his specialty subjects. Thank you Marc for your dedication and commitment to our team and to your learners who look up to you!

Marc has the following to say about tutoring:

“I was a scholar at an IEB school where I managed to achieve 72% for Mathematics in Matric, and I would like to help high school learners achieve the same or even higher! I have over 100 hours of tutoring experience and in that time I have learnt to be patient, calm and reliable… The only vision I have for my students is success!”

To get your own amazing tutor, click here.

Tutor Of The Month: Bassie Nkhereanye

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 Bassie Nkhereanye

Bassie is our October 2017 Tutor of the Month!

Bassie has completed his B.Ed Degree at the University of Johannesburg, specializing in Senior and FET phase education, and majoring in the subjects of Mathematical and Life Sciences. He matriculated from Grosvenor Boys’ High School with distinctions for all of his subjects, including 85% for Maths, and was also the top student in his Maths courses at university. Bassie has quite a bit of experience working with learners, either as a teacher in a classroom or tutoring one on one. He has worked at schools, as well as having tutored Maths, Life Science and Accounting to learners from Grade 7 to second year university students. He is always incredibly well prepared for lessons, he is always responsible and reliable, as well as willing to help out. He has only been with BrightSparkz for a few months, and all his clients love him. He is able to make his learners excited about Maths. Bassie has the following to say about his style of teaching and who he is:

“I’m an upbeat and positive person who really values education and the opportunities it provides access to. I believe that learning can be fun and to that end, always try and make lessons as fun, interactive, lighthearted and relaxed as possible. I’m driven and determined person who is creative and adaptable to any challenges I encounter and always try to solve them as best as I can.”

To get your own amazing tutor, click here.

Tutor Of The Month: Joshua Boucher

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 Joshua Boucher

Joshua is our September 2017 Tutor of the Month!

Joshua matriculated from Hyde Park High School in 2015 with great results all-round. He is currently in his 2nd year of a Bachelor of Commerce degree, majoring in Law at the University of Johannesburg, and hopes to become a Lawyer or work in the industry once he qualifies. Joshua joined BrightSparkz last year, and has worked with seven of our clients at BrightSparkz Tutors, and has received amazing feedback! He also has previous tutoring experience, having assisted a learner with Maths at Grade 7 level, and has been actively involved in mentoring and managing large groups of youth during his high school career. Joshua received his half colours in academics throughout high school, and has also received colours for multiple sports that he was involved in during his school years.

He is a confident and patient young man, and has proven himself as an experienced and dedicated tutor at BrightSparkz, having assisted the following learners: Two Grade 8 learners with Physical Science, a Grade 9 learner with Physical Science, a Grade 12 learner with Physical Science and a Grade 12 learner with Life Science, all with incredible feedback from both client and learner. In his spare time, Joshua enjoys playing and watching sport, as well as socializing with his friends.

 

To get your own amazing tutor, click here.

Tutor Of The Month: Jade van Biljon

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 Jade van Biljon - IT Tutor - Maths Tutor

Jade is our August 2017 Tutor of the Month!

Jade is currently studying a BSc. in Information Technology at the Pearson Institute for Higher Education, and last year she completed a Higher Certificate in Systems Engineering at the same institution. She achieved 5 distinctions for Matric, graduating Cum Laude. Jade has been an IT and Maths tutor to our learners since the start of 2016, and we’ve had excellent feedback from her clients. Jade is always friendly and helpful, and willing to assist her clients. She is a bubbly person, with a real passion for working as a tutor.

Her advice for students? “Develop a passion for learning – when you do, it will never cease to grow!”

Erin’s clients have the following to say about her: 

“Unaisah loved working with Jade, she is amazing.”
 
“Lisa has done very well in her IT – 94%, and we are very thankful to Jade.”

 

To get your own amazing tutor, click here.

Tutor Of The Month: Erin Miller

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 Get your own amazing tutor!

Erin is our July 2017 Tutor of the Month!

Erin matriculated from St Andrews School for Girls in 2014 with excellent results all-round, and is currently in her 3rd year of a BA Psychology degree at the University of Pretoria. She is truly passionate about education and would like to teach special needs children once she qualifies. Erin joined BrightSparkz Tutors in 2016 and has gone over and above to prove herself as both an incredibly reliable, focussed and enthusiastic tutor and Concession Facilitator. She is always willing to help, even at short notice, and is constantly going the extra mile for her learners and clients. Erin has worked with more than seven of our clients (tutoring and exam concession clients) over the past year. All of her clients have been immediately willing to provide wonderful feedback and phenomenal testimonies for Erin as an outstanding tutor, as well as a mentor to their children. Erin – thank you for being exceptional! We are so proud to have you as part of our dynamic team!

Erin’s clients have the following to say about her: 

“As always the facilitators were punctual and very professional. Once again a pleasant experience liaising with all!”

“My concession facilitators were very friendly, kind and professional. They made me comfortable and calm when I was anxious about tests and exams. Your team is perfect!”

 

To get your own amazing tutor, click here.