Hugh Reilly: Prelims and the first steps to exam glory

Published on Sunday 6 February 2011 14:14

IN CUP competitions, the function of a preliminary stage is to knock out the no-hopers who would otherwise bring shame to the main event. School prelims are no different.

In education establishments across the country, senior school students are sitting prelim exams, the results of which will determine the level of National Qualification for which a candidate will be presented.

Schools endeavour to avoid pupils experiencing that sinking feeling associated with the obverse of success (the word "failure" is taboo these days). For example, precious resources are spent funding after-school support classes but, unfortunately, those in most need of assistance do not attend, preferring to amble along to a band practice or simply chill out with fellow deadbeats.

Most schools now offer study leave, which, if used wisely, allows youngsters breathing space to cram for assessments. Sadly, for too many of our fine young people, study leave is simply time off for bad behaviour. Some perceive it as a chance to increase their hours of part-time employment in the local supermarket, whereas the more slothful who enjoy long lie-ins positively revel in the window of opportunity for state-condoned hibernation.

Parents who naively invite teenagers to do a bit of housework during this hiatus are met with the immediate riposte: "Ah'm studying, ah don't have the time. You're stressing me oot!" Indeed.

The role of the helpful parent is to provide an environment where the child can revise coursework. Such a locus must, of course, include daily maid service and a regular supply of fizzy drinks and junk food.

In the bad old days, studying meant poring over textbooks and course notes with the aim of retaining sufficient knowledge to achieve success. While it may have been effective, it was undoubtedly boring. Our youth don't do boring, hence they surround themselves with an array of essential electronic distractions. If concentrating on calculus mathematics is proving to be a tad tedious, Facebook is only a mouse-click away. Texting others on a BlackBerry to let them know that school sucks can be a somewhat therapeutic activity, while listening to Marilyn Manson's greatest hits on the iPod puts the supposed value of a good education into proper perspective.

In SOME schools, well-meaning but misguided management hold a senior pupil assembly to inform examinees of strategies that lead to a successful prelim outcome. "Drink water," deputy headteachers say sagely, speaking in hushed tones for (comic) effect. Obviously hitherto ignorant of the benefits of imbibing HO, the young mammals in the audience nod.

"Organise a timetable of study", management implores. For kids who find dressing themselves a rather complex task, this is a bridge too far.

For classroom teachers, the prelim season has some rewards. There are no upper school students to teach, thus fewer lessons to prepare or jotters to correct.With S5/S6 posted missing, corridors are less congested. But the Devil makes work for idle hands, therefore meetings of obscure committees are set-up, a sort of circle time for adults. It's a displacement activity Sir could do without - there are, after all, prelim papers to be marked - but it is beyond his control.

When the prelim jamboree comes to a close, the fun really begins. The chalkie returns the marked papers to the examinees, taking great care to show an almost imperceptible smile when handing back the awful script of a Failed One who talked through your lessons. Dropping a level - say from Higher to Intermediate 2 - usually means moving to another classroom. When the miscreant is doing his walk of shame, it is important that Sir doesn't blink lest he miss even a fraction of the humiliation the lad is feeling. Not for nothing are prelims sometimes referred to as "mock" exams.

Fortunately, prelims are generally a positive experience for staff and pupils.

For classroom teachers, a good set of results indicates that the vast majority of cherubs are suitably prepared to meet the demands of the SQA summer diet of examinations. For students, performing well in prelims builds confidence and helps identify any weaknesses.

Here's to prelim success.