“You haven’t got long until your GCSEs” is a phrase that I am certain every year eleven student has heard at some point. Those seven words float around in every student’s mind- submerging them in stress, the need to impress, and the need for academic validation. Then hits the realisation that if GCSEs are so quickly but so steadily approaching- mocks are also soon.
“Mocks”- a concept that is met with a classroom full of groans and doubts. “Mocks”- the same environment, the same types of exams, the same disruptions as the real GCSEs in May. “Mocks”- the same stress, the same anxiety, and the same doubt that students will be forced to experience a whole year before they need to. Is it fair to make students doubt themselves to such an extreme that their face is numb with tears?
Is it necessary, or are mocks just ‘mocking it?
To investigate this further, I interviewed Vianna Mafokosho, a head student from a local secondary school and I asked the following questions:
“Being a year eleven student, what is your opinion on having to sit these mock exams?”
Vianna: Personally, it doesn’t bother me to have to do mocks. I think it is quite helpful in a way because it prepares you for what the actual environment is like when we have to sit our real GCSEs, so I’m not panicking, and it helps me to kind of prepare myself. I, personally, don’t mind. I know some people may disagree and find them very stressful and overwhelming which I do find myself feeling as well. But, also, it gives me a chance to really understand what is best for me and the circumstances of sitting GCSEs.
“Do you believe that mocks are the most effective way to prepare students for their exams?”
Vianna: I think it is because it shows you the correct way to approach things. I think most teachers say to us anyway, that we should do past papers and really hammer on that so we can understand what an actual GCSE paper requires you to know- within certain subjects. I think it’s really good, and especially this set has been nicer compared to our last set of mocks- as we now have more papers to sit. For example, we are sitting our full set of maths papers and doing both English language papers. This way, it kind of builds up the steps for you to easily sit your final GCSEs.
“Do you think that other students having a negative attitude towards mocks effects the students that are trying hard to achieve positive results?”
Vianna: 100%. I’m sure it does. Especially because we are all different, and that is fine. Some people are going to approach things differently from others- that’s just life. I feel like it really does a toll on other students- who have that clear mindset, they know what they need to do, and they are just trying to get it over and done with. But if others are having that constant negativity, around those who want to do well, it really effects the other students who want to do well. Making them feel more panicky and making them question their abilities right before an exam.
“What revision tactics work the best for you, which ones would you recommend to other students?”
Vianna: For me, it depends on the subject. For sciences, because I do triple, I think looking at the specification is the best thing to do, and to make notes on the specification as well as doing past papers. For maths, it’s looking at Dr frost and doing past papers. For English language, I just do past papers and the same for English literature as well as looking over the books we study. For religious studies, I look over quotes. For Dance theory, I complete practice questions. I would recommend answering practice questions and watching YouTube can also be helpful- especially for science and subjects with a lot of content.
“Do you have any advice for year elevens who are sitting mocks, or year tens who will have to sit mocks soon?”
Vianna: I would say to start revising as early as possible, especially subjects like maths and science where there is loads of content to learn. If I could talk to my past self, I would say that even though I was revising, it wasn’t in the most efficient way. So, I wish I could go back and change the way I was revising as I used to revise quite passively. I would say to do a little bit, day by day, because it will help you in the long run. Don’t try to cram the night before.
As Vianna has stated- it is clear to see that there are major upsides to sitting mocks and actually experiencing GCSE exam papers and the environment of an exam. The stress may be limitless for some- but stress and emotional management is key to surviving the two gruelling weeks of tests and lessons.
Mocks are a way to test the waters before you are thrown into the deep end in the early summer term.
Do you feel as if mocks are “mocking it”?
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