SACE exams 2022: Last-minute exam tips at the halfway mark

We’re at the halfway point of this year’s SACE exams. And we’ve rounded up tips from experts that students cannot afford to miss.

Concordia College year 12 students Fleur Marais and Andrew Jenke to go with SACE exam guide in the paper. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Thousands of South Australian year 12 students are halfway through sitting their written SACE exams.

The Advertiser has been publishing expert advice on advertiser.com.au from expert tutors to help them achieve the best possible results.

Subjects covered have been general mathematics, mathematical methods, essential mathematics, English literacy studies and physics – which were held this week.

Guides also have been provided for next week’s chemistry, psychology and specialist mathematics exams. Among the tips provided by tutor Dr Suzanne Mashoub was advice for chemistry students to “always return to the first principles of chemistry when navigating tricky questions”.

“Be clear and demonstrate intention in the way you draw structures; avoid sloppy bond lines, place charges in the correct spot and always count the number of bonds around the carbon atom (there should only ever be four),” she advised in her guide.

Psychology tutor Stella Kemp has recommended students sit a practice exam the day before their written examination on Tuesday.

“It may be helpful for you to note the mark allocation of each question as an indication of how much you should write and the lead-in verb to know how you should answer the question,” she said.

“You do not need to re-word the question or the scenario as it wastes time and will not lead to extra marks.

“Instead, focus on what the question is asking you.”

Among the key advice offered by high-achieving maths student Ryan Clarke for specialist mathematics was to ensure students went equipped with detailed cheat sheets. “Students will be allowed to bring in two A4 double-sided sheets of handwritten notes,” he said.

“These notes are a crucial component to completing an exam successfully and should contain all necessary formulas from throughout the year.”

Among the students sitting exams next week was Andrew Jenke from Concordia College, who advised students “to control the controllable”.

“Although you can’t change which questions will be included in your exam, you can control how you study to approach these questions and your attitude, which makes a big difference,” he said.

Schoolmate Fleur Marais said mock exams had proved useful in her preparation.

“Do lots and lots of questions,” she said. “Practice tests are very good, and they expose you to a big range of different questions which you may not have been exposed to in textbooks.”