Students well-prepared for exams despite indifferent year

HEIDI Bakker is one of many VCE students preparing for exams following the most indifferent of final years of study.

Bakker, co-captain at St Ignatius College Geelong in Drysdale, said the year had presented obvious challenges but she felt the support of her teachers and peers had been crucial in preparing her for exams in the manner she had hoped.

“The teachers have been very supportive. They’ve definitely tried their best to get us as prepared as we can,” Miss Bakker said.

“I feel like I am very prepared, I’ve definitely studied a fair bit to make sure I’m ready to go and try my best.”

Miss Bakker, whose first exam is on November 10, said there were times throughout remote learning where finding motivation was difficult, but accepting it and dealing with it together was the only option.

“Obviously we know it’s been a crazy year, but we just have to take it for what it is and embrace what we had.

“There were downfalls… but we were mostly being grateful for when we did return to school and we had the support of the teachers.”

VCE coordinator Michael Brown said the students have shown great resilience through this difficult time.

“Our staff have work tirelessly to provide the best remote learning program for our students to continue to achieve their best,” he said.

“This year has been full of challenges for the VCE students… (but) our students have demonstrated great resilience in continuing and adjusting to the new environment that they faced.”

Some practical and language exams have already taken place, however the English exam on November 10 begins a stretch of core subject exams, with the final exams taking place in early December.

Students who feel their learning has been disrupted throughout the year for any range of factors that they feel did not allow them to best complete their studies did have the opportunity to apply for special consideration through the Special Entry Access Scheme (SEAS).