Regular attendance and punctuality remain essential for students in Years 10–12, particularly as courses become more demanding and students begin preparing for end-of-year assessments and examinations. Students who miss classes can quickly fall behind in coursework, practical activities, assessment preparation and the development of important knowledge and skills.
Students should take responsibility for communicating with their teachers when they return, checking what learning they have missed and completing any necessary catch-up work within an agreed timeframe. Accessing lesson materials online can assist, but it does not always replace the explanations, discussion, feedback, and practical learning that occur in class.
For VCE students, satisfactory completion of a unit is based on a teacher’s judgement that the student has demonstrated the required key knowledge and skills. Frequent or extended absences may reduce the opportunities available for a student to complete required work and provide sufficient evidence of learning. Where attendance is becoming a concern, families are encouraged to communicate with the College as early as possible so that appropriate support can be considered.
Year 12 students (and accelerating Year 11s) will complete their Trial Examinations during the final week of Term 3, marking an important stage in their preparation for the end-of-year VCAA examinations.
Trial exams are designed to give students an opportunity to practise under conditions that closely resemble their final examinations. While they provide useful feedback about current areas of strength and areas requiring further attention, their greatest value comes from helping students refine the way they prepare, manage their time, and respond to questions under exam conditions.
In the weeks leading up to the trials, students are encouraged to move beyond simply rereading notes and begin completing active exam practice. One of the most valuable resources available is the collection of past VCAA examinations, which can be accessed online through the VCAA website. Students should become familiar with the format of their examinations, the types of questions that regularly appear and the amount of time available for each section.
Past exams can be used in several ways. Early in revision, students might complete individual questions or sections while referring to their notes. As the trial exams approach, they should increasingly attempt questions without assistance and under timed conditions. Where possible, completing a full examination within the allocated time is excellent preparation for the demands of the real exam.
Students should also make use of VCAA examination reports and suggested solutions, where available. These provide valuable insight into how questions have been assessed in previous years and often identify common mistakes made by students. Rather than simply checking whether an answer is right or wrong, students should consider why marks were lost and what they would need to do differently next time.
Effective preparation should also be targeted. Students are encouraged to identify the topics, skills, or question types they currently find most difficult and deliberately spend time addressing these areas. Teachers can assist students to identify priorities and provide advice about the most effective ways to revise for their particular subject.
Just as importantly, students should establish sustainable routines during the lead-up to exams. Regular study across the week is generally more effective than relying on lengthy last-minute sessions. Maintaining appropriate sleep, exercise and breaks will also help students sustain their concentration during what can be a demanding period.
Following the trial exams, students should carefully review their results and teacher feedback. The trials are not the end point of preparation but an opportunity to identify what needs to happen next. With several weeks remaining before the VCAA examinations, students will still have considerable time to strengthen areas of weakness, practise exam technique and build confidence.
We encourage all Year 12 students to approach the trial examination period positively and to make full use of the support, resources, and expertise available to them at school.
The Nano Nagle Tutoring program, which sees high-achieving Old Paradian students from the Class of 2025 tutoring our current VCE students, continues in Term 3. The program is open to all Year 10-12 students and will run on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 3.30pm to 4.25pm in the VCE Study Centre (MQ28). Students who attend are welcome to receive help or simply study in the area. This is a great opportunity for VCE students to get extra assistance in meeting the demands of the final years of their schooling. This year’s tutors have excelled across English, Literature, all Mathematics subjects (General, Methods, and Specialist), all Science subjects (Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Psychology), and a broad range of other VCE subjects.
As students begin to prepare for their end-of-year examinations, they are encouraged to make regular use of Edrolo as part of their revision program.
Edrolo is an online learning platform that provides video lessons, revision materials, structured notes, quizzes, and practice questions. It allows students to revisit key concepts at their own pace, pause and replay explanations, check their understanding and identify areas requiring further revision.
Used alongside classwork, teacher feedback, and practice examinations, Edrolo can help students consolidate their knowledge, strengthen their confidence, and develop effective independent study habits. Students are encouraged to use the platform regularly rather than relying on it only immediately before an assessment or examination.
Edrolo is available in the following VCE subjects:
Families can support students by encouraging them to include Edrolo in a consistent and balanced revision timetable as examinations approach.
Students who are absent for a SAC are reminded to obtain a medical certificate to present to their teacher upon their return. Generally, missed SACs are rescheduled to Thursday afternoons and can go as late as 5.15pm, so students should avoid scheduling part-time work or other commitments on this day. Rescheduled SACs are generally held in room MQ26.
back
