"I've been studying about two weeks for the exams," he said.
"I'm not looking forward to math. I'm better with literacy - words are my kind of thing."
Rebecca said that their teachers had been teaching them different study techniques tohelp them to prepare.
She said that for her time management was the most important study tool, which included making a schedule of what to study and when to study it during the day.
"I find it hard to get motivated at home but it helps when I have a schedule."
Rebecca said she was dreading the maths exam and felt most confident about her health exam.
More than 143,000 students are preparing for this year's NCEA and New Zealand scholarship examinations, held from today until December 4.
NCEA Level 1 English is this year's largest examination, with more than 46,000 candidates, and the smallest is New Zealand scholarship Latin with 19 candidates.