Bay of Plenty students put biggest NCEA exam behind them

Anya Pearce didn't put her pen down until the final few seconds of her first ever NCEA exam.

Pearce, 16, was one of 1651 Tauranga students who sat their Level 1 English exam yesterday, which is traditionally the largest NCEA exam of the year.

The Year 11 student at Otumoetai College said she had felt nervous heading into the first of her five NCEA exams, which included English, Level 2 maths, science, geography and economics.

Pearce said she had been preparing all year for her English exam.

"English is my worst subject so I am trying really hard at it," she said. "I always try to get excellence but anything with merit I will be happy with."

Her trick was to study previous exam papers, plan her essays, memorise questions, write mind maps and use flashcards.

"When I am well prepared I feel better," she said.

Otumoetai College Year 11 students Anya Pearce, 16, and Logan Blair, 16, sat their first NCEA exam yesterday. Photo/George Novak

Fellow Otumoetai College student Logan Blair said he left the Level 1 English exam 45 minutes early feeling "pretty good".

"I think I answered everything as well as I could have," he said. "I did much better than expected."

The 16-year-old admitted he had felt "a little nervous" after cramming in two hours of study at last minute.

"I think I studied enough to get by," he said.

"I am trying not to over think it. I want to do well but I also want to get into the right mindset."

Blair was sitting four exams this year - English, science, maths and Māori - and said the trick to preparing was to have a good study partner.

Otumoetai College deputy principal Bruce Farthing gathering the students for their Level 1 English exam. Photo/George Novak

NCEA Level 1 English:
Tauranga: 1651
Rotorua: 726
Wider Bay of Plenty: 666

Total students sitting exams:
Tauranga: 4733
Rotorua: 2235
Wider Bay of Plenty: 1919