Wait is over

NCEA results are out for students across the country and local principals agree the students have a lot to celebrate.

Level 3 Stratford High School student Rachel Martin felt confident heading into exams. "Being named School Dux at the end of last year meant that I had done well with my internal assessments which put me in a good place before exams."

Rachel passed level 3 with an excellence endorsement, meaning she gained more than 50 credits at excellence level.

Rachel used study tips suggested by education speaker Karen Boyes to prepare, as well as creating study plans. "By being organised I was able to get all my revision done."

With her NCEA Level 3 and University Entrance requirements now met, Rachel is heading off to Victoria University in Wellington next month.

Ellen Hodder, a student from St Mary's Diocesan School, agrees that "preparation is key" when it comes to exams. "Your teachers are right when they say the earlier you start the easier it will be."

Ellen says that she spent time throughout the year studying, "so that it wasn't a mad rush to cram at the end of the year".

Ellen and her year level have all achieved NCEA level 2 with Ellen's extra work paying off as she passed with an excellence endorsement.

Fiona Green, principal of St Mary's Diocesan is thrilled with her school's NCEA results. "The girls that worked hard have been rewarded with outstanding achievements."

Fiona says the students, particularly the boarders, had the opportunity to attend tutorials and exam preparation classes leading up to the exams. She believes these techniques saw high results from the students of all NCEA levels.

Philip Keenan, principal of Stratford High School, is also delighted with the results of his students.

Philip says the level one students, in particular, received high results. "It is wonderful to see the level one students start on a high, it is a result of well-prepared students."

Preparations included a Study Smarter seminar earlier in the year by education speaker Karen Boyes.

"I think that Karen's talk got through to many of the students and they used her techniques when preparing for exams."