Revision: Are past papers still relevant?

Back in the day, the use of past exam papers was the norm when it came to revision for examinations. But with the digital revolution, most students are turning to the internet for everything that concerns academics, be it revision or research. This trend, however, tends to ignore the fact that most schools still rely on ‘hard material’ (paper) to set examinations. But like Emmanuel Kavamahanga, a Senior Three student at Saint Patrick SS in Kicukiro, Kigali, confesses, the internet is playing the role past papers used to. “Getting past papers is sometimes hectic since it requires borrowing from the school or examination bodies. The case is different with internet because sample exam questions can be accessed more readily,” he says. Kavamahanga adds that using the internet saves one a lot of time since all they have to do is to get connected and search for whatever you want within a blink of an eye. Even at home, one can still do revision on a smartphone as long as one has an internet connection, he says. So why past papers? Education experts say that although the internet aids a lot when it comes to research, the use of past papers still needs to be emphasised. “The internet has come with a lot of benefits though when it comes to examinations past papers are still vital and students should use them regularly for familiarisation. For instance, Cambridge checkpoints are easily passable through past papers, which implies that they are still extremely important. The internet can be used for additional research,” says Pierre-Célestin Niwemwungeri, a teacher at GS Sihinga in Gasibo District. He further notes that teachers can guide students better through past papers as they can clearly and physically demonstrate to them how the marking guide is used. This, according to him, helps students to identify their weak areas better as well as familiarise themselves with what to expect. According to a recent research conducted by University of Manchester, a key element in effective revision for exams is to consult past exam papers. By looking at past exam papers, one can get an idea of the sorts of topics and questions which come up on the paper, as well as how many questions you are likely to have to answer. The study adds that a student who goes through past papers frequently faces reduced anxiety or examination fever during the examination period. On the other hand, Patrick Kwizera, a teacher at Umubano Primary School in Kicukiro, says for one to develop the confidence to face examinations, they need to use past papers more regularly. “A student may have gone through all sorts of revision and preparation for exams, but is still not sure if it’s enough, and it’s for this reason that going through past papers comes in handy. Revising frequently helps such a student have an idea of what to expect regarding the form and type of questions on an exam paper,” notes Kwizera. According to Paul Swagga, a tutor at Akillah Institute of Women in Kibagabaga, Kigali, students who don’t make use of past papers frequently may not know how and what to revise as they may not know how the topics they have covered are examined. “Past papers aid students to revise adequately in preparation for exams. They also help them to know how exam questions are set, which guides their revision thus leading to brilliant performance,” he says. Swagga adds that past papers also help students to discover topics that they might have missed out to cover. “By using past papers often, students are able to evaluate how much they have learnt in relation to past groups. Papers also boost confidence in learners ahead of exams as they have the same format,” he says.