blog details | What should you do if a pupil doesn’t even attempt a question? The Educator
By Mark Richards,
We are firmly within mock test season appropriate now and there can be nothing more disheartening for a teacher than coming across a pupil’s exam script which has a completely blank webpage.
Following all the preparing and apply and tough get the job done, you obtain that a pupil’s response to a problem is a major, extra fat nothing at all. It truly is demoralising. And, in these Covid moments, the great importance of mock examinations as a factor in most likely awarding a final quality can make the blank site look additional pricey than ever. Sod’s law dictates that the gaps are often on bigger tariff inquiries too – the 20-mark job fairly than the 1-mark query. It’s the type of omission that is basically likely to be the distinction involving one particular grade and yet another – or even worse.
So, what you a instructor do to aid the scholar who has prepared totally nothing at all?
Decide on-me-up not punishment
Of course, the first reaction that a teacher feels when they see the blank site could well be just one of annoyance. Other pupils have answered the problem, why has not this a single? While it is correctly understandable for a trainer to come to feel frustrated, it is essential that this aggravation is not communicated to the pupil.
If coming across a blank webpage and the realisation that a pupil has not even attempted a query is disheartening and demoralising for the instructor, just think about how it feels for the pupil. It is essential that the pupil is supplied aid, not punishment.
It is worthwhile emphasising to both of those the pupils and mother and father the importance of mock exams. For case in point, in terms of presents of sixth-sort or faculty spots – and the uncertainty about Covid and how trainer-assessed grades could possibly be required once more this calendar year. On the other hand, the emphasis truly requires to be on setting up a dialogue with the college student to figure out why they felt unable to publish something at all. The only way of getting rid of the barrier that exists in the pupil’s intellect around a question is to establish the causes why it’s there in the initially location. It could be that it was basically a timing issue. It’s possible the pupil feels that they have a hole in their expertise. The student could have just felt overwhelmed by the whole expertise.
The relevance of supplying responses
The focus with all areas of mock exam efficiency need to be on responses. To the student who has not penned anything, there is the temptation to only give them another opportunity to have an additional go

on the query. Not to put also finer a place on it, this will be a full waste of time. Immediately after all, there was certainly a rationale of some sort why the pupil didn’t remedy the issue in the initially location.
The best way forward is to concentrate on providing top quality responses to the entire course.
It is a excellent plan to share examples of fantastic solutions, but this is not ample on its own. The method driving answering a individual issue must be described, clarified – and totally understood by all pupils.

Provide a composition to answer the dilemma
Adhering to on from this, it is well worth remembering that there is a components to respond to all forms of concerns – undoubtedly at GCSE level. Even though versions and templates can be restricting at the top conclusion of the capability array, for those people of center to reduced ability, such constructions can supply a needed lifeline. If you give pupils a simple framework to stick to, it can choose away the worry of the blank website page. Finding in excess of that first hurdle is all-important.
Linked POSTS
1. How to persuade pupils to ask concerns?
2. How to maintain college students motivated and self-confident about their examinations
3. How to put together students for tests
4. Should really Gifted Learners Be Taught in a Distinct Way?
5. How to Ask Students for Their Feed-back
We inspire our visitors to share their expertise.
Do you have an notion, check out, feeling or recommendation which would fascination many others in the education sector?
Are you a author? Would you like to compose and have your article released on The Educator?
If you are linked with the schooling sector or would like to convey your views, view on anything demanded policymakers’ attention, remember to sense cost-free to ship your contents to editorial@theeducator.com
