(From the April Issue of the South Lakes Sentinel print version)
…continued from main page
“Start arranging now for a ride to the NOVA campus on your test date,” said Anne Stowe, IB Coordinator, “there is a limited number of rides the school can provide for students.” Parents are needed to assist in transporting students to their test on the appropriate date because of the lack of transportation available. The majority of students are expected to drive themselves.
It is very important that all students come to the exam. Last year, one student even took an exam with a concussion. Needless to say, your attendance at the exam is mandatory. If there is some extreme situation, such as a severe car accident on the way to the site or an illness, simply contact Mrs. Stowe, explain the issue to her, and she will make a call to Wales and see what she can do to reschedule the test date or another solution. Unless any of these incidents occur, please be sure that you are present at the exams 15 to 20 minutes before your start time. A copy of the exam schedule can be found through the Fairfax County Web site.
Once arriving at the NOVA Reston Campus, students need to take the elevator to the third floor, which is at the top of the building, and gather in the student study area. Look at the list of names printed on each door to find out which room you will be testing in. The start time on your exam schedule is when instructions are given to the students. The test actually starts after these instructions are read through and all preliminary questions are answered. For example, if the test is an hour exam and scheduled at 10:00 a.m. that is the time the instructions will be given, meaning the exam will not finish until around 11:30 a.m.
Of course these are all things the day of the exam. There is plenty of preparation for these important tests going on months in advance. To ensure you do everything possible to prepare for the exams, here are some tips from Mrs. Stowe. “Students should start studying sooner than later. Reviewing a little bit every day is better than cramming at the last minute,” said Stowe.
The day prior to your IB test, you should get plenty of rest and the last thing you should do is stay up all night to cram for the test. It is also very important to eat breakfast the morning of the exam and drink plenty of water, as the brain functions best when on a full and quenched stomach.
As we all know, Mrs. Stowe only has our best interests in mind. Thus, we should take her advice to heart and succeed on our mission to pass the IB Exams in May.
What to Bring:
- Calculator for Math and Science Exams
- Glasses
- Pens, Pencils, and Paper are provided
- YOURSELF!
Did you know… over 50% of the senior class is in at least one or more IB classes!
