WEDNESDAY,+JANUARY+11,+2012


 * So what exactly are exams like? Well, here’s the 5 W’s breakdown: **


 * WHAT subjects have exams? **
 * The grade 9 subjects that have exams include Math, English, French, Spanish, Latin, Geography, Science, and Music (Strings, Band, Vocal). Meanwhile, Gym, Art, and Business don't have any, but rather what are known as summatives – projects that are worth just as much as exams. It’s done during regular class days (so no days off), but the amount of time you receive to complete them depends on the subject and teacher.


 * WHY do you have to ** ** take exams? **
 * To test your knowledge on the curriculum learned so far.
 * To accumulate marks to incorporate into your final mark on your report card – exams account for 15-30% of your final grade.


 * WHO is involved? **
 * The students – the people who play the most important role, of course! Many people become extremely stressed out as exams roll around the corner, and that’s completely normal. The thing is, as long as you’ve studied a fair amount, they really aren’t as difficult as you might imagine them to be. After all, “success is 10% inspiration, and 90% perspiration”.
 * The teachers – each exam is supervised by a teacher who teaches a subject (sometimes even a different grade) other than the one being examined. For example, if you’re taking a Geography exam, the teacher in the room is a teacher that teaches any subject excluding Geography. If at any point during the Geography exam something needs to be clarified, the supervising teacher will call down to the Geography department, where they will then someone with knowledge regarding the exam to come up to the classroom. In the end, your own teacher marks your exam and later hands it back to you right after the winter break.


 * WHERE do exams take place? **
 * Obviously, at NT! A chart is posted near the main office, telling you exactly where all your exams take place. The rooms will always be ones that are different than the classrooms you’re normally in. Sometimes, the exam room will be large enough for two classes, so you may be with another extra 20-30 students.


 * WHEN do exams take place? **
 * The first exams take place approximately two weeks before the winter break begins. For grade 9’s, only the French and Spanish listening exams occur two weeks prior to the break.Meanwhile, the rest take place the following week.
 * For the most part, the grade 9 exams begin first thing in the morning at 9 A.M. It’s advised that students show up 10-20 minutes beforehand just to get prepared. If you show up late, you don’t get any extra time! As well, the only acceptable excuse for missing an exam is because of medical reasons. In that case, a signed doctor’s note must be provided and an estimated mark is given to you.
 * Usually, exams last for an hour and a half. If you’re finished, you’re allowed to leave after 45 minutes in. For those who finish 15 minutes before time’s up must wait until the exam is over. This is to minimize the disturbance caused on those who are still finishing up with such a short amount of time remaining. Exams that last only an hour long offer no time slots for students to leave; they must stay for the entire duration.

Here’s a **QUICK SYNOPSIS** of some of the exams, most of which you’ll all be taking. They’re placed in order of the level of difficulty I found them to be in (easiest to hardest). Remember that this is only for this year’s December exam, and that it may change next year.

UNITS: Les adjectifs, les verbes prominaux QUESTIONS: Multiple choice, fill in the blank, matching TIPS: Study the vocabulary well in order to increase understanding of the content
 * FRENCH (LISTENING) **

UNITS: Variables (ex. Exponent rules, expressions), Ratio, Rates, and Percent (ex. Equivalent ratios and proportions, unit pricing), Real Numbers (ex. Multiplying and dividing rational numbers, zero and negative exponents), Algebra (ex. Collecting like terms, distributive property) QUESTIONS: Mostly multiple choice, show your work answers TIP: You’ll have a lot of extra time left over, but don’t leave the exam room right when you finish. Look over the exam a few times just to be sure you didn’t make any careless mistakes and that all the questions are completed.
 * MATH **

UNITS: Mapping skills (ex. Map scale, latitude and longitude), Physical geography (ex. Plate tectonics, geologic history) QUESTIONS: Mostly multiple choice, 2 paragraph essays, labeled diagrams, reading passage comprehension, practical skill application TIP: The paragraph essays are a big chunk of the exam. Make sure you know exactly what the expected format/structure of these paragraphs should be
 * GEOGRAPHY **

UNITS: Les adjectifs (ex. Masculin vs. feminin, BATON), les verbes prominaux, QUESTIONS: Reading passage (multiple choice), fill in the blank, short answer, fill in cartoon bubbles TIPS: With the short answer, and cartoon fill in, be creative. As well, it’s better to write more than too little.
 * FRENCH (WRITING) **

UNITS: Literary paragraph QUESTIONS: 2 literary paragraph essays – 1 prepared, and 1 completely new story TIP: Leave more time to work on the paragraph regarding the unprepared story, as you’ve never read it before and have to read the story itself a few times
 * ENGLISH **

UNITS: Skills unit, Chemistry (ex. Structure of the atom, compounds), Space (ex. Solar system, movement of the earth and moon) QUESTIONS: Mostly multiple choice, the rest are short answer TIP: Focus mainly on the chemistry unit, and read over questions carefully (especially the multiple choice ones)
 * SCIENCE **