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Be Like Chris: Preparing Effectively for Term 1 Midterm Exams in Thailand

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Those who fail to prepare should prepare to fail. This is a common and popular saying I’ve heard repeated many times before and can be used in many aspects of life, both professionally and personally. And it’s certainly apt when it comes to school and to study for our many students as the mid-term exams for semester one quickly approach.

In this blog, we’ll explore how to prepare effectively for Term 1 midterm exams, especially for students and teachers in Thailand.



Why and How Should Our Students Study?

Why and How Should Our Students in Thailand Study


First, the why. Well, the first and most obvious reason is the exam they will be taking. Although failure to pass any individual exam is not the end of the world, it is important to study and gain knowledge that will provide a strong foundation for their future careers.

Math and Science, in particular, are vital for developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are useful for a variety of professions in different industries. A good grasp of the English language will provide opportunities to work abroad in the future or to travel to English-speaking countries for further study if one chooses to do so. After all, English is also the international language of business.


Doing well at school and garnering awards and certificates improves students’ mental well-being at a vital time in their lives.


These are the most obvious and practical reasons to study, but there are deeper reasons that may be a little less obvious. Studying teaches valuable life skills that can affect a person’s subconscious in a way that is not always immediately apparent, such as time management and stress control. It broadens our horizons and helps us grow intellectually. Knowledge is power.

Self-esteem is important to teenagers, and at this vital time in their lives, doing well in school can contribute to their self-esteem in an incredibly positive way. This can continue throughout life, leading to well-adjusted and meaningful members of society, and that benefits all.



How Should Our Students Prepare for Their Exams?

Gate duty is a tradition in schools across Thailand where teachers come to school early to greet the students as they arrive


Let’s start with the obvious. Attendance, attendance, attendance! Although this seems obvious, I do want to state that attendance is vital throughout a student’s school life, and by that, I also mean attendance on time.

Preparation for exams generally starts when a student walks through the front gate of the school on day one of the first semester. Coming to class on time and prepared (books, notebooks, pens, pencils, etc., all intact) means a student is starting the class in the best possible way and giving themselves the best opportunity to learn something. This is basic preparation.

When I give work or a unit test to a class, I make it a point to have the results returned as soon as possible (the next day). I believe and hope that this, in turn, leads the students to do the same once I assign work for them to do. This is my second point about how our students should prepare for exams. They should, of course, complete all of the work that is assigned to them on time and in a diligent manner.



How to Organize Study Time Effectively?

BP BFITS Program students attend a preparation week prior to the commencement of semester one earlier this year.

BP BFITS Program students attend a preparation week prior to the commencement of semester one earlier this year.


A laissez-faire approach to study, from both the student and the teacher, is not conducive to good exam results or a healthy learning environment. Organisation is incredibly important and that feeds into my earlier point about students bringing all their relevant bits and pieces to class.

Students could also organise a study plan for themselves. This can help them to reach their study goals and assist them with their time management. It can break your study load into manageable blocks and ensure that you’re not handing up assignments at the last minute, which is not preferable.



How to Create an Effective Learning Environment?

My co-BFITS teacher buddies at Buriram Pitthayakhom (BP) School

My co-BFITS teacher buddies at Buriram Pitthayakhom (BP) School.


A study buddy can be incredibly beneficial to both parties in achieving their aims. When I attended university in Ireland, I did most of my studies with a classmate. We were able to bounce off of each other, and there would be days when I was able to answer some of the questions we were attempting and other days when he would provide the answers.

I believe that it was very beneficial to us both and played an important part in both of us achieving our goals in graduating. I still value that time and would have no issue encouraging students to have a study buddy themselves for this reason.

I have also recently discovered the third-teacher concept. It is part of the world renowned Reggio Emilia Approach, something that I had until recently been unfamiliar with. It begins with the philosophy that there are essentially 3 teachers of children: adults, other children, and their physical environment. While, in essence, it is an early childhood educational philosophy, I do like the concept of the classroom as being a place of educational interest and not just a room to house us during class.

So I have tried to decorate the classroom with mathematical concepts, language, and information on great mathematical minds of the past in the hope that somehow, through osmosis, something seeps in to my students subconsciously.



What is the Role of Teachers in Student Success?

BP BFITS Program Teacher Chris Whearty teaching Math to students


Obviously, as teachers, we should be reachable and open and welcoming of questions from our students, particularly at exam time. It is one of the times of the year when they are most likely to do so. I would also strongly advise students not to cram as even though some students have performed well doing this in the past, it is most likely that they have not truly learned the material and thus will suffer long-term. It’s a short-term solution to what I hope will be a lifelong journey of learning for my students.

We do play a vital role in helping our students to study by making ourselves available. I advise my own students to try to identify problem areas for them in their studies and then to immediately seek out my help and not to put it off, ignore it, or just hope that those particular questions do not appear on their upcoming exam. And a buddy system outside of school times could also be valuable for these instances.



Finding the Right Study Routine


When at school, I used to study by taking my book and walking outside for long distances. I would not spend all of this walking time studying or reading but 15-minute chunks at a time. The fresh air helped my concentration but this may not work for everybody.

I must also admit that I was from a rural part of Ireland (most of it is!), so a walk outside meant the quietness was usually only interrupted by the chirps of the birds or the tranquil sounds of the countryside. And some people just work better sitting at a desk with their heads in their books for an hour at a time. But breaks are vital for maintaining concentration and boosting retention.

And reward yourself if you find yourself studying for any future exams yourselves, fellow teachers! It can and is mentally exhausting. Get that big bucket of KFC at 7 p.m. after a day of hard study! I know that some of us may well be studying for future qualifications in the not-so-distant future.



Every Day is a Learning Day!


I haven’t spoken much about exam preparation or grading in this article, but I know our colleague and BFITS Training Manager, Mr. James Tovey, has already held webinars on exam drafting and grading over the past two months. If you missed them, you may refer to them below. I must say, they are truly extremely useful for new and experienced teachers alike.




So, what qualifies as success at exam time for students and teachers? Looking at it from a student’s perspective, I would maintain that as long as any individual student does his or her best, that is all that we, as teachers, can reasonably expect.

In the hierarchy of educational achievement, there will always be students who perform at different levels. It was as such when I was in school and remains as such today. Of course, the higher the grade average, the better it reflects on us as teachers, but I am always happy once I see each student being honest and giving their utmost.


Buriram Pitthayakhom (BP) School BFITS Thailand Program Math Class with Teacher Christopher Whearty


For us teachers teaching in Thailand, success is seeing our students succeed in passing the exams we have set so diligently. It’s not always easy teaching (as with any job), but I do get satisfaction from seeing them genuinely learn what I have taught, ask questions, and be thirsty to do well in the challenges they face.

For now, I want to sign off on this latest blog by wishing all our teachers here in the BFITS Thailand community the best of luck in writing their exams and wishing all their students good study and continued success as the year unfolds quickly before us.

Please find me online on Facebook or LinkedIn or alternatively within the Gmail search engine at work.



About the Author
Christopher Whearty

Christopher Whearty

Chris is a Math teacher from Ireland. After working in China for over 3 years, he moved to Thailand in April 2021 and has been part of the BFITS team since shortly after that. What he likes most about Thailand is the weather, the food, and the genuine warmth of the local people.
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