Exam DiaryLast night I broke all the rules concerning good exam habits. I studied until after midnight, cramming in every last bit of knowledge, with my mother begging me to go to bed. I went into the exam on an empty stomach this morning. It's a wonder I didn't pass out on the way to school.
Nonetheless all went well, although I didn't plan my time very well and it was a bit of a race to the finish. I thought it was a really good paper - it would have been very enjoyable if I'd had a bit more time to dawdle on the questions.
I spent a lot of time on the composition, describing a desert scene as inspired by the pictures on paper X. I hadn't prepared anything for a question like this so I was just writing off the top of my head. I got quite lost in the topic before I remembered I was sitting my Leaving Cert! I could have stayed on that question all day because I love creative writing but the clock was ticking too loudly to ignore.
When I arrived the atmosphere around the school was incredibly tense but by lunchtime everyone had relaxed. In fact you could say that spirits were high. Perhaps it was just a touch of hysteria! The second paper added to the joyous mood - the four poets we had concentrated on in the honours class all came up. Good old Frost, Plath, Donne and Heaney. We were thrilled to see them. I noticed a few happy heads around the exam hall as we opened paper II.
I was a bit freaked out when, by 3.30p.m., the exam hall was half empty. It's tempting to think that you're the one doing something wrong when everybody else seems to be leaving early. I was scribbling up until the paper was wrenched from my hand.
I have to say, I know it's not advisable to cram until midnight the night before an exam but those last grabbed hours really helped. Tonight I think I'd better try to hit the bed at a reasonable hour. If not my mother will chase me up with a wooden spoon. I've less cause for last-minute cramming tonight - I'm feeling quite relaxed about maths and Irish tomorrow. I'm taking ordinary level in both subjects so I don't feel as pressured as I did for English. I hope I'm not in for a shock.
I'm impressed by the relaxed atmosphere in our school. We even had a bit of a laugh between exams. I'm holding together well but it's early days. My bête noir, accounting, is getting a little close for comfort.