Practice for the final exam: ‘teacher, I am really cool intelligent, I can just do this’

Economy teacher Luc Cramer (31) has gone through all the VMBO-Basis final exams in recent years and brought questions out of it that he expects to return to the coming exam. For example, the classic sum of calculating the credit costs, he tells the class of eight students to whom he hand out practice questions. « I almost dare to put my hand in the fire that you are going to get this sum. »

A student asks if he really will put his hand in the fire if that sum is not in it. Cramer laughs: « I have to do that, but I guarantee that it is in it. »

At the Spaarne College in Haarlem, a VMBO school with 850 students, the teachers give end-out exhibition training during May holidays. The Meilessen, as they are called at school, are free, so that all students who are eligible can participate. There are also commercial agencies in Haarlem that give end -out exhibition training, but they require 300 to 400 euros per box. « Most parents cannot afford that with us, » says school director Wim Huiberts (66). « Moreover, our students need a little structure and a familiar environment. »

In the economy room, students hang down and yawning. « Until what time do we continue today? Not too long, right? » A girl asks. « We already did a lot yesterday. » If you were to rely on their attitude alone, you would not think that these students are voluntarily. But they have all registered themselves, because only those who are motivated can participate. Already after a few minutes they let their nonchalant pose sail and ask the teacher: « Sir, what is the difference between gross and net profit? »

Vulnerable

The Spaarne College was created in 2020 from a merger of four VMBO schools. As a result, various forms of VMBO education are represented, both the theoretical mavo and variants with many practical subjects: basic, framework and practical mavo. « Some of our students are vulnerable, » says Huiberts, « they have learning arrears or social-emotional problems. That is why we provide a lot of extra support throughout the year. »

The Meilessen are primarily intended for students who are lower than a six for a profession. If the groups do not become too large, students can also participate who look better, but who find the exams exciting. Of the more than two hundred final exam candidates, one in three is roughly participating.

The fresh green corridors of the school complex seem extinct, but in some classrooms there is movement. Two students VMBO framework are with their regular teacher Tom Pieters (39). He looks at his computer how they scored at home on an online exercise program. « I find reading comprehension difficult, » says Ruya Unver (16), who wants to do an interior design training below. « You get a very long text and you have to answer all questions about it. Or you have to listen to a sound clip from someone with such a very heavy English accent. »

Also Pip van Unnik (15), who wants to do a bakery training, also hopes for tips that can help her with the exam. She is now an average of 6.5, but when practicing at home she did not score enough. « I teach you a step -by -step plan, » says Pieters. « If you follow that, it should work. »

Economy teacher CRAMER has scoured all final exams VMBO base in recent years and brought questions from it that he expects to return to the coming exam.

Photo Simon Lenskens

They generally do not find such a problem that students go wrong for a few days of May holidays, says Claudia Zwirs (48), teacher of society and geography. « We only start at ten o’clock, so they can sleep in a bit. » At home it can be restless, with brothers and sisters who are free. Zwirs: « I just met a girl who has no training but still came to school to learn. »

Teachers of practical courses also give end -out exam training. Lianne Nypels (16), who does VMBO framework, has chosen the Horeca, Bakery and Recreation profile. If she succeeds, she wants to go to the hotel school. « You get ingredients in the practical exam and then you have to cook or bake something, » she says. « We already practice that all year round, but yesterday we did that again, step by step. » She is confident that she will pass this exam. Today she came back to school for mathematics. That is a little less. « At home I make practice fumes, but sometimes I don’t know what to do, then I can’t get any further. Now I can ask questions about that. I like that we are in a small group, then you get more attention. »

Unrest

What the teachers notice is that most students do control the exam material, but that their unrest about the approaching exams in these last weeks is increasing. « Giving self -confidence to students, that is our main reason to do this, » says school director Huiberts. If the success rate of his school, which is already almost on the national average of 97 percent, is going up a bit, that is a bonus.

Giving self -confidence to students, that is our main reason to do this

In recent years, schools have received extra money to eliminate learning disadvantages in coronation time. The Spaarne College spent this partly on the exam training sessions. In the meantime that has been coronated and the school De Meilessen from the so -called Lump Sum, the basic amount that schools receive for staff, materials and maintenance of their building. « We would like to continue to offer this final exam training, » says Huiberts, « but of course it does not help that the cabinet decided at the Spring Memorandum to cut back on a scheme for supporting vulnerable students. Our school now receives 5 tons a year. »

Teachers who help with the exam training hand in part of their May holiday. In exchange, they get free at a different time, or they have the extra hours paid out. They then receive a double hourly wage. But that is not why they participate, the teachers say. They do it out of involvement with their students. « VMBO students are looking for much more connection with teachers than I remember from my own school time at the Atheneum, » says Pieters. He also gets phone calls and apps with questions when he is free. « They obviously think that you are there for them. I actually really like that, although I sometimes have to draw a line. »

Zwirs also sympathizes with her students in this exam time. She hopes that they dare to relax because of the Meilessen at home, so that they will start the exams rested later. « I always say: make a schedule and stick to it, but there must also be moments of rest in that schedule. » She tells about a girl that she had a test exam taken, and afterwards we said: « Teacher, I am really cool intelligent, I can just do this. » Zwirs: « I said to her: I believe that all year. Now you are. »

To share

Mail the editors