Back to school: Student kicks off new school year with excitement and exam pressures

With the sound of the bell echoing through the campus, students returned to school with a mix of excitement and anxiety on their first day.

At a primary school in Tai Po, many were eager to reunite with classmates and teachers, while others worried about the pressure of upcoming schoolwork and exams.

A Primary Five student expressed concern about the workload, yet was glad to reunite with friends. 

Similarly, a Primary Six student voiced concerns about not getting admission to his desired secondary school. 

Another Primary Six student, who completed all summer assignments early, shared worries about the increased difficulty of exams with the introduction of three assessments in the new academic year.

Exam preparation tips for DSE candidates

As the new academic year begins, a tutor has offered special tips for candidates preparing for the upcoming Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) online.

In a post on the social media platform Threads, the tutor uploaded a graffiti art to uplift students, along with a three-step preparation plan.

Three-step study plan 

During the first phase, which spanned from September to November, the poster advised students to review all exam topics, clarify unclear concepts, and attend open days at preferred universities. 

Between December and February, students are encouraged to enjoy holiday festivities while also taking one to two mock exams and starting to practice with recent past papers. 

In the final two months, students are advised to strategically schedule their revision based on predicted scores.

While it is important to focus on studying as the exam date approaches, the poster also emphasized the necessity of candidates taking time to unwind with friends.

The poster makes use of graffiti art, inspiring students to recognize the world's possibilities–when feeling unhappy, a step, whether to another place or just downstairs, can light the way better than a leap.

The post quickly drew praise from the online community, calling it meaningful and helpful.

Some students even expressed motivation to follow the preparation tips to fully enjoy their next summer break.