Adobe Stock 170747070
<h2>Two-thirds of New Zealand secondary students identify stress and anxiety about assessments as a challenge to learning, and about half believe they are not taught how to study or deal with exams, according to a new survey of nearly 6000 students.</h2>
<p>The online survey of 5,761 New Zealand secondary school students aged between 15 and 18, by NCEA study platform StudyTime, was conducted between August and October.</p>
<p>When asked to identify challenges to their learning, 70 percent identified procrastination/lack of motivation; 66 per cent identified stress/anxiety about assessments; 53 percent identified learning how to consistently study; 49 percent identified dealing with exams/exam technique, and 48 percent identified knowing how to study.</p>
<p>When asked to narrow this down to the most challenging aspect, 24 percent of respondents identified procrastination and lack of motivation; 21 percent identified stress/anxiety about assessments; 8 percent was knowing how to study; 5 percent was learning how to consistently study, and 5 percent was dealing with exams/exam technique.</p>
<p><a href="https://presshustle.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9f84a6586bb19d506e0a1dff4&;id=df04d97ac4&;e=cf1d7d12fc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read the full results, including students comments, here</a>.</p>
<p> ;</p>
<p>StudyTime founder William Guzzo, 26, says the survey aimed to understand students’ views on their education, the key issues they are facing, and their ideas to resolve them.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“This survey suggests that students feel what they learn in the classroom doesn’t prepare them for their exams, and they feel ill-equipped with the skills and resources required to study effectively and prepare for their exams independently.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>He says it was particularly concerning a majority of students feel anxious about assessments and exams &#8211; and their education was not preparing them for their future.</p>
<p><a href="https://presshustle.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9f84a6586bb19d506e0a1dff4&;id=09811efd98&;e=cf1d7d12fc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Comments and explanations given by students</a> followed themes of: not feeling prepared for life after secondary school; not being well advised about university options; being taught how to “earn credits, not taught how to learn”, and not feeling supported in issues of mental health or learning difficulties.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“The data implies students feel their high school education is doing little to prepare them for their futures,” says Guzzo.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>“Specifically, students feel their learning experience fails to teach them ‘learning skills’ and ‘life-skills’ for after their secondary school education &#8211; perhaps this partly explains students’ lack of motivation to engage in their learning, and procrastination.</p>
<p>“Perhaps the most worrying of all is the fact that so many students feel under supported for issues with mental health.”</p>
<p>Participants were invited to the survey via Facebook targeted ads and of the students surveyed, 78 percent were female, 20 percent were male and 2 percent identified as “other”.</p>
<p>Participants came from Auckland (29%), Christchurch (13%), Wellington (12%), Hamilton (6%) and Palmerston North (5%) and were a range of students in NCEA Level 1 (27%), NCEA Level 2 (36%) and NCEA Level 3 (34%).</p>
<p>From the sample, 11 percent of students reported suffering from anxiety and 8 percent reported suffering from depression.</p>

NZCER found generative AI tools are frequently used to support teaching and learning in primary…
The Ministry decision to discontinue a reading resource over kupu Māori has angered the sector…
NCEA was designed to broaden educational success, explains David Pomeroy from the University of Canterbury.
More than just a break from the classroom, a visit to a zoo or wildlife…
Without proper maintenance and care, trees can become a hazard. Are your trees in need…
Loneliness and social disconnection negatively impact wellbeing. A new WHO report finds teens feel the…
This website uses cookies.
