Let's clear something up before we talk about studying.

If you've been telling yourself, "It's only prelims. They don't really count," you're not alone. A lot of matric students think this way.

But prelims aren't just a practice run for November.

According to the Department of Basic Education, your prelim exam forms part of your School-Based Assessment (SBA) mark. Your SBA makes up 25% of your final subject mark, while your final November NSC exam makes up the remaining 75%.

And here's the part you really need to know: within that 25%, your prelim exam typically contributes between 5% and 7% of your final subject mark, depending on the number of assessment tasks required for that subject.

So no, your prelim mark isn't going to make or break your entire matric year on its own. But it isn't meaningless either.

If you're writing seven subjects, those few percentage points can add up. A strong prelim mark can give your final mark a useful boost, while a poor one can leave you with ground to make up in November.

There's another reason prelims matter: they give you a proper test run before the final exams.

This is where you find out whether you actually know the work, whether you can finish a paper in time, whether you understand how questions are asked and whether your exam technique holds up when you're sitting in a room with a clock ticking.

So, instead of treating prelims like something you can worry about later, use them for what they really are: an opportunity to bank marks and figure out what needs fixing before November.

Here are six practical ways to prepare.

Why Prelim Preparation Matters

Preliminary exams are usually written during the third term of matric and form part of the school-based assessment process.

Your prelim is only one of several assessment tasks that contribute to your SBA mark. That means the percentage attached to the prelim itself may look relatively small, but it is still a mark you can secure before you even walk into your final NSC exam.

And there is something else to consider.

Prelims are one of the closest experiences you'll have to the real final exam before November. They give you a chance to test your knowledge, exam technique, time management and ability to work under pressure.

Think of your prelims as a diagnostic.

If you walk out of a Maths paper thinking, "I knew how to do this, but I ran out of time," that's useful information.

If you realise you keep losing marks on a particular Physics topic, that's useful information too.

You still have time to do something about it.

That's the point.

1. Figure Out What You Need to Focus On First

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is opening your textbook, looking at the entire syllabus and thinking:

"Right. I have to study ALL of this."

No wonder you feel overwhelmed.

Instead, start by figuring out where your marks are most likely to come from.

Look at your syllabus, previous exam papers, classwork and any guidance your teacher has given you. Identify topics that appear regularly or carry a lot of marks.

For example, in Maths, that might mean prioritising areas such as trigonometry, functions, calculus and analytical geometry. In Physical Sciences, mechanics, electricity and other high-mark areas may deserve particular attention.

That doesn't mean you should completely ignore the rest of the syllabus.

It means you shouldn't spend three hours perfecting a tiny section worth a few marks while avoiding a major topic because it feels difficult.

Study strategically, not randomly.

Why this works

You have a limited amount of time before prelims. Your goal isn't to look busy for six hours. Your goal is to spend your study time on the areas most likely to improve your mark.

2. Stop Trying to Study Everything in One Night

We need to have a serious conversation about cramming.

Yes, you can stay up until 2am the night before an exam and convince yourself that you're studying.

That doesn't necessarily mean your brain is learning very much.

Instead of waiting until the night before a paper, break your work into smaller daily targets.

For example:

• Monday: Functions

• Tuesday: Trigonometry

• Wednesday: Calculus

• Thursday: Past-paper questions

• Friday: Review mistakes

It doesn't have to be complicated.

The important thing is that you're coming back to the work regularly instead of trying to force an entire term's worth of content into your head in one weekend.

This is where spaced repetition can help. Revisiting information over time generally helps you remember it better than trying to learn everything in one sitting.

Why this works

Your brain needs time to process and retrieve information. Studying smaller sections consistently gives you multiple opportunities to practise remembering what you've learned.

And honestly, it is much less stressful than waking up the morning before your exam and realising you still have 12 chapters to "quickly go through."

3. Get Off Your Notes and Into Past Papers

Reading your notes can make you feel like you're studying.

But there's a big difference between recognising information on a page and being able to use it when an exam question appears in front of you.

This is why past papers are so important.

They show you:

• How questions are actually phrased

• How marks are allocated

• Which topics come up repeatedly

• What examiners expect in your answers

• Where you're making mistakes

• Whether you can apply what you've studied

If you're doing Maths or Physical Sciences, this is especially important.

You don't just want to know the formula. You need to know when to use it, how to use it and how to present your answer properly.

Why this works

Past papers train you to think like you're in the actual exam.

You start recognising question patterns, command words and common traps. And the more papers you do, the less unfamiliar the exam starts to feel.

4. Put Yourself Under Time Pressure

Here's a simple test.

Take a past paper you've never done before.

Set the timer.

Put your phone away.

Don't check your notes.

And write it like it's the real exam.

That's when you'll discover things you don't notice when you're studying casually.

Maybe you spend 15 minutes on a question worth four marks.

Maybe you know the content but take too long to work through calculations.

Maybe you leave an entire section because you didn't realise how much time had passed.

That's exactly why timed practice matters.

Why this works

Knowing the work is only part of writing an exam.

You also need to know how to manage the time you have.

You don't want your first experience of exam pressure to happen in the November final.

Let your prelims show you where your exam technique needs work while you still have time to improve it.

5. Try Teaching the Work Instead of Just Reading It

This one might feel strange at first.

Take something you've studied and explain it out loud.

Explain it to a friend. Explain it to your younger sibling. Explain it to your parent.

Or, if nobody is available, explain it to yourself.

If you're studying Newton's laws, don't just memorise the definitions. Try explaining what they actually mean and give yourself an example.

If you're studying a Maths concept, talk yourself through the steps as if you're teaching someone who has never seen the question before.

And here's the important part:

Pay attention to where you get stuck.

That awkward moment where you think, "Wait... how do I explain this part?" is often exactly where your understanding isn't as strong as you thought.

Why this works

Teaching forces you to organise information and explain it in your own words. That can reveal gaps in your understanding much faster than reading the same paragraph five times.

6. Don't Sacrifice Sleep to Feel Productive

We know.

You have a lot to study.

You feel behind.

You're thinking, "I'll sleep after the exam."

Please don't make that your strategy.

Sleep isn't wasted study time.

Your brain needs sleep to support memory, concentration and problem-solving. Those are exactly the things you need when you're sitting in an exam trying to remember a formula you learned three days ago.

So, especially in the days leading up to your prelims, try to keep your sleep consistent.

Studying until 3am might make you feel like you've worked incredibly hard.

But if you're exhausted the next morning and can't concentrate, that extra study session may not have helped you as much as you think.

Why this works

You need your brain working properly on exam day.

Rest is part of preparation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many weeks before prelims should I start studying?

Ideally, don't wait until the week before your first paper.

Start by identifying your priority topics around 3–4 weeks before your exams. From there, build up your daily revision and include regular past-paper practice.

If you're already closer to your prelims than that, don't panic.

Start now.

You can't change the time you've already lost, but you can make the time you have left count.

What's the best way to revise Maths and Physical Sciences?

For subjects like Maths and Physical Sciences, active practice is far more useful than simply reading through your notes.

Work through examples, answer past-paper questions, check your answers and keep track of the questions you get wrong.

And don't just look at the memo and say, "Ohhh, I see where I went wrong."

Redo the question.

That's where the learning happens.

How much do prelims actually count towards my final matric mark?

According to the Department of Basic Education, your prelim exam is one of several assessment tasks that contribute to your School-Based Assessment (SBA).

The SBA makes up 25% of your final subject mark, with the remaining 75% coming from your final NSC exam.

The prelim exam itself typically contributes between 5% and 7% of your final subject mark, depending on the assessment requirements for that subject.

So yes, your prelims matter.

They just aren't the whole story.

Do prelim marks affect university applications?

Some universities and bursary providers may use Grade 12 school results, including prelim or trial examination results, when making provisional or conditional decisions.

The exact requirements differ between institutions and programmes, so don't assume that one rule applies everywhere.

If you're applying for university or a bursary, check the specific requirements for the institution you're interested in.

Final Thoughts: Don't Waste Your Prelims

Your prelims aren't a prediction of whether you're going to pass matric.

They're not a final judgement on how smart you are.

And if your marks aren't where you want them to be, it doesn't mean November is already lost.

But they are feedback.

They show you what you know, what you don't know and what happens when you put yourself under actual exam pressure.

And yes, they also give you an opportunity to bank a few marks before the final exams.

So don't approach your prelims with the attitude of "It doesn't really count."

Approach them with:

"Let me see what I can get right now — and let me use whatever I get wrong to prepare for November."

Start with your highest-priority topics.

Study consistently.

Do the past papers.

Time yourself.

Learn from your mistakes.

And get some sleep.

You don't need to become a completely different student overnight.

You just need to make the next few weeks count.

Need extra support with Maths or Physical Sciences before your prelims? The Mlungisi Nkosi Maths & Science Centre offers exam-focused workshops and resources designed specifically for South African matric students. Explore our programmes and get yourself ready for the exams.