Webinar Invites Matric Students to Take Control of Their Success

Photo Credit: SACAP Supplied

With matric exams fast approaching, SACAP educators JP Moller and Adam Willemse are offering Gen Z learners the tools and advice that will help them walk into each exam with confidence and focus.

South Africa (20 August 2025) – There’s such a churn of emotions around writing Matric exams. It’s one of the biggest academic moments of your life – not just the end of your school days, but the gateway to the adult life that you choose.

However, you look at it, whatever feelings arise for you, it’s an intense time. As a matriculant, the greatest challenge is going to be how you manage yourself over the next few months so that you can walk into each exam with confidence and focus.

With Matric exams just weeks away, emotions are running high, and the pressure is mounting. But what if students could coach themselves to success?

The South African College of Applied Psychology (SACAP) is inviting matric learners to draw on the advice and mentorship of those who have gone before them.

The upcoming SACAP Matric Student Study Hacks webinar will help matriculants tap into some of that wisdom to make informed decisions about how they are going to approach their exams.

JP Moller, an educational psychologist, educator at SACAP and webinar presenter, describes matric as facing a mountain.

“But there are ways to take control. After all, we climb a mountain a step at a time. What you need are powerful tools, science-backed strategies and real-world tips to help you manage your study time and your mental wellbeing while keeping a steady focus on your goals.”

Participants will learn how to create a personalised study timetable and gain insights into understanding past paper trends and how to use them effectively. There will be a focus on unconventional study tricks and tips on time management in the exam room. Experts will also help learners develop a coaching mindset during exam season and share practical techniques to avoid burnout and anxiety.

SACAP educator, Adam Willemse, a former high school teacher, will show matric students how to use a new colour-coded emotion mapping to reflect on, prioritise and schedule their revision.

“We’re going to explore some smart ways to organise yourself and your studies that not just boost confidence but give you a real foundation for success.

“What also interests me are the methods that work so well for Gen Z, and we are going to be talking about how to become your own knowledge influencer over matric study time. It makes sense to use reels, TEDx talk and podcast formats to teach yourself, but it doesn’t replace good old bum-in-chair studying. Yet, studying doesn’t have to be boring. You can create compelling summaries that help you remember the work,” Adam shares.

Coaching yourself to matric success

Behind every stunning athletic performance is a great coach. Their role is to keep the performer focused on the goal and implement the agreed strategy step by step.

Coaches help performers to problem-solve, steadfastly believing in them and tirelessly encouraging them, especially when times get tough.

“Adopting a coaching mindset while you navigate exam season is an effective tool for integrating your state of mind with your desired performance. This means focusing on the wins, even the small ones, and quickly letting go of any losses so that you stay on track. It enables you to celebrate the victories and see the failures not as such, but as opportunities to learn and tweak your strategies and methods,” Adam explains.

“When you are coaching yourself, you can use stress as a teacher and motivator instead of getting overwhelmed. A coaching mindset empowers you to use the stones that are thrown at you to build your empire, not to break you down. Writing Matric exams is going to be unavoidable come October, so make lemonade from this lemon. Developing a coaching mindset to get you through the next months is going to help you be in control of your emotions and behaviours.”

JP and Adam also encourage learners to take a holistic view of achieving their performance goals. While having a study plan, time management and sitting down to study are key, so is a learner’s overall well-being.

To perform at your best, you are also going to need to focus on healthy eating, staying hydrated, being physically active and getting sufficient sleep. Regular breaks are important to refresh your mind and stay balanced.

You still need to have space and time to do some of the things that make you happy. Some learners may need to put extra effort into their mental health, using mindfulness exercises and stress-relief techniques to soothe anxiety and maintain calm.

“The important thing to remember is that you have arrived at this Matric moment in your life because you are ready for this challenge. We also need to keep things in perspective. Your whole life ahead is not hanging on every moment or each exam.

“You are not alone in this, and if you feel like you need help to cope, it’s important to reach out to a trusted adult or friend. Often, all it takes is really simple support to get you back on the road to doing your best. So, plan well and organise yourself well, and then stay flexible and adaptable as the process unfolds,” JP concludes.

Matric students are invited to join JP and Adam at the SACAP Matric Student Study Hacks webinar on Saturday, 30 August 2025, from 10:00 to 11:00 am. Register for free here